Punchy Cowpunchers

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Punchy Cowpunchers
Punchy Cow 1950 LC.jpeg
Written by Edward Bernds
Directed by Edward Bernds
Starring Moe Howard
Larry Fine
Shemp Howard
Christine McIntyre
Jacques O'Mahoney
Kenneth MacDonald
Vernon Dent
Emil Sitka
Dick Wessel
John Cason
Heinie Conklin
George Chesebro
Ted Mapes
Stanley Price
Joe Palma
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
Production
Producer(s) Hugh McCollum
Cinematography Vincent J. Farrar
Running time 17:15
Distributor Columbia Pictures

Punchy Cowpunchers, released by Columbia Pictures in 1950, is the 120th short film starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Shemp Howard). The comedians released 190 short films for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

Plot[edit | edit source]

It is the old west and the Dillon clan are making life miserable for a small Western town. Sweetheart Nell (Christine McIntyre) and her dashing but dimwitted boyfriend Elmer (Jacques O'Mahoney) rushes off to find help. Meanwhile, cavalrymen the Stooges are making life miserable for superior, Sergeant Mullins (Dick Wessel). Mullins tries to whip the boys into shape, but his plan backfire and has a run-in with his superior, Captain Daley (Emil Sitka). Daley informs Mullins about the Dillion clan's evildoings, and needs some men to run them out of town. Mullins does not miss a beat, and volunteers the unsuspecting Stooges.

The trio are made up to look like tough desperadoes, and happen upon the town saloon. They take jobs as waiters and do their best to spy on Dillion (Kenneth MacDonald) and his hombres without being discovered (complete with fake mustaches) However, Moe's mustache flies off his face, right onto Dillion's nose. The gang tie up Moe and Larry, and manage to corner Shemp into a safe.

As this is going on, Elmer is stumbling his way to the door of United States Cavalry, who are temporarily unavailable, it being pay day and all ("Boys will be boys," shrugs Cavalry colonel Vernon Dent). Disillusioned, Elmer returns to rescue his Nell, who is busy knocking every cowboy who enters her room out cold. Eventually, the Stooges emerge victorious.

Production notes[edit | edit source]

Punchy Cowpunchers is one of the few entries in the Stooge canon to feature an extensive musical soundtrack. It also features all four of the core supporting actors who appeared in many of the Stooge shorts: Christine McIntyre, Kenneth MacDonald, Vernon Dent and Emil Sitka.

On The Three Stooges Collection Volume 6 DVD there is an error on the box billing the short under 1949

External links[edit | edit source]


Category:1950 films Category:The Three Stooges films Category:American films Category:English-language films Category:American black-and-white films Category:Western (genre) comedy films Category:Films directed by Edward Bernds Category:Columbia Pictures short films