Moronika
General Boards => Stooges DVD/VHS/Home Video => Topic started by: BeAStooge on February 11, 2014, 08:43:47 AM
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Warner Archive is releasing Volume 2 of its "Vitaphone Comedy Collection" on February 18, 2014. The balance of Shemp's Vitaphone shorts, 21, from GOBS OF FUN (1933) thru the "Joe Palooka" shorts of 1936 and 1937 will be included. The collection is up for pre-order at The Warner Archive (http://shop.warnerarchive.com/product/vitaphone+comedy+collection+volume+2+1000479774.do?sortby=bestSellers&refType=&from=fn).
(https://threestooges.net/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fii.wbshop.com%2Ffcgi-bin%2Fiipsrv.fcgi%3FFIF%3D%2Fimages%2Fwarnerbros%2F%2Fsource%2Foverride%2F1000479774.tif%26amp%3Bwid%3D370%26amp%3Bcvt%3Djpeg&hash=666210d0560b5cde96ff119c83423736a0cf0fb1)
From the Warner Archive...
Samuel “Shemp Howard” Horowitz wrote his own rules for comedy from the very beginning. Heckling his way into brother Moe’s “rough house” act with Ted Healy, Shemp was an original Stooge. After Larry Fine filled out the team, fame beckoned, but Shemp balked at playing second banana to Healy and lit out on his own as a Vitaphone player. Shemp quickly rose from bit parts in shorts like Gobs of Fun to supporting player alongside Daphne Pollard and Harry Gribbon (and even pro baseball’s famous Dean brothers), and went on to steal the show in the Joe Palooka series based on the hit comic strip. Shemp’s character of Knobby Walsh quickly became the comedic center of the series, and Shemp emerged as a new king of comedy. Hollywood beckoned Shemp away from the east coast confine of Vitaphone out west, where he carved out a comfortable spot as a film comedian until fare and fate and family compelled him to return to his roots in The Three Stooges. Here’s to Shemp!
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I think this will be all I need to complete my personal stooge library; got all 190 Columbia shorts, most of the features, the 3 disc solo sets and now this. Hip-hip-hooray....
[whoo]
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This is an absolute must buy. I haven't seen everything on here, but what I have seen is generally better than the first volume. Shorts like DIZZY & DAFFY, WHILE THE CAT'S AWAY, A PEACH OF A PAIR, ON THE WAGON and WHY PAY RENT rate alongside Shemp's best shorts.
Next Tuesday can't come soon enough.
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More Shemp! Kewl!
Just pre-ordered this awesomeness, and have the Charley Chase vol 2 on the way, plus I just got the German Female Comedy Teams discs, a ton of Laurel and Hardy, and STILL have more TCM Hal Roach stuff to dub off. I'm feeling rather spoiled by all this. Just 20 years ago, you had to just wait for alot of this stuff to breeze by on tv, or hope that more vintage films would hit home video. Now, there's so much "rare" stuff that's just out and about-- it's like there's no end!
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More Shemp! Kewl!
Just pre-ordered this awesomeness, and have the Charley Chase vol 2 on the way, plus I just got the German Female Comedy Teams discs, a ton of Laurel and Hardy, and STILL have more TCM Hal Roach stuff to dub off. I'm feeling rather spoiled by all this. Just 20 years ago, you had to just wait for alot of this stuff to breeze by on tv, or hope that more vintage films would hit home video. Now, there's so much "rare" stuff that's just out and about-- it's like there's no end!
You're in for a real treat with that second Charley Chase set (even better than the first). Let us know what you think of it.
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You're in for a real treat with that second Charley Chase set (even better than the first). Let us know what you think of it.
Oh, you bet I will! I just recently got the first volume along with Buster Keaton's Columbia shorts. I've been through both twice, already, and really got a kick out of both! Lot's of new-to-me stuff.
