Space Ship Sappy
Space Ship Sappy is a 1957 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Joe Besser). It is the 178th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.
| Space Ship Sappy | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Jules White |
| Written by | Jack White |
| Produced by | Jules White |
| Starring | Moe Howard Larry Fine Joe Besser Benny Rubin Doreen Woodbury Emil Sitka Lorraine Crawford Harriette Tarler Marilyn Hanold |
| Cinematography | Henry Freulich |
| Edited by | Saul A. Goodkind |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 16:15 |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot edit
The Stooges meet up with eccentric Professor A.K. Rimple (Benny Rubin) and his daughter (Doreen Woodbury) who ask the trio to help them with a space mission. The mission lands on the planet Sunev (Venus spelled backwards), where the Stooges are taken in by three attractive female aliens. At first, sparks fly (literally) when the girls kiss the boys, but then the ladies turn cannibalistic and are about to suck the Stooges' blood. However, the boys are able to escape as a huge lizard appears on the horizon, causing the women to run away. The three jump back in the rocket ship, knocking the Professor and his daughter out cold, and fly back to Earth. They are then shown relating the story of their adventure to an assembled group. When they finish, the "Liars Club" presents them with the award for being the biggest liars in the world.
Cast edit
- Moe Howard as Moe
- Larry Fine as Larry
- Joe Besser as Joe
- Benny Rubin as Professor A. K. Rimple
- Doreen Woodbury as Lisa Rimple
- Lorraine Crawford as Fauna
- Marilyn Hanold as Flora
- Harriette Tarler as 3rd Amazon
- Emil Sitka as Liars Club MC
Production notes edit
Space Ship Sappy was filmed on August 27–29, 1956.[1] 49-year-old Joe Besser suffered a mild heart attack shortly after filming was completed. Production of the Stooge shorts went on hiatus to allow Besser time to recover. Production eventually resumed on November 19 with Horsing Around.[2][3]
Space Ship Sappy features Moe and Larry's more "gentlemanly" haircuts, first suggested by Joe Besser. However, these had to be used sparingly, as most of the shorts with Besser were remakes of earlier films, and new footage had to be matched with old. Larry mentions Elvis Presley.[4]
References edit
- ^ Space Ship Sappy at threestooges.net
- ^ Solomon, Jon (2002). The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion. Glendale, California: Comedy III Productions, Inc. p. 491. ISBN 0-9711868-0-4.
- ^ Besser, Joe; Jeff Lenburg; Greg Lenburg (1984). Not Just a Stooge. Orange, California: Excelsior Books. p. 264. ISBN 978-0918283009.
- ^ Howard Maurer, Joan; Jeff Lenburg; Greg Lenburg (2012) [1982]. The Three Stooges Scrapbook. Glendale, California: Chicago Review Press. p. 264. ISBN 978-1613740743.