review of The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze (DVD), starring Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Joe De Rita | clown ministry

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The Three Stooges - The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze - A full length feature film that's a ral trip - starring Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Joe De Rita

Frankly, The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze is one of my favorite of The Three Stooges feature length movies, for several reasons. First, the idea of anybody hiring the Three Stooges as their butler is so ridiculous that it's funny. Secondly, it's a genuinely funny movie, following the spirit of Jules Verne's original story, with the great-grandson of Phineas Fogg re-enacting his grandfather's famous journey. Thirdly, the Stooges are endearing in their loyalty to their employer, Mr. Fogg. As in the original story, there is a climatic rush to get Phineas Fogg to the club in time to win the bet -- and no one rushes madly better than the Three Stooges. There are many fine Stooge moments here, including Curly Joe doing the "Maha, ya ha?" routine (yes, I know that purists will insist that Curly did it better, but Curly Joe doesn't try to be Curly - he has his own unique character, and is a funny and fitting final 'third stooge'. Last and not least, the comedy and the story flow together smoothly, making for a very enjoyable movie.

Plot Synopsis of The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze

Phineas Fogg III, great grandson of the original Phineas Fogg, accepts a bet to duplicate his great grandfather's famous trip around the world in response to a challenge made by Randolph Stuart III, the descendant of the original Fogg's nemesis. Unbeknownst to anyone, However, "Stuart" is the infamous con man Vicker Cavendish who made the bet in order to cover up his robbing the bank of England by framing Fogg for the crime. This makes for a dangerous journey for Fogg and his servants (the stooges) and Amelia Carter, whom they rescue from thugs during a train ride. Can they make it back to England in time ?

Editorial Review of The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze, courtesy of Amazon.com

The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze (1963) has some distinction among the few features made by Moe and Larry with Joe DeRita. Basically a retelling of the Jules Verne classic, the plot has the added twist of Phineas Fogg III having to emulate the experience of his ancestor but without paying a penny in doing so. Again there is a bank robbery that is blamed on Fogg, but this time the culprits actively attempt to stop his progress since the perpetuator is the very villain who made the bet to begin with.

A personable Jay Sheffield plays the circumnavigator straight and love interest Joan Freeman does what acting she can, given a stereotyped role. What is interesting is that the Stooges, at least in their opening scenes, try to play English servants, accents and all, but they fall into more familiar patterns as the film progresses. While in India, the three get to reprise the vaudeville routine of the nearly blind Maja who goes "Aha?" (done better by Curly in Three Little Pirates). While in San Francisco, they reprise the fight sequence of Punch Drunks (again surpassed by Curly in the second Stooges short way back in 1934) in which Curly Joe can win only when driven berserk by the sound of "Pop Goes the Weasel" as played by Larry.

In lieu of the expected chase at the end, there is the wild attempt to get to the club just before midnight to win all the side bets Fogg had placed on his 80-days deadline. Their arrival through a solid wall is a fitting ending to a film that just might induce youngsters to read the original book. A very respectable Three Stooges effort. --Frank Behrens

The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze
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Description of The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze

Moe, Larry, and Joe embark on a worldwide journey with the great-grandson of Phileas Fogg a la AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS. Crime and attempted murder clouds the voyage, but in the end Fogg and the Stooges are successful.