And, at least in my own brain (which should be on a meat counter!), I've solved the mystery of who the voice of Birdie the horse is: Elsie Ames!** After just hearing her speak on the first Keaton disc, I thought immediately of that Hoofs and Goofs picture. Sorry, experts! You can't convince me that was Harriet Tarler doing the voice acting. Her voice is too flat, she has a grating lisp, and her readings are wooden: "Lithen, everybody! Leth all go back to our houth and thelebrathe thith wonderful weunion!" Right. Great to look at though!
An' if it ain't Ms. Ames, it's somebody else who sounds like her. Please don't try to convince me otherwise. My ears know better!
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** Before I get ripped a new one for this, let me state that this is not presented as fact, but opinion. After looking this over, casual conversation-style sarcasm or otherwise snarkyness is not always readily apparent.
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Warner Archive is releasing Volume 2 of its "Vitaphone Comedy Collection" on February 18, 2014. The balance of Shemp's Vitaphone shorts, 21, from GOBS OF FUN (1933) thru the "Joe Palooka" shorts of 1936 and 1937 will be included.
That's great news, I'll be very happy if they're half as good as Volume 1.
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That's great news, I'll be very happy if they're half as good as Volume 1.
My gut's telling me this volume will be much better as Shemp should be featured much more, and yes, this IS great news! I will be ordering soon. It's a few years down the road, but now since these are on DVD, perhaps the Vitaphone's will now show in the weekly discussion.
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Check out this site's videography entry for more on the 21 shorts on Vol 2 - http://threestooges.net/index.php/videography/view/492
Here's a 1935 trade paper ad promoting Shemp's Vitaphone comedies:
(clicking the image enlarges it)
(https://threestooges.net/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs15.postimg.org%2Faowfg6ruz%2Ffilmdaily67wids_0651.jpg&hash=59875cd47a0cab0891cb716a2bf1d8f54b4be0f9)
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That's great news, I'll be very happy if they're half as good as Volume 1.
Is Volume 1 the one Shemp shared with Fatty Arbuckle?
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Is Volume 1 the one Shemp shared with Fatty Arbuckle?
Yes.
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Any ideas on when this will show up on Amazon?
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Volume Two!! [cool] It's about time!
I'm surprised that WBshop.com has announced it only a week before the release date.
I'll be looking for a slightly better price on Amazon.com in the coming days.
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A preview clip from MY MUMMY'S ARMS (1934) is now posted on the set's Warner Archive product page:
http://shop.warnerarchive.com/product/vitaphone+comedy+collection+volume+2+1000479774.do?
MY MUMMY'S ARMS is not one of the best efforts on this set, but the image quality is miles ahead of the copies out there in the past.
Shemp manages to get off a few great lines in the clip:
"I used to be a full-blooded Egyptian, but I sold my blood for a transfusion, and now I'm a half-breed."
"I had the seven years itch once and I scratched it out in a week."
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Thanks for the heads up on this. I was able to get a Valentine's Day discount with my order too! ;D
Looking forward to seeing this.
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Thanks for the heads up on this. I was able to get a Valentine's Day discount with my order too! ;D
Looking forward to seeing this.
What promotion code did you use?
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Just got my copy in the mail today. Time to head to the man-cave.
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Just got my copy in the mail today. Time to head to the man-cave.
That was fast. I'd be interested in any impressions that you, or anyone else, have of this set.
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That was fast. I'd be interested in any impressions that you, or anyone else, have of this set.
Mine was shipped from about 20 miles from my house, that's probably why I got it so fast. I have only seen a few of them but I like what I see. So far I noticed that he was teamed up with a woman actress named Daphne Pollard on a couple of the shorts. She's kind of like a woman stooge, that seems a little strange to me. I also see that Vitaphone and Columbia used some of the same bits. I like most of the solo Shemp stuff so I'm sure I'll like the rest of these.
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What promotion code did you use?
I did not have a promo code, they just happened to have it on sale with free shipping that day. If I remember correctly I got free shipping and $2.50 off.
