Squareheads of the Round Table (1948)

Squareheads of the Round Table is a 1948 short subject directed by Edward Bernds starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Shemp Howard). It is the 106th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

Plot

The Stooges are troubadours during the Middle Ages amidst the era of King Arthur Pendragon's reign. The narrative unfolds wherein nefarious Black Prince harbors aspirations of union with Princess Elaine. However, the princess's affections lie with Cedric, the humble blacksmith. The intervention of the Stooges is pivotal, as they endeavor to advocate for Cedric's cause through the medium of music, specifically performing the sextet excerpted from Gaetano Donizetti's opera Lucia di Lammermoor.

Following a daring escape from confinement within the dungeon, where the King has sentenced them to face decapitation, Moe overhears a clandestine dialogue between the Black Prince and an accomplice. This exchange reveals a treacherous plot to assassinate the King subsequent to his nuptials with Princess Elaine, with the ulterior motive of securing the throne for the Black Prince. Through a display of diversionary antics, the trio engages in an armored dance choreographed to the strains of Stephen Foster's composition "Old Folks at Home", successfully disrupt the unfolding scheme, thereby affording Elaine the opportunity to liberate Cedric from captivity. The King ultimately apprehends the Black Prince and his confederate, thereby thwarting their machinations. Princess Elaine is consequently granted permission to unite in matrimony with Cedric.

Cast

Credited

Shemp Howard as Shemp

Larry Fine as Larry

Moe Howard as Moe

Christine McIntyre as Princess Elaine

Jock Mahoney as Cedric the Blacksmith

Philip Van Zandt as Black Prince

Vernon Dent as King Arthur

Uncredited

Harold Brauer as Sir Satchel

Joe Palma as Guard

Robert Stevens as Guard

Joe Garcio as Headsman

Douglas Coppin as King's Personal Guard

Judy Malcolm as Woman in King's Entourage

Production notes

Squareheads of the Round Table was the ninth Stooge film released but the third one filmed after Shemp rejoined the comedy team. Filming occurred on December 9–12, 1946, but was withheld from release until March 1948, approximately 15 months later. It was filmed approximately five months after the last entry, Out West (1947), was filmed.

Squareheads of the Round Table was remade in 1954 as Knutzy Knights, using ample stock footage. Like Fiddlers Three and The Hot Scots, Squareheads of the Round Table was filmed on the existing set of the feature film The Bandit of Sherwood Forest.

Quotes

King Arthur: "My daughter marry a ‘smith?!"

Shemp: "Take it easy, King; millions of women marry Smiths every year!"

References

External links

Squareheads of the Round Table at IMDb