Termites of 1938 (1938)

Termites of 1938 is a 1938 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 28th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

Plot

A high-society woman named Muriel has been looking forward to attending a dinner gathering hosted by an acquaintance. However, her spouse, Arthur, elects to embark on a fishing expedition, leaving her to contend with the prospect of attending the event unaccompanied. On the advice of a friend, Muriel instructs her maid to enlist the services of the Acme Escort Service to procure suitable companions, whom her friend assures her are "mostly college boys from Harvard and Yale – perfect gentlemen". Regrettably, a miscue results in a communication with the Acme Exterminator Co., overseen by the Stooges.

The Stooges, engrossed in the pursuit of innovative methods for rodent eradication, accept the commission, ignorant of its true nature. Clad in formal attire, they arrive at the opulent abode amidst a gathering of distinguished guests, laboring under the misconception that their role is to cleanse the premises of vermin. However, when the dinner is served, the Stooges rush with unseemly haste to partake in the banquet, and their atrocious table manners leave the assembled company nonplussed.

The post-prandial musical entertainment is disrupted by the Stooges, who dismiss the musicians and provide their own inept performance, culminating in the destruction of a double bass with a saw. When mice emerge from the broken instrument, chaos ensues. The Stooges undertake earnest efforts to fulfill their perceived duty, albeit with calamitous consequences, causing structural damage to the house and inadvertently injuring Muriel.

Upon Arthur's return, he confronts the chaotic scene and angrily chases the Stooges from the premises after seizing a gopher bomb from their equipment bag. As the Stooges attempt to flee in their automobile, Arthur lobs the bomb in their direction. He hits his target: the car is blown to pieces and the Stooges are left sprawling in the road.

Cast

Credited

Moe Howard as Moe

Larry Fine as Larry

Curly Howard as Curly

Uncredited

Bess Flowers as Muriel Van Twitchell

Etta McDaniel as Mandy - The Maid

Bud Jamison as Lord Wafflebottom

John Ince as Clayhammer

Edward Peil Sr. as 2nd Butler

Jules Cowles as 3rd Butler

Dorothy Granger as Mabel Sturgeon

Symona Boniface as Party Guest

Carlton Griffin as Party Guest

Delos Jewkes as Party Guest

Kay Valon as Tall Blonde Guest

Lew Davis as Party Guest

Helen Davis as Party Guest

Beatrice Blinn as Party Guest

Helen Godwin as Party Guest

Note: IMDB lists Richard Fiske as Arthur Van Twitchell, but it is not Fisk, the role is played by an unidentified actor.

Production notes

Termites of 1938 was filmed on October 19–23, 1937. The film's title is a parody of the film title Gold Diggers of 1937. The film has two musical quirks unusual for Stooge shorts. First, the Three Stooges' opening theme, "Listen to the Mockingbird," is played again when the Stooges first appear onscreen. Second, music derived from Victor Schertzinger's score for the 1933 Columbia feature Cocktail Hour is featured during the dinner scene. This is the result of producer Charley Chase, who liked incidental music from his time at the Hal Roach studio.

Termites of 1938 was remade in 1946 as Society Mugs, starring future Stooge Shemp Howard and Tom Kennedy.

References

External links

Termites of 1938 at IMDb