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Mine a arrived today, and I will watch a few shorts tonight. This release is perfect timing because I've been in the watch one short a week in the order they were released mode for a while now and have been missing Shemp. This collection allows me to remedy my Shemp withdrawal while still satisfying my OCD like one short a week rule.
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I'm still waiting for this to pop up on amazon, but nothing yet. I wonder what the hold up is?
:-\
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As much as I enjoy the work Shemp did with the Stooges, his solo work was just as good or better. Watching these Vitaphone shorts is like watching Three Stooges shorts that I somehow never saw before.
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I'm still waiting for this to pop up on amazon
Amazon listed it Wednesday morning. (http://www.amazon.com/Vitaphone-Comedy-Collection-Volume-2/dp/B00IJE1BOI/)
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Concerning Volume 1, I was a bit disappointed in the fact the majority of the shorts don't feature Shemp much. Add to the fact I'm not a big fan of most of these old musical numbers and Ben Blue, then I can say the non Arbuckle portion is a letdown. I understand historically it shows Shemp working his way up and he wasn't an instant star, but a lot of volume 1 did not entertain me.
The above being stated, I figured before digging into volume 2, I should finally finish volume 1, so I got around to the final three shorts. Well, if ART TROUBLE is any indication of what volume 2 is going to be like, this set should be a lot of fun. I see the early reviews seem to be positive.
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Concerning Volume 1, I was a bit disappointed in the fact the majority of the shorts don't feature Shemp much. Add to the fact I'm not a big fan of most of these old musical numbers and Ben Blue, then I can say the non Arbuckle portion is a letdown. I understand historically it shows Shemp working his way up and he wasn't an instant star, but a lot of volume 1 did not entertain me.
The above being stated, I figured before digging into volume 2, I should finally finish volume 1, so I got around to the final three shorts. Well, if ART TROUBLE is any indication of what volume 2 is going to be like, this set should be a lot of fun. I see the early reviews seem to be positive.
....and my God. Yes, I did notice a young Jimmy Stewart playing a supporting role in ART TROUBLE, but I did not realize that was his film debut. Here I am talking about an early Shemp being underused.
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It's good to see this set selling so well. It is currently a top 5 seller (fifth) among all Warner Archive titles at the WA site. I don't remember the first set doing quite that well.
My copy should arrive tomorrow... I can't wait.
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....and my God. Yes, I did notice a young Jimmy Stewart playing a supporting role in ART TROUBLE, but I did not realize that was his film debut. Here I am talking about an early Shemp being underused.
That's funny, Shemp Howard getting top billing over Jimmy Stewart. Another familiar face in these Vitaphone shorts is Lionel Stander who played Max on the TV show "Hart To Hart". He was actually a pretty funny guy.
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Awesome! I've been waiting for this. I can't wait to get it. I really enjoyed volume one and I'm looking forward to volume two.
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Getting ready to dive into this set tonight. As used to the bootlegs as I am, watching most of these pictures will be just like the first time for sure!
Also, somehow in previous viewings of The Blonde Bomber, I missed Johnnie Berkes' impression of Curly Howard:
"Me take a watchie for my goil, too!"
Sounds better than Frank Welker's that's fer sure! :laugh:
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As much as I enjoy the work Shemp did with the Stooges, his solo work was just as good or better. Watching these Vitaphone shorts is like watching Three Stooges shorts that I somehow never saw before.
I've only seen a handful of these Shemp solo shorts (that'll changes soon now that Volume 2 is in my mitts :D), but I've seen enough to get a sense that - as great as Shemp was during his second go-round with the Stooges - what we were seeing in those Stooge shorts was a slightly diminished Shemp, a Shemp who was a tad past his peak years as a physical performer. He still had huge energy and could still deliver those wonderful physical and verbal ad-libs that were his stock in trade, but he was, what, pushing 50 when he rejoined? I couldn't help but wonder how great he must have been doing that kind of schtick as a younger and quicker man. I was happy to finally get a chance to see what he'd been doing during the "between Stooges" years when some of his Vitaphone stuff started showing up on YouTube. Some of his ad-libs, like that weird "razzmatazz" dance he does in Peach of a Pair, are from another planet.
