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Higher Than a Kite
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Wikipedia article
'Higher Than a Kite' is a 1943 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 72nd entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.
Plot
The Stooges want to fly for the Royal Air Force, but end up as mechanics working in an airport garage. When given the assignment of getting a mysterious squeaking sound out of the Colonel's car from his assistant Kelly (Duke York), they get sidetracked after Moe's head gets stuck in a pipe. After several painful attempts, they finally pull Moe's head out. Then, he angrily chases Larry and Curly around the vehicle, accidentally breaking the windshield in the process. The Stooges disassemble the entire engine trying to find the problem, and are still puzzled, as they are not exactly certain what a squeak looks like. Kelly comes back to retrieve the Colonel's car, with the Stooges still hoping to be airmen.
The trio promptly evacuate the garage after Kelly realizes what they have done, only to end up hiding out in a blockbuster mistaken for a sewer pipe. The blockbuster is then dropped behind enemy lines (reflecting the recent British bombing of Cologne, Germany in June 1942Solomon, Jon. (2002) 'The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion', p. 230; Comedy III Productions, Inc., ). Moe and Curly quickly disguise themselves as German officers and Larry disguises himself as a woman (Moronica). General Bommel (Dick Curtis) and Marshall Boring (Vernon Dent) (parodies of German generals Erwin Rommel and Hermann Gring) then enter, and go about flirting with "Moronica". The Stooges eventually steal enemy secrets from under the nose of the Nazi officers, knock them cold, and escape. During their escape, a photo of Adolf Hitler gets stuck on Curly's butt. A bulldog wearing a "U.S. Marines" coat and helmet runs in and bites Curly where Hitler's photo is, and Curly runs off with the bulldog still hanging from his hindquarters.
Production notes
'Higher Than a Kite' was filmed over five days on February 2025, 1943.[http://www.threestooges.net/filmography/episode/72 'Higher Than a Kite' at threestooges.net] It was the only Stooge film to feature supporting actor Duke York in a non-monster role.
Footage of Moe getting his head wedged inside a pipe was reused in the 1960 compilation feature film 'Stop! Look! and Laugh!'.
References
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