Horses' Collars

Horses' Collars
Horses' Collars
	Mistitled lobby card (as the singular Horse Collars)
Directed by	Clyde Bruckman
Written by	Felix Adler
Produced by	Jules White
Starring	Moe Howard; Larry Fine; Curly Howard; Dorothy Kent; Fred Kohler; Fred Kelsey
Cinematography	John W. Boyle
Edited by	James Sweeney
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date	January 10, 1935;
Running time	18:01
Country	United States
Language	English

Horses' Collars is a 1935 short subject directed by Clyde Bruckman and starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). ^[1] It is the fifth entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 short films for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

Plot

The Stooges, acting as emissaries under the auspices of Detective Hyden Zeke, embark upon a mission to the Western frontier with the objective of assisting Nell Higginbottom in reclaiming an IOU wrongfully obtained from her father. The document, coveted by Double Deal Decker, a notorious individual of ruthless disposition, represents a key instrument in his bid to unlawfully appropriate Nell's rightful inheritance, a prized ranch.

Undaunted by the looming hazards, the Stooges encounter a series of challenges, notably successfully appropriating Decker's wallet through a strategic maneuver. This act incites the antagonist's wrath, precipitating a perilous situation wherein he and his accomplices endeavor to administer summary justice by hanging the trio.

The Stooges press forward, penetrating into Decker's clandestine stronghold. Here, they exhibit resolve as they successfully access the secure confines of a safe, wherein lies the coveted IOU. Amidst the ensuing confrontation with Decker and his confederates, the Stooges demonstrate their mettle, with Curly's idiosyncratic fear of mice paradoxically aiding their cause.

Production notes

Horses' Collars was filmed on November 23–27, 1934.^[2] The opening theme song is titled "At the Races," composed by Louis Silvers.^[3] Curly has a violent reaction to the sight of a live mouse at any time, going into a fit while demanding, "Moe! Larry! The Cheese!".^[1] The only cure is for someone to feed him cheese,^[1] with Curly telling them which kind. The reason for this is explained by Moe & Larry, stating that Curly's father was a rat. The kind of cheeses that Curly calls for are roquefort, camembert, and limburger.

An external stimulus — as with Curly spotting the mouse — that causes him to go bonkers was also used as a plot element in Punch Drunks, Grips, Grunts and Groans, and Tassels in the Air.^[4]

Horses' Collars was the first of 17 Western-themed films the Stooges would make.^[2] It is also the first short where the Stooges sing "You'll Never Know What Tears Are" in barbershop music style. This song would make an appearance in future shorts Half-Shot Shooters and A Ducking They Did Go.

The casting of Kohler, who played the villain in countless actual westerns, gave the film some added authenticity.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Janiss Garza (2016). "Horses' Collars". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016.
^ ^a ^b Horses' Collars at threestooges.net
^ Finegan, Richard (Fall 1998). "More Three Stooges Film Music Identified (1934-1935)". The Three Stooges Journal (87). Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania: The Three Stooges Fan Club, Inc.: 9. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
^ Solomon, Jon (2002). The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion. Glendale, California: Comedy III Productions, Inc. p. 99. ISBN 0971186804.

External links

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[NYT-1] Janiss Garza (2016). "Horses' Collars". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016.

[net-2] Horses' Collars at threestooges.net

[finegan-3] Finegan, Richard (Fall 1998). "More Three Stooges Film Music Identified (1934-1935)". The Three Stooges Journal (87). Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania: The Three Stooges Fan Club, Inc.: 9. Retrieved April 11, 2016.

[4] Solomon, Jon (2002). The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion. Glendale, California: Comedy III Productions, Inc. p. 99. ISBN 0971186804.

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v t e The Three Stooges filmography (1934–1946)
1934	Woman Haters Punch Drunks Men in Black Three Little Pigskins
1935	Horses' Collars Restless Knights Pop Goes the Easel Uncivil Warriors Pardon My Scotch Hoi Polloi Three Little Beers
1936	Ants in the Pantry Movie Maniacs Half Shot Shooters Disorder in the Court A Pain in the Pullman False Alarms Whoops, I'm an Indian! Slippery Silks
1937	Grips, Grunts and Groans Dizzy Doctors 3 Dumb Clucks Back to the Woods Goofs and Saddles Cash and Carry Playing the Ponies The Sitter Downers
1938	Termites of 1938 Wee Wee Monsieur Tassels in the Air Healthy, Wealthy and Dumb Violent Is the Word for Curly Three Missing Links Mutts to You Flat Foot Stooges
1939	Three Little Sew and Sews We Want Our Mummy A Ducking They Did Go Yes, We Have No Bonanza Saved by the Belle Calling All Curs Oily to Bed, Oily to Rise Three Sappy People
1940	You Nazty Spy! Rockin' thru the Rockies A Plumbing We Will Go Nutty but Nice How High Is Up? From Nurse to Worse No Census, No Feeling Cookoo Cavaliers Boobs in Arms
1941	So Long, Mr. Chumps Dutiful But Dumb All the World's a Stooge I'll Never Heil Again An Ache in Every Stake In the Sweet Pie and Pie Some More of Samoa
1942	Loco Boy Makes Good Cactus Makes Perfect What's the Matador? Matri-Phony Three Smart Saps Even as IOU Sock-a-Bye Baby
1943	They Stooge to Conga Dizzy Detectives Spook Louder Back From the Front Three Little Twirps Higher Than a Kite I Can Hardly Wait Dizzy Pilots Phony Express A Gem of a Jam
1944	Crash Goes the Hash Busy Buddies The Yoke's on Me Idle Roomers Gents Without Cents No Dough Boys
1945	Three Pests in a Mess Booby Dupes Idiots Deluxe If a Body Meets a Body Micro-Phonies
1946	Beer Barrel Polecats A Bird in the Head Uncivil War Birds The Three Troubledoers Monkey Businessmen Three Loan Wolves G.I. Wanna Home Rhythm and Weep Three Little Pirates
1947	Half-Wits Holiday
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