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Volume Two has more of the episodes I remember watching late at night on TBS and TNT back in the day. "A Peach Of A Pair" is one of the best he ever did. Hilarious!
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I've only seen a handful of these Shemp solo shorts (that'll changes soon now that Volume 2 is in my mitts :D), but I've seen enough to get a sense that - as great as Shemp was during his second go-round with the Stooges - what we were seeing in those Stooge shorts was a slightly diminished Shemp, a Shemp who was a tad past his peak years as a physical performer. He still had huge energy and could still deliver those wonderful physical and verbal ad-libs that were his stock in trade, but he was, what, pushing 50 when he rejoined? I couldn't help but wonder how great he must have been doing that kind of schtick as a younger and quicker man. I was happy to finally get a chance to see what he'd been doing during the "between Stooges" years when some of his Vitaphone stuff started showing up on YouTube. Some of his ad-libs, like that weird "razzmatazz" dance he does in Peach of a Pair, are from another planet.
Good to see you again. Yeah, I agree with everything you said. I've only watched the first three shorts in vol. 2 so far and have enjoyed them all. I really do get the impression this set will show Shemp, dare I say, in his prime. He's awesome as a Stooge, but he does appear more youthful, naturally, in these Vitaphone's, and heading into vol. 2, the shorts, Shemp or no Shemp, do appear to be improving. I even liked the Ben Blue short this time around! I am saving the rest for the first week of March, when I will be on vacation and holding off on these will make me look forward to my week off that much more.
Also, one of the few films I've seen from this volume is PEACH OF A PAIR, and that is a classic. I'm starting to get the impression the release of these films will be much more exciting to me than watching HELLO POP.
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Good to see you again.
Thanks man! Been resigning myself to lurk mode for a while because of a busy schedule. This new Vitaphone collection got me pumped about Stooge-related matters again, so couldn't resist joining in (I found myself missing our old horror movie chats a few months ago during my annual Halloween movie fest).
Also, one of the few films I've seen from this volume is PEACH OF A PAIR, and that is a classic. I'm starting to get the impression the release of these films will be much more exciting to me than watching HELLO POP.
I remember really enjoying SERVES YOU RIGHT too, when I saw it for the first time about a year ago. That little transitional scene where Shemp's by himself practicing techniques for serving a summons ruined me.
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Someone please be kind enough to give a heads-up when Volume 2 goes on $ale.
WBshop.com is asking full price ($24.95) >> http://www.wbshop.com/product/vitaphone+comedy+collection+volume+2+1000479774.do?sortby=ourPicks&refType=&from=Search
and
Amazon.com is asking way too much ($29.99) >> http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dmovies-tv&field-keywords=The+Vitaphone+Comedy+Collection+Volume+Two
~ Thanks! ~
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Finally watched the first couple of these last night.
Gobs of Fun: What was it about fake dialect humor that '20s and '30s audiences loved so much? I give Chico a free pass - he generally underplayed the phony Italian schtick and was just so cool and charismatic that he made this avenue of comedy watchable - but watching the two over-the-top faux Europeans ham it up in this short had me wondering what they were serving the public in those speakeasies to put them in the frame of mind to find these "yumpin' yimminy" antics so gut-busting. Shemp only shows up for a few seconds to deliver a couple of straight lines, and exuded more easy natural humor in his little bit than the two headliners did throughout the entire short.
