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*This change in the title card coincides with the refined and more familiar Columbia Pictures "torch lady" image, with a shimmering light instead of the primitive animation of light rays in the previous version. In addition, the "Columbia" theme now uses a more upbeat theme, featuring a brass introduction.<ref name="Solomon"/>
*This change in the title card coincides with the refined and more familiar Columbia Pictures "torch lady" image, with a shimmering light instead of the primitive animation of light rays in the previous version. In addition, the "Columbia" theme now uses a more upbeat theme, featuring a brass introduction.<ref name="Solomon"/>
*After pulling gum off Moe's nose, Larry steps on it with his foot and breaks into a wild [[Tarzan yell]].
*After pulling gum off Moe's nose, Larry steps on it with his foot and breaks into a wild [[Tarzan yell]].
*''Disorder in the Court '' is one of four Stooge shorts that fell into the [[public domain]] after the copyright lapsed in the 1960s (the other three being ''[[Malice in the Palace]]'', ''[[Brideless Groom]]'', and ''[[Sing a Song of Six Pants]]''). As such, these four shorts frequently appear on cheaply produced DVD or video compilations. (It is the only such short to feature Curly; the other three feature [[Shemp Howard|Shemp]] instead.)<ref name="Solomon"/>
*''Disorder in the Court '' is one of four Stooge shorts that fell into the [[public domain]] after the copyright lapsed in the 1960s (the other three being ''[[Malice in the Palace]]'', ''[[Brideless Groom]]'', and ''[[Sing a Song of Six Pants]]''). As such, these four shorts frequently appear on cheaply produced DVD or video compilations as well as being broadcast more often on television. This is the only such short to feature the more popular Curly; the other three feature [[Shemp Howard|Shemp]] instead.)<ref name="Solomon"/>
*Footage from this episode was seen in a ''[[Really Wild Animals]]'' episode, "Dinos and other Creature Features".
*Footage from this episode was seen in a ''[[Really Wild Animals]]'' episode, "Dinos and other Creature Features".


Revision as of 20:18, 28 July 2013

For the TruTV television program, see Disorder in the Court (TV series).
Disorder in the Court
File:DisorderinCourtTITLE.jpg
Directed byPreston Black
Written byFelix Adler
Produced byJules White
StarringMoe Howard
Larry Fine
Curly Howard
Bud Jamison
Harry Semels
Suzanne Kaaren
James C. Morton
Edward LeSaint
Al Thompson
Eddie Laughton
CinematographyBenjamin H. Kline
Edited byWilliam A. Lyon
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
May 30, 1936 (U.S.)
Running time
16' 37"
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Disorder in the Court is the 15th short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.

Plot

The Stooges are key witnesses at a murder trial. Their friend and colleague, Gail Tempest (Suzanne Kaaren), is a dancer at the Black Bottom cafe where the Stooges are musicians. She is accused of killing Kirk Robin (a play on "Who Killed Cock Robin?").

When Curly (Curly Howard) is called to the witness stand, he is nowhere to be found. The defense attorney (Bud Jamison) goes out into the hall and finds the Stooges playing jacks and tic-tac-toe on the floor. After considerable mutual frustration, the court finally swears in Curly, who begins to describe the events that took place on the night of the murder after some difficultly in taking the oath. He offers to show the court exactly what happened when they have trouble understanding him, and the Stooges break into their musical routine, with Larry (Larry Fine) playing the violin, Moe (Moe Howard) playing the harmonica, and Curly playing the spoons. Gail Tempest shrugs off her coat and reveals her dancer costume, to the great surprise of the jury.

The act ends when Larry mistakes a toupée for a tarantula; Moe subsequently takes the guard's gun and starts shooting the toupée, causing pandemonium in the court. After everything is brought under control, Moe and Curly re-enact the actual murder (with Curly on the receiving end). Moe then looks at the parrot, who was at the murder scene, and sees a note tied to the parrot's foot. He opens the parrot cage, and the parrot flies out. The Stooges eventually capture the bird by shooting water at it through a fire hose, though drench the Court. Moe then reads the letter out loud and reveals that it is a confession from the real murderer, Buck Wing, which proves Gail's innocence. A photo is about to be taken of them, but the hose breaks and spurts water out.

Notes

From left to right: Larry, Moe, Curly, Gail, and the defense attorney.
  • The title Disorder in the Court is a play on the stereotypical judge's cry, "Order in the court!"[1]
  • A colorized version of this film was released in 2006 as part of the DVD collection "Stooges on the Run."
  • Sol Horwitz, the father of Moe, Curly, and Shemp Howard, makes an uncredited appearance as a member of the public audience.[1]
  • This is the first Stooge short in which Curly is spelled "C-U-R-L-Y" in the opening titles as opposed to "C-U-R-L-E-Y," as it was in previous shorts. The title card also has the Stooges inverted, reading from left to right, Curly-Larry-Moe, as opposed to Moe-Larry-Curly in previous shorts, effectively giving Curly "top billing."
  • This change in the title card coincides with the refined and more familiar Columbia Pictures "torch lady" image, with a shimmering light instead of the primitive animation of light rays in the previous version. In addition, the "Columbia" theme now uses a more upbeat theme, featuring a brass introduction.[1]
  • After pulling gum off Moe's nose, Larry steps on it with his foot and breaks into a wild Tarzan yell.
  • Disorder in the Court is one of four Stooge shorts that fell into the public domain after the copyright lapsed in the 1960s (the other three being Malice in the Palace, Brideless Groom, and Sing a Song of Six Pants). As such, these four shorts frequently appear on cheaply produced DVD or video compilations as well as being broadcast more often on television. This is the only such short to feature the more popular Curly; the other three feature Shemp instead.)[1]
  • Footage from this episode was seen in a Really Wild Animals episode, "Dinos and other Creature Features".
Gail Tempest dancing in the court.
  • The perp is a dancer named Buck Wing, a reference to the buck-and-wing dance common in vaudeville and minstrel shows.[1]
  • The classic 'swearing in' ('Take off your hat!,' 'Raise your right hand,' 'Judgy wudgy') routine was borrowed nearly verbatim from Buster Keaton's Sidewalks of New York, which was directed by Stooge veteran and producer Jules White.[1]
  • On TruTV, the reality TV series Disorder in the Court is based on the film.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Solomon, Jon (2002). The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion. Comedy III Productions, Inc. p. 96. ISBN 0-9711868-0-4. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
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