''Horses' Collars'' is a 1935

short subject A short film is a film with a low running time. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of not more than 40 minutes including all credits". Other film or ...

directed by

Clyde Bruckman Clyde Adolf Bruckman (June 30, 1894January 4, 1955) was an American writer and director of comedy films during the late Silent film, silent era, who continued working into the 1950s. Bruckman collaborated with such comedians as Buster Keaton, Mo ...

and starring American

slapstick Slapstick is a style of humor involving exaggerated physical activity that exceeds the boundaries of normal physical comedy. Slapstick may involve both intentional violence and violence by mishap, often resulting from inept use of props such as ...

comedy team

The Three Stooges The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy team active from 1922 until 1970, best remembered for their 190 short-subject films by Columbia Pictures. Their hallmark styles were physical, farce, and slapstick comedy. Six total ...

(

Moe Howard Moses Harry Horwitz (June 19, 1897 – May 4, 1975), better known by his stage name Moe Howard, was an American comedian and actor. He is best known as the leader and straight man of the Three Stooges, the farce comedy team who starred in motion ...

Larry Fine Louis Feinberg (October 4, 1902 – January 24, 1975), better known by his stage name Larry Fine, was an American actor, comedian and musician. He is best known as a member of the comedy act the Three Stooges and was often called "The Middle St ...

and

Curly Howard Jerome Lester Horwitz (October 22, 1903 – January 18, 1952), better known by his stage name Curly Howard, was an American comedian and actor. He was a member of The Three Stooges comedy team, which also featured his elder brothers Moe and ...

). It is the fifth entry in the series released by

Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., Trade name, doing business as Columbia Pictures, is an American film Production company, production and Film distributor, distribution company that is the flagship unit of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group ...

starring the comedians, who released 190 short films for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

Plot

The Stooges, acting as emissaries under the auspices of Detective Hyden Zeke, embark upon a mission to the Western frontier with the objective of assisting Nell Higginbottom in reclaiming an IOU wrongfully obtained from her father. The document, coveted by Double Deal Decker, a notorious individual of ruthless disposition, represents a key instrument in his bid to unlawfully appropriate Nell's rightful inheritance, a prized ranch. Undaunted by the looming hazards, the Stooges encounter a series of challenges, notably successfully appropriating Decker's wallet through a strategic maneuver. This act incites the antagonist's wrath, precipitating a perilous situation wherein he and his accomplices endeavor to administer summary justice by hanging the trio. The Stooges press forward, penetrating into Decker's clandestine stronghold. Here, they exhibit resolve as they successfully access the secure confines of a safe, wherein lies the coveted IOU. Amidst the ensuing confrontation with Decker and his confederates, the Stooges demonstrate their mettle, with Curly's idiosyncratic fear of mice paradoxically aiding their cause.

Production notes

''Horses' Collars'' was filmed on November 23–27, 1934.''Horses' Collars'' at threestooges.net
/ref> The opening theme song is titled "At the Races," composed by

Louis Silvers Louis "Lou" Silvers (''né'' Louis Silberstein; September 6, 1889 – March 26, 1954) was an American film score composer whose work has been used in more than 250 movies. In 1935, he won the first Academy Award for Best Original Score for ...

. Curly has a violent reaction to the sight of a live mouse at any time, going into a fit while demanding, ''"Moe! Larry! The Cheese!"''. The only cure is for someone to feed him cheese, with Curly telling them which kind. The reason for this is explained by Moe & Larry, stating that Curly's father was a rat. The kind of cheeses that Curly calls for are

roquefort Roquefort () is a sheep milk blue cheese from southern France. Though similar cheeses are produced elsewhere, European Union law, EU law dictates that only those cheeses aged in the natural Combalou caves of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon may bear the na ...

camembert Camembert ( , , ) is a moist, soft, creamy, surface-ripened cow's milk cheese. It was first made in the late 18th century in Camembert, Normandy, in northwest France. It is sometimes compared in look, taste and texture to brie cheese, albe ...

, and

limburger Limburger (in southern Dutch contexts Rommedoe, and in Belgium Herve cheese) is a cheese that originated in the Herve area of the historical Duchy of Limburg, which had its capital in Limbourg-sur-Vesdre, now in the French-speaking Belgian pr ...

. An external stimulus — as with Curly spotting the mouse — that causes him to go bonkers was also used as a plot element in '' Punch Drunks'', ''

Grips, Grunts and Groans ''Grips, Grunts and Groans'' is a 1937 short subject directed by Preston Black starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 20th entry in the series released by Columbia Picture ...

'', and ''

Tassels in the Air ''Tassels in the Air'' is a 1938 short subject directed by Charley Chase starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 30th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starr ...

''. ''Horses' Collars'' was the first of 17 Western-themed films the Stooges would make. It is also the first short where the Stooges sing "You'll Never Know What Tears Are" in

barbershop music Barbershop vocal harmony is a style of a cappella close harmony, or unaccompanied vocal music, characterized by consonance and dissonance, consonant four-part chord (music), chords for every melody note in a primarily homorhythmic texture. Eac ...

style. This song would make an appearance in future shorts '' Half-Shot Shooters'' and '' A Ducking They Did Go''. The casting of Kohler, who played the villain in countless actual westerns, gave the film some added authenticity.

References

External links

*
''Horses' Collars'' at threestooges.net
1935 films The Three Stooges films American black-and-white films Films directed by Clyde Bruckman Films with screenplays by Felix Adler (screenwriter) 1930s Western (genre) comedy films Columbia Pictures short films American Western (genre) comedy short films American slapstick comedy films 1935 comedy films 1930s English-language films 1930s American films English-language Western (genre) comedy short films {{1930s-Western-film-stub