That Ben Blue Thing: The second I clapped eyes on Ben Blue dancing around in a tu-tu doing his forced man-child bit at the beginning of this one, I instantly felt a much warmer regard for Parkyurkarkus and Biddle from the prevoius short. It's interesting to see guys like Ben Blue and Larry Semon (the guy who did the silent version of Wizard of Oz and turned it into a vehicle for his extremely dubious comedy talents) working the same general comedic area as Stan Laurel but failing so miserably at it. But man, Shemp kills it in this one. The highlight is undoubtedly Shemp stalling for Blue during the handcuff trick, and that's the stuff I signed up for when I bought this DVD. You get the feeling that the script just left a big open space labeled "Shemp stalls," pointed the camera at him, and let him cut loose with that thing he does.
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I thought GOBS OF FUN was a lot of... fun. I didn't care for George Givot in ROAST BEEF & MOVIES, but have enjoyed his work with Charles Judels in Vitaphone shorts like GOBS and HOW'D YA LIKE THAT (v 1). It's a fun short that moved well, with Shemp's brief cameo the cherry on top.
Aside from the handful of shorts I mentioned early in this read, some other standouts were PUNCH & BEAUTY, THE BLONDE BOMBER, THE CHOKE'S ON YOU and SO YOU WON'T T-T-TALK.
This collection is Shemp at his best, with or without the Stooges.
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Count me in as somebody else who enjoyed GOBS OF FUN. The dialect comedy I can give or take, but what I enjoyed was the overall sleaziness of the plot. Interesting little short there. As far as dialect comedy, this was common going back to Vaudeville and this short was taking place in a world where white European Americans still heavily linked themselves to their European roots, unlike today. I mean, my nephew is 1/16th Hungarian, for example, while my American born mother is 100 percent Greek. Even in the 60's and 70's, my grandparents did not approve of my mother dating non Greeks. It was a different world back then, and as somebody who has seen more comedy from the teens through forties than any rational human being should, I guess I see dialect humor without giving it a second thought.
As far as Ben Blue, his style of comedy is linked to Harry Langdon, who did the man-child thing much better. There's a real fine line you have to cross when working with that type of character. It can be hilarious or creepy. But yeah, Shemp is great in this short, playing a W.C. Fields like carnival shyster. Seamus, the shorts get even better as the disc goes on, you're in for a treat. I'm two shorts into disc two myself.
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I did actually enjoy GOBS overall, for the reasons you guys mentioned - well paced, fun short. I just think it might have worked better with a little less OTT characterization from the two leads (for some reason I'm imagining what it would have been like with Shemp and Jack Haley as the two leads). And anyway, even "dated" comedy routines and characters are fascinating to watch with the historical perspective in mind, even if some of the humor itself doesn't resonate today the way it did at the time.
This collection is Shemp at his best, with or without the Stooges.
I already agree with this, even though I've only seen a small handful. I had to watch Shemp's carny barker routine in the Ben Blue short twice, it was such a thing of beauty. It's kind of a shame that he didn't get to showcase that style of performance more often with the Stooges. Seems he had to modify his signature style a bit to conform to the Stooges run-around hitting-and-poking format.
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Best Price
19.99
http://www.oldies.com/product-view/7888ED.html
ebay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vitaphone-Comedy-Collection-Vol-2-DVD-Shemp-Howard-Warner-Archives-NEW-/141209524775?pt=US_DVD_HD_DVD_Blu_ray&hash=item20e0be5a27
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Stuart Galbraith IV of DVDTalk reviews volume two:
http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/64333/vitaphone-comedy-collection-volume-two-shemp-howard-1933-1937/
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Well, I finally got mine off a 3rd party seller from Amazon. I think I overpaid a bit, but I'm cool with it; enjoying the shorts so far. Things don't get off to a great start with Gobs of Fun--apparently, dialect comedians were all the rage back in these days, which might explain El Brendel, but so far I've made it up to A Peach of a Pair, which is by far the best short so far in the collection.
Stooge fans should appreciate "Peach" since it spawned the all time classic, An Ache in Every Stake and there's even an "alum" scene which inspired the alum punch from No Census, No Feeling....
Can't wait to dive into the rest of the Shemp solos.... [cool]