Pardon My Terror
Encyclopedia
Pardon My Terror is the short subject
starring Richard Lane
and Gus Schilling
. The supporting cast also includes Christine McIntyre
, Lynne Lyons, Philip Van Zandt
, Kenneth McDonald
, Dick Wessel
, Vernon Dent
, Emil Sitka
and Dudley Dickerson
.
had completed the script in 1946 and was ready to shoot the film after the Stooges' Half-Wits Holiday
, Curly Howard
's last starring film with the Stooges. Howard's untimely stroke
rendered him unable to continue with the act, so Bernds jettisoned his original script and hastily rewrote it for Schilling & Lane. Schilling's part was written as a combined Curly/Larry Fine
role, while Lane's was as Moe Howard
.
Bernds later admitted that the rewritten script was not a good fit for Schilling & Lane and he was determined to have the Stooges film their version of Pardon My Terror. As such, he reverted to his original script, adhered Curly's previous lines for Shemp Howard (who had replaced his brother in 1946), and retitled the film Who Done It?
. Who Done It? would become one of the finest comedies the team ever produced. Stooge expert Jon Solomon, author of The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion commented that "this well-balanced mixture of physical abuse, verbal banter, and emotional surprise is particularly vibrant even for a Stooge film."
Coincidentally, Columbia Pictures actors Emil Sitka
, Dudley Dickerson
and Christine McIntyre
appeared in both films.
Short subject
A short film is any film not long enough to be considered a feature film. No consensus exists as to where that boundary is drawn: the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes or less, including all...
starring Richard Lane
Dick Lane (TV announcer)
Richard Lane , more commonly known as Dick Lane, was an American television announcer and actor who made his mark broadcasting wrestling and roller derby shows on KTLA-TV, mainly from the Grand Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, California.-Early years:Lane was born in 1899 in Rice Lake, Wisconsin...
and Gus Schilling
Gus Schilling
August "Gus" Schilling was an American film actor. A former burlesque comedian, the New York-born Schilling usually played nervous comic roles, often unbilled.-Career:...
. The supporting cast also includes Christine McIntyre
Christine McIntyre
Christine Cecilia McIntyre was an actress who appeared in many movies in the 1930s and 1940s but is mainly known as the beautiful blonde actress who appeared in many Three Stooges shorts produced by Columbia Pictures....
, Lynne Lyons, Philip Van Zandt
Philip Van Zandt
Philip "Phil" Van Zandt was a Dutch actor of film, stage and television. He made over 220 film and television appearances between 1939 and 1958.-Career:...
, Kenneth McDonald
Kenneth MacDonald (American actor)
Kenneth MacDonald was an American film actor. Born in Portland, Indiana, MacDonald made more than 220 film and television appearances between 1931 and 1970.-Career:...
, Dick Wessel
Dick Wessel
Dick Wessel was an American film actor. Born in Wisconsin, Wessel appeared in over 270 films between 1935 and 1966. He is best remembered for his chilling portrayal of the ruthless strangler Harry "Cueball" Lake in Dick Tracy vs...
, Vernon Dent
Vernon Dent
Vernon Bruce Dent was a comic actor who appeared in over 400 films in his career. He co-starred in many short films for Columbia Pictures, frequently as the foil to the Three Stooges.-Early career:...
, Emil Sitka
Emil Sitka
Emil Sitka was a veteran American actor who appeared in hundreds of movies, short films, and television shows, and is best known for his numerous appearances with the Three Stooges—nearly 40...
and Dudley Dickerson
Dudley Dickerson
Dudley Dickerson was an African American film actor. Born in Oklahoma, he appeared in nearly 160 films between 1932 and 1952, and is best remembered for his roles in several Three Stooges films.-Career:...
.
Plot
Private detectives Dick and Gus are asked to investigate the disappearance and possible murder of her wealthy grandfather Jonas Morton. The duo encounter houseguest Mr. Grooch and his two assistants, who are behind the goings-on, and plotting to steal the Morton fortune. Creepy butler Jarvis also seems to have an ulterior motive. Dick and Gus' presence is not appreciated, and they find themselves the targets of poison, gunfire, and an electrifying death trap.Production
Pardon My Terror was originally meant to star The Three Stooges. Director Edward BerndsEdward Bernds
Edward Bernds was an American screenwriter and director, born in Chicago, Illinois.-Career:While in his junior year in Lake View High School, he and several friends formed a small radio clique and obtained amateur licenses...
had completed the script in 1946 and was ready to shoot the film after the Stooges' Half-Wits Holiday
Half-Wits Holiday
Half-Wits Holiday is the 97th 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:...
, Curly Howard
Curly Howard
Jerome Lester "Jerry" Horwitz , better known by his stage name Curly Howard, was an American comedian and vaudevillian. He is best known as a member of the American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges, along with his older brothers Moe Howard and Shemp Howard, and actor Larry Fine...
's last starring film with the Stooges. Howard's untimely stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
rendered him unable to continue with the act, so Bernds jettisoned his original script and hastily rewrote it for Schilling & Lane. Schilling's part was written as a combined Curly/Larry Fine
Larry Fine
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:...
role, while Lane's was as Moe Howard
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...
.
Bernds later admitted that the rewritten script was not a good fit for Schilling & Lane and he was determined to have the Stooges film their version of Pardon My Terror. As such, he reverted to his original script, adhered Curly's previous lines for Shemp Howard (who had replaced his brother in 1946), and retitled the film Who Done It?
Who Done It? (1949 film)
Who Done It? is the 114th 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:...
. Who Done It? would become one of the finest comedies the team ever produced. Stooge expert Jon Solomon, author of The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion commented that "this well-balanced mixture of physical abuse, verbal banter, and emotional surprise is particularly vibrant even for a Stooge film."
Coincidentally, Columbia Pictures actors Emil Sitka
Emil Sitka
Emil Sitka was a veteran American actor who appeared in hundreds of movies, short films, and television shows, and is best known for his numerous appearances with the Three Stooges—nearly 40...
, Dudley Dickerson
Dudley Dickerson
Dudley Dickerson was an African American film actor. Born in Oklahoma, he appeared in nearly 160 films between 1932 and 1952, and is best remembered for his roles in several Three Stooges films.-Career:...
and Christine McIntyre
Christine McIntyre
Christine Cecilia McIntyre was an actress who appeared in many movies in the 1930s and 1940s but is mainly known as the beautiful blonde actress who appeared in many Three Stooges shorts produced by Columbia Pictures....
appeared in both films.