Punchy Cowpunchers (1950) starring the Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard)
Synopsis
In Punchy Cowpunchers, the Three Stooges (Moe, Larry, Shemp) are cavalrymen sent out west to capture the Killer Dillon’s gang. A very funny short, with a very large supporting cast, including Stooge regulars Vernon Dent, Emil Sitka and Christine McIntyre.
Review of Punchy Cowpunchers
In short, Punchy Cowpunchers is one of the funniest Three Stooges short films of the Shemp era. In fact, it’s one of their funniest shorts, period. The comedy is fast and furious, giving a lot of opportunity for the supporting cast to shine. Christine McIntyre & Jock Mahoney nearly steal the show, in fact.
One thing that I appreciate was just how acrobatic Jock Mahoney was in his slapstick. And Christine, as the “poor, helpless woman” who keeps knocking the Dillon gang out cold with a single punch is hilarious! Especially with the “fainting spell” afterwards.
Curly for President T-shirt
One other thing is the raw number of Three Stooges regulars who show up in Punchy Cowpunchers — even for a brief appearance. Dick Wessel is their sergeant, whom the boys accidentally abuse. Emil Sitka is the captain, who Dick accidentally abuses. Vernon Dent is the colonel who can’t send the cavalry to help. After all, it’s payday, and “boys will be boys”. And of course, Kenneth MacDonald as the villainous Dillon.
Everyone is funny, the comedy’s fast paced, with lots of little “bits” thrown in. One quick example is the gang member who’s trying to open a safe. Rather than scratching his fingers on a piece of sandpaper, he uses his unshaven face! It’s fast, furious, funny, and highly recommended! Enjoy!
Classic bits
- Chasing the Stooges through a maze of boxes
- Shemp proving he’s tough by ordering a milkshake … with sour milk!
- Assaulting their sergeant
- Hitting him with horse shoes, to the tune of the NBC chimes
- Shoeing their horse
- One of the funniest things Christine McIntyre ever did on screen! Three times, a member of the gang comes in to kidnap her … And she protests, “I’m just a poor, weak woman!” And then knocks the assailant out with a single punch! After each, she faints. But on the third attempt, she’s not near a bed. So, she first walks over to the couch, and then faints!
Funny movie quotes from Punchy Cowpunchers
Shemp (Shemp Howard): [at a bar, trying to look tough] I’ll have a milkshake … with sour milk!
Elmer [Jock Mahoney]: I’m back, Nell honey.
Nell [Christine McIntyre]: What took you so long?
Elmer [Jock Mahoney]: Aw, shucks. I fell off my horse and I had to walk.
Elmer [Jock Mahoney]: You’re right, pardner. I’m hitting the trail. [He exits, followed by the sound of cans falling, etc.]
Moe (Moe Howard): It sounds like the trail hit him!
Dillon (Kenneth MacDonald): Well, well. Spying, eh?
Moe (Moe Howard): No, leaving!
Nell [Christine McIntyre]: [to the gang member trying to kidnap her] No! I’m just a poor, weak woman! [knocks him out with a single punch]
Nell [Christine McIntyre]: [to Elmer] Now we can get married!
Elmer [Jock Mahoney]: Now wait a minute, Nell. Us Westerners aint the marrying kind. We just go riding off into the sunset. [He walks away, strumming his guitar and singing … as a vase flies from behind and hits him in the head] Nell honey!
Cast of characters
- Shemp Howard … Shemp
- Larry Fine … Larry
- Moe Howard … Moe
- Jock Mahoney (Squareheads of the Round Table, The Land Unknown) … Elmer
- Christine McIntyre (The Hot Scots, Blondie Takes a Vacation) … Nell
- Kenneth MacDonald (Three Dark Horses) … Dillon
- Dick Wessel (Fright Night, Beware of Blondie) … Sgt. Mullins
- Vernon Dent (Higher Than a Kite, The Big Flash) … Colonel
- Emil Sitka (Who Done It?, The Fuller Brush Girl) … Capt. Daley
Additional cast
- John Cason (A Snitch in Time) … Black Jack Dillon
- George Chesebro (Merry Mavericks) … Jeff Dillon
- Heinie Conklin (Back from the Front) … Bartender
- Ethan Laidlaw (Three Little Pirates) … Barfly
- Ted Mapes … Red Dillon
- Joe Palma (Hot Stuff) … Shemp’s Saloon Customer
- Stanley Price (Studio Stoops) … Lefty
- Blackie Whiteford (Slaphappy Sleuths) … Barfly