Shivering Sherlocks (1948) starring the Three Stooges – Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Shemp Howard
In Shivering Sherlocks, the Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Shemp Howard) have run up a massive bill at the diner run by their friend Gladys (played by Three Stooges regular Christine McIntyre). To pay off their debt, and to try and save the diner from bankruptcy, they begin working at the diner — while there, they are witnesses to a bank robbery. At first following their instinct to run away, they are found by the police and after being interrogated by police Captain Mullins (played by Three Stooges regular Vernon Dent), the Stooges prove their innocence, and become vital witnesses. But Gladys is still in danger of losing her diner …
Gladys has decided to sell her family’s old country home, and the Three Stooges go along to inspect it before its’ sale. Unknown to them, the house is where the bank robbers (including Three Stooges regular Kenneth McDonald) have been hiding — and they now that the opportunity to eliminate all of the witnesses to their crime. He sends “Angel” – a mute, hulking hunchback armed with a long blade to do the murders, since he will be more quiet that gunshots.
Angel first kidnaps Gladys, and the remainder of the short film turns into a haunted house movie, with Angel trying to dispose of the Three Stooges, and them trying to stay out of his clutches. It has several funny moments, and ends with Shemp dropping empty barrels on the crooks as they chase Moe and Larry, with the short film ending by dropping a barrel full of flour on Moe and Larry.
I enjoyed Shivering Sherlocks, and rate it 3 stars out of 5. It is available on DVD as part of The Three Stooges Collection, Vol. 5: 1946-1948
Funny movie quotes from Shivering Sherlocks
Moe (Moe Howard): [motioning to a pile of checks] You mean they signed all these? Why, the dirty crooks! Let’s see here… [grabs a stack and starts reading through them] ‘Larry Fine’, ‘Larry Fine’, ‘Lar-‘… [hits Larry on the head with the pile] Why you nitwit!
Shemp (Shemp Howard): [disgusted] You’ve got a lot’a crust, you have…
Moe (Moe Howard): [spots another pile of checks] Hey, look at this guy’s pile… [reads through them] ‘Shemp Howard’, ‘Shemp Howard’, ‘Shemp-‘… [slaps Shemp] What’s the matter with you?!
Shemp (Shemp Howard): Ah, I’m comin’ back, now!
Moe (Moe Howard): [notices the biggest pile] Hey, this guy must’ve had a tapeworm! [starts reading through them] ‘Moe Howard’, ‘Moe Howard’, “Moe-‘…
[Larry and Shemp look at Moe incredulously]
Moe (Moe Howard): …what’re you guys lookin’ at?! [slaps Larry and Shemp]
Working at the diner
Larry (Larry Fine): What will it be, sir?
Customer: I’ll take the short ribs.
Larry (Larry Fine): I think we got some delicious chicken soup.
Customer: Just short ribs.
Larry (Larry Fine): I know but you haven’t tried our chicken soup I know because I…
Customer: [Grabs Larry by the collar] Short ribs!
Larry (Larry Fine): Short ribs. Chicken soup comin’ up!
Questioned by the police
Police Officer Jackson: [the police officer hears a sound coming from a trash can] Who’s in that can?
Shemp (Shemp Howard): Just garbage! [Slap] Oh!
Captain Mullins (Vernon Dent): Have you any visible means of support?
Larry: Sure. I’ve got suspenders!
Captain Mullins (Vernon Dent): [the captain tries the lie detector on Shemp] Now then, I gotta a couple of questions I wanna ask you!
Shemp (Shemp Howard): Me?
Moe (Moe Howard): Yes, and so do I. Did you or did not take that quarter out of my shoe last night?
Shemp (Shemp Howard): On my honor, Moe I didn’t do it. [lie detector alarm goes off]
At the haunted house, to rescue Christine
Moe (Moe Howard): You had a hallucination!
Shemp (Shemp Howard): No, I had a hunk ‘a pipe!
Shemp (Shemp Howard): What’s that?
Moe (Moe Howard): That’s a statue.
Shemp (Shemp Howard): It must be Washington – he slept everywhere!
Moe (Moe Howard): Shemp, is that you in there?
Shemp (Shemp Howard): No, I ain’t in here!
Cast of characters in Shivering Sherlocks
- Shemp Howard … Shemp Howard
- Larry Fine … Larry Fine (as Larry)
- Moe Howard … Moe Howard
- Christine McIntyre (Scotched in Scotland) … Gladys Harmon
- Vernon Dent (Fiddlers Three) … Police Capt. Mullins
- Kenneth MacDonald (Crime on their Hands) … Lefty Loomis
- Frank Lackteen (The Sea Wolf) … Red Watkins
- Duke York (Who Done It?) … Angel
Additional Cast
- Stanley Blystone (Fright Night) … Cafe Customer
- Joe Palma (Punchy Cowpunchers) … Lie-detector Technician
- Cy Schindell (Three Little Sew and Sews) … Police Officer Jackson
- Blackie Whiteford (So Long Mr. Chumps) … Patrolman
