Scrambled Brains

Page last edited 2,543 days ago
From Film, Print, Cards & Games Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Scrambled Brains
Scrambledbrains 1sht.jpg
Written by Felix Adler
Directed by Jules White
Starring Moe Howard
Larry Fine
Shemp Howard
Babe London
Vernon Dent
Emil Sitka
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
Production
Producer(s) Jules White
Cinematography Henry Freulich
Running time 15:50
Distributor Columbia Pictures

Scrambled Brains is a 1951 film directed by Jules White. It is the 132nd short film released by Columbia Pictures 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]

Moe and Larry are at a sanatorium where Shemp is being treating for suffering from hallucinations. Before being prematurely released, Shemp insists on saying farewell to his new fiancée, beautiful nurse Nora (Babe London). When Nora calls out to Shemp, she appears, much to the scare of Moe and Larry: poor Nora is a homely, toothless thing who seems to have won Shemp's heart. It then becomes clear that Shemp is far from cured, and needs additional therapy.

While Shemp is home, the boys receive a visit from Dr. Gesundheit (Emil Sitka). The blind-as-a-bat doctor tries his best to cure Shemp, but runs into difficulty when the stubborn stooge refuses to swallow a sleeping pill. Later, Shemp hallucinates an extra set of hands while enduring his piano lesson. On the verge of a nervous breakdown, Shemp insists on seeing Nora, with hopes of finally getting married.

On their way to the doctor, the Stooges become wedged in a phone booth with a stranger (Vernon Dent), leading to a fist and pie fight. Back in their apartment, they find she is waiting for her father who happens to be the man the Stooges brawled with in the phone booth.

Production notes[edit | edit source]

Scrambled Brains was filmed on March 21–23, 1950.[1] Larry Fine often cited this film as his all-time favorite, with You Nazty Spy! and Cuckoo on a Choo Choo his runners-up. He would often screen this film during his last days residing at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital.[2]

The gag of making a doll whine by leaning a rocking chair on it was borrowed from Laurel and Hardy's 1940 film Saps at Sea.[3]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Scrambled Brains at threestooges.net
  2. Lenburg, Jeff; Howard Maurer, Joan; Lenburg, Greg; (1982). The Three Stooges Scrapbook, pp. 30, 257, Citadel Press. ISBN 0-8065-0946-5
  3. Solomon, Jon. (2002) The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion, p. 387; Comedy III Productions, Inc., ISBN 0-9711868-0-4

External links[edit | edit source]


Category:1951 films Category:1950s comedy films Category:The Three Stooges films Category:American films Category:English-language films Category:American black-and-white films Category:Films directed by Jules White Category:Columbia Pictures short films