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Scrambled Brains
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Wikipedia article
'Scrambled Brains' is a 1951 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Shemp Howard). It is the 132nd entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.
Plot
Moe and Larry are at a sanatorium where Shemp is being treated for suffering from hallucinations. Before being prematurely released, Shemp insists on saying farewell to his new fiance, beautiful nurse Nora (Babe London). When Nora calls out to Shemp, she appears, much to the scare of Moe and Larry: poor Nora is a homely, toothless thing who seems to have won Shemp's heart. It then becomes clear that Shemp is far from cured, and needs additional therapy.
While Shemp is home, the boys receive a visit from Dr. Gesundheit (Emil Sitka). The blind-as-a-bat doctor tries his best to cure Shemp, but runs into difficulty when the stubborn stooge refuses to swallow a sleeping pill. Later, Shemp hallucinates an extra set of hands while enduring his piano lesson. On the verge of a nervous breakdown, Shemp insists on seeing Nora, with hopes of finally getting married.
On their way to the doctor, the Stooges become wedged in a phone booth with a stranger (Vernon Dent), leading to a fist and physical fight, making a mess from the foods the stranger had in his bag, until the phone booth toppled over on its side, where the stooges escape. Back in their apartment, they find she is waiting for her father who happens to be the man the Stooges brawled with in the phone booth. Trying to escape the Stooges knock themselves out, thinking that the silhouette on the wall, is a window. Nora claims Shemp as her own, carrying Shemp away, and leaves the other Stooges to her father.
Cast
* Moe Howard as Moe
* Larry Fine as Larry
* Shemp Howard as Shemp
* Babe London as Nora
** Pamela Britton as pretty Nora
* Vernon Dent as Nora's father
* Emil Sitka as Dr. Gesundheit
* Royce Milne as Little Mary Belle
* Johnny Kascier as orderly
Production notes
'Scrambled Brains' was filmed on March 2123, 1950.[http://www.threestooges.net/filmography/episode/151 'Scrambled Brains' at threestooges.net] Larry Fine often cited this film as his all-time favorite, with 'You Nazty Spy!' and 'Cuckoo on a Choo Choo' his runners-up. He would often screen this film during his last days residing at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital.Lenburg, Jeff; Howard Maurer, Joan; Lenburg, Greg; (1982). 'The Three Stooges Scrapbook', pp. 30, 257, Citadel Press.
The gag of making a doll whine by leaning a rocking chair on it was borrowed from Laurel and Hardy's 1940 film 'Saps at Sea'.Solomon, Jon. (2002) 'The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion', p. 387; Comedy III Productions, Inc.,
Scrambled Brains was remade of 1941s The Big Store starring the Marx Brothers (Groucho Marx. Chico Marx and Harpo Marx) release by MGM
(It was Marx Brothers last film produced by MGM, as well as the last film to feature
Margaret Dumont).
References
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