The best Three Stooges shorts of all time

A great man once said that the three most important men in American history were George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Moe Howard.

And if you don’t know who Moe Howard was… then spread out, numbskull, or I’ll gouge yer eyes out.

I enjoy watching Three Stooges clips.  I think I’ve seen all 190 of the Columbia two-reelers – even the four that were made with a “Fake Shemp” after the original Shemp died.  Yeah, there’s even a couple of Joe Besser Stooges that – well, to be honest – don’t completely stink. When I was a kid, WTEN used to air a Three Stooges episode – and then a Popeye cartoon – before Commander Ralph Vartigan would broadcast the Good Ship News. And when I visited my Grandma Betty in Boston, I could watch all the Three Stooges episodes I wanted on WSBK-38 every Sunday morning.

Now my opinion on what constitutes an excellent Three Stooges Columbia two-reeler might be different than yours… but today, I figured I’d show my ten favorites.  If you have other favorites, then that’s why this blog has a comment section.

GOOF ON THE ROOF
Moe-Larry-Shemp

Probably the best of the Shemp episodes, as the Stooges try to install a television set – with antenna – with, of course, hilarious results.   I realize that by this time in their careers, the Stooges were operating on a film budget that was barely peanuts, but still they were able to create a funny 20-minute short with most of the action taking place in a small apartment room.

GENTS WITHOUT CENTS
Moe-Larry-Curly

If for no other reason, this is the episode with the Stooges’ classic “Niagara Falls (Slowly I Turned)” vaudeville routine.  It’s fun to watch these “Stooges do vaudeville” episodes, in that this is probably one of the best opportunities for us to see these classic routines.

DISORDER IN THE COURT
Moe-Larry-Curly

The quintessential courtroom comedy.  Contains the classic “Take off your hat” routine, as well as the Stooges’ improvised jazz routine.

PUNCH DRUNKS
Moe-Larry-Curly

This was only their second short for Columbia, but it was a classic.  And it may be the only Columbia two-reeler in which the Stooges receive writers’ credits.

OIL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL
Moe-Larry-Joe

I know this was a remake of an earlier two-reeler with Curly Howard, but of the twelve Stooges shorts with Joe Besser, this is probably the one that stinks the least. In fact… this is one of the few Stooges shorts that only features the Stooges – without any supporting cast.

YOU NAZTY SPY!
Moe-Larry-Curly

Although Charlie Chaplin’s “The Great Dictator” was the first full-length film to satire Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich, the Three Stooges beat Chaplin to the screen with this two-reeler. It’s funny and it’s biting at the same time.

HOLD THAT LION!
Moe-Larry-Shemp (and Curly)

Yes, this is the only film in the Columbia Stooge shorts that contains FOUR Stooges. Curly Howard had suffered a series of debilitating strokes, and he had to retire from the Stooge act. But in 0:32 of the second clip below, you can see Curly Howard – with a full head of hair – making one final appearance with the fabled comedy team.

So these are the Stooges shorts that I consider the best. I’m open to discussions, defenses, arguments, claims, whatever.  Have at it.