Half-Shot Shooters—the Three Stooges
'Half-Shot Shooters' -- the Three Stooges at war, beaten up by their sergeant, and return the favor once they're discharged. But what happens when they re-enlist? And who would trust Moe, Larry and Curly with a cannon?Half Shot Shooters—starring the Three Stooges (Moe, Larry, Curly) - originally released April 30, 1936
Half Shot Shooters begins with the Three Stooges in the Army towards the end of World War I, doing what they do best—sleeping while trying to avoid work and danger. Their sergeant doesn’t take kindly to this, and administers slapstick ‘discipline’ to Moe, Larry and Curly. Shortly afterwards, the war ends and the Stooges get their revenge on their sergeant, using a wooden plank with nails in it (really), and the kick of a friendly mule.
However, things go downhill from there, as the Stooges are unable to find employment, and are soon begging at restaurant windows. An irate Vernon Dent (in his first appearance with the Three Stooges) sends them across the street to a place where they’ll find ‘employment’—and the Three Stooges unknowingly re-enlist in the Army! And who to start ‘testing’ them other than their old nemesis, Sergeant McGillicuddy, who starts by administering a ‘hearing test’—the boys put their heads under water, and the sergeant fires a pistol into the water, temporarily deafening them. This leads to some funny verbal humor, as the boys can’t hear the questions they’re being asked. Soon enough, the Stooges are back in the Army, and proving that there is no such thing as military intelligence, are assigned to loading the cannon under the supervision of their sergeant.
After sending the Stooges back for the ammunition, the practice fire for the day is canceled—but nobody notifies the Three Stooges, who begin loading and firing the cannon at multiple targets, including a house and a bridge. At the end, the sergeant has had enough, and ‘fires’ the Stooges—literally. A very funny short, recommended viewing.
Funny movie quotes from Half-Shot Shooters—the Three Stooges (1936)
Larry: Pipe down! You’re spoiling the whole war for me!
Moe: What of it?
Larry: Nothing. I was just saying.
Army officer: Will you fight for this great Republic, and ...
Moe: Republican? Naw, I’m a Democrat.
Curly: Not me, I’m a pedestrian!
Capt. Burke: ...wouldn’t know a shell from a boat.
Larry: What’d he say?
Moe: He says you smell like a goat.
Larry: Oh, yeah? Same to you!
Curly: Oh, the first shell went in there. It goes round and a round, woah, woah and it goes out there.
Capt. Burke: Where were you born?
Curly: He says your pants are torn.
Moe: I ain’t got any on.
Larry: Not worn, corn! Corn!
Curly: Oh, I got two on both dogs!
Larry: Pipe down! You’re spoilin’ the whole war for me!
Curly: I seen my duty and I did it!
Moe: I seen my duty, and I’ll do it! [holds out fist] See this? [Curly slaps Moe’s fist, which rotates around and hits Curly on the head]
Moe:Every time you think you weaken the nation.
Curly:His mother and my mother are both mothers.
Moe:I don’t know where that one landed, but I hope it didn’t hit the pool room!
Trivia for Half-Shot Shooters—starring the Three Stooges (Moe, Larry, Curly)
- Three stooges regular Vernon Dent‘s debut with the Three Stooges
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