Blu ray review: Stooge-o-Rama
A 3-disc blu ray set that promises 8 hours of rare Three Stooges material is sure to attract slapstick fans, and the material contained herein will not disapppoint. The good people of CineMuseum have teamed up with Kit Parker Films to release this wonderful collection of rare material, some of which is a real revelation.
Each of the different "sets" of Stooges is represented. Regarding fan favorite Curly, perhaps the most impressive footage has them promoting their Pillsbury movie machine toy. This 1937 ad shows the Stooges at decidedly the height of their career, and is a great discovery. There is also some fascinating color home movie footage of Curly and the boys on the Columbia lot in 1946 being visited by brother Shemp.
Regarding Shemp, some of the earliest film footage on the set features him and Moe at a 1929 swim meet, cutting up in some Movietone outtakes. There is also a heretofore unavailable solo Shemp short comedy from Van Buren studios, Everybody Likes Music (1934), and the complete Ed Wynn TV show On which Shemp and the boys appeared.
Joe Besser didn't stay with the Stooges for very long, so it is impressive that color home movie footage exists of him with Moe and Larry as a member of the team. It is presented here.
Joe DeRita was with the act for its final years and there is much material from this period. An interesting 1976 interview with DeRita has him discussing various aspects of comedy. There are outtakes from the trio's final film together, Kook's Tour (1970). The government PSA short Star Spangled Salesman (1968) is here. Plus more interviews, outtakes, trailers, and the documentary The Men Behind the Mayhem with more footage.
Latter day is represented by Curly's grandson and Shemp's great granddaughter kibbitzing at a Stooges convention.
This is just some of the material to be found on Stooge-o-Rama, which is an absolute must for their many fans. It is beautifully put together and filled with fun, interesting material.
The blu ray can be purchased at this link: STOOGES
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