Have Rocket, Will Travel
Encyclopedia
Have Rocket, Will Travel is a 1959 comedy film starring The Three Stooges. By this time, the trio consisted of Moe Howard
, Larry Fine
, and Joe DeRita (dubbed "Curly Joe"). Released by Columbia Pictures
, the feature was produced to capitalize on the comedy trio's late 1950s resurgence in popularity. The title is a parody of the then-popular television show Have Gun, Will Travel, and its soundtrack
featured songs such as "Swinging the Alphabet
" and "Aba Daba Honeymoon
".
Although billed as such, it was not the first starring feature for The Three Stooges. That honor goes to Rockin' in the Rockies
, the only starring feature made with the best known lineup of Moe, Larry and Curly.
, a giant fire breathing tarantula
, and an alien computer who has destroyed all human life on the planet and creates three evil triplets of the Stooges. When the boys return home triumphant, they are given a hero's welcome.
, Outer Space Jitters
, Flying Saucer Daffy
). They followed up with yet another space entry in 1962 for The Three Stooges in Orbit
.
Moe Howard
Moses Harry Horwitz , known professionally as Moe Howard, was an American actor and comedian best known as the leader of The Three Stooges, the farce comedy team who starred in motion pictures and television for four decades...
, Larry Fine
Larry Fine (actor)
Louis Feinberg , known professionally as Larry Fine, was an American comedian and actor, who is best known as a member of the comedy act The Three Stooges.-Early life:...
, and Joe DeRita (dubbed "Curly Joe"). Released by Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
, the feature was produced to capitalize on the comedy trio's late 1950s resurgence in popularity. The title is a parody of the then-popular television show Have Gun, Will Travel, and its soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
featured songs such as "Swinging the Alphabet
Swinging the Alphabet
"Swinging the Alphabet" is a novelty song sung by The Three Stooges in their 1938 film, Violent Is the Word for Curly. It is the only full-length song performed by the Stooges in their short films, and the only time they mimed to their own pre-recorded soundtrack.In 2005, film historian Richard...
" and "Aba Daba Honeymoon
Aba Daba Honeymoon
Aba Daba Honeymoon is a popular song that was written and published by Arthur Fields and Walter Donovan in 1914. Known through its chorus, "Aba daba daba daba daba daba dab, Said the chimpie to the monk; Baba daba daba daba daba daba dab, Said the monkey to the chimp," the first recording of Aba...
".
Although billed as such, it was not the first starring feature for The Three Stooges. That honor goes to Rockin' in the Rockies
Rockin' in the Rockies
Rockin' in the Rockies is a musical western film starring the Three Stooges . It was one of the Stooges' few feature films made during the run of their more well-known series of short subjects for Columbia Pictures, although the group had appeared in supporting roles in other features...
, the only starring feature made with the best known lineup of Moe, Larry and Curly.
Plot
The Stooges are janitors working at a space center who accidentally blast off to Venus. They encounter a talking unicornUnicorn
The unicorn is a legendary animal from European folklore that resembles a white horse with a large, pointed, spiraling horn projecting from its forehead, and sometimes a goat's beard...
, a giant fire breathing tarantula
Tarantula
Tarantulas comprise a group of often hairy and often very large arachnids belonging to the family Theraphosidae, of which approximately 900 species have been identified. Some members of the same Suborder may also be called "tarantulas" in the common parlance. This article will restrict itself to...
, and an alien computer who has destroyed all human life on the planet and creates three evil triplets of the Stooges. When the boys return home triumphant, they are given a hero's welcome.
Space travel craze
The space travel theme of Have Rocket, Will Travel was quite prevalent in the late 1950s. The Stooges had already filmed several shorts for Columbia revolving around this theme (Space Ship SappySpace Ship Sappy
Space Ship Sappy is the 178th 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:...
, Outer Space Jitters
Outer Space Jitters
Outer Space Jitters is the 182nd short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The five made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:...
, Flying Saucer Daffy
Flying Saucer Daffy
Flying Saucer Daffy is the 187th 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:...
). They followed up with yet another space entry in 1962 for The Three Stooges in Orbit
The Three Stooges in Orbit
The Three Stooges In Orbit was the fourth feature film to star the Three Stooges after their 1959 resurgence in popularity. By this time, the trio consisted of Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Joe DeRita . Released by Columbia Pictures, The Three Stooges In Orbit was directed by long-time Stooge...
.
Primary cast
- Moe HowardMoe HowardMoses Harry Horwitz , known professionally as Moe Howard, was an American actor and comedian best known as the leader of The Three Stooges, the farce comedy team who starred in motion pictures and television for four decades...
: Himself - Larry FineLarry FineLouis Feinberg , known professionally as Larry Fine, was an American comedian and actor, who is best known as a member of the comedy act The Three Stooges.-Early life:...
: Himself - Joe DeRita: Himself
- Anna-Lisa: Dr. Ingrid Naarveg
- Robert ColbertRobert ColbertRobert Colbert is an American actor most noted for his leading role portraying Dr. Doug Phillips on the TV series The Time Tunnel and his two appearances as a third Maverick brother in Maverick....
: Dr. Ted Benson - Jerome CowanJerome CowanJerome Palmer Cowan was an American film and television actor. At eighteen he joined a travelling stock company, shortly afterwards enlisting in the navy in World War I. After the war he returned to the stage and became a vaudeville headliner, then gained success on the New York stage...
: Mr. Morse - Don Lamond: The Venusian Robot/Reporter/Narrator
- Robert StevensonRobert Stevenson (director)Robert Stevenson was an English film writer and director. He was educated at Cambridge University where he became the president of both the Liberal Club and the Cambridge Union Society....
: Voice of The Thingtz - Dal McKennonDallas McKennonDallas Raymond McKennon , sometimes credited as Dal McKennon, was an American actor, with extensive work as a voice actor, in a career lasting over 50 years.-Career:...
: Voice of Uni the Unicorn