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The Three Stooges go the "Pygmalion" route in this funny short film.
Two professors (Robert Graves, Henry Holman) make a $10,000 wager that one of the men can turn three uncouth men off the street into gentlemen. They find three garbage men (our Three Stooges- Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard) who would be perfect candidates. The Stooges stay with the professor for months, taking etiquette and dance lessons, until their big society debut at a classy party. This is the highlight, with Curly dealing with a couple of hilariously awful dance partners.
All the old bits are here, but remember they were new bits back then. A still-funny sequence has the dance instructor (Geneva Mitchell) telling the three to do everything she does, just before a bee flies down the back of her dress. The slap and punching choreography is top-notch, and the other cast members get into the act by the end of the film. Lord does well with his direction, matching the performers.
"Hoi Polloi" is good, funny, surreal physical comedy from the kings of slapstick. They were at the top of their game.
Stats:
(1935) 19 min. (8/10)
-Directed by Del Lord
-Story and Screenplay by Felix Adler
-Cast: The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard), Geneva Mitchell, Robert Graves, Henry Holman, Gino Corrado, Phyllis Crane, Grace Goodall, William Irving, Bud Jamison, Kathryn McHugh, Blanche Payson
(Not Rated)
Media Viewed: DVD
