Spooks!
Encyclopedia
Spooks! is the 148th short subject starring American slapstick
comedy team the Three Stooges
. It is notable as the first Three Stooges
short filmed in 3-D. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures
between 1934 and 1959.
), daughter of George B. Bopper. They decide to trace Bopper back to where she was last seen, which leads them to mad scientist Dr. Jeckyl (Philip Van Zandt
) and his assistant, Mr. Hyde (Tom Kennedy
). There is also a gorilla kept imprisoned in the house for experimental purposes. The Stooges arrive to rescue the kidnapped girl disguised as door-to door pie salesmen.
) made by Columbia with the Stooges in 3-D, after the 3-D craze of 1953 began with Bwana Devil
. It originally premiered on May 20, 1953 with the Columbia western Fort Ti (also in 3-D).
and Spooks! were originally sepia toned
in order to allow for more light to pass through the Polaroid filters necessary for the dual-strip 3-D projection method of that time. The process did not work as expected and the idea was dropped after these two productions.
This is also the first short in the series filmed for flat wide-screen. Although some films of this period were composed for the Academy aspect ratio
and released in wide-screen during the confusion, Spooks! and further shorts from then on were composed at 1.85:1, Columbia's house ratio.
Slapstick
Slapstick is a type of comedy involving exaggerated violence and activities which may exceed the boundaries of common sense.- Origins :The phrase comes from the batacchio or bataccio — called the 'slap stick' in English — a club-like object composed of two wooden slats used in Commedia dell'arte...
comedy team the Three Stooges
Three Stooges
The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy act of the early to mid–20th century best known for their numerous short subject films. Their hallmark was physical farce and extreme slapstick. In films, the Stooges were commonly known by their first names: "Moe, Larry, and Curly" and "Moe,...
. It is notable as the first Three Stooges
Three Stooges
The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy act of the early to mid–20th century best known for their numerous short subject films. Their hallmark was physical farce and extreme slapstick. In films, the Stooges were commonly known by their first names: "Moe, Larry, and Curly" and "Moe,...
short filmed in 3-D. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for 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...
between 1934 and 1959.
Plot
The Stooges are private detectives that are hired to track down a kidnapped girl name Mary Bopper (Norma RandallNorma Randall
Norma Randall is an American film actress. She appeared in several films starring The Three Stooges in the early 1950s.-Selected filmography:* Pals and Gals * Musty Musketeers * Spooks!...
), daughter of George B. Bopper. They decide to trace Bopper back to where she was last seen, which leads them to mad scientist Dr. Jeckyl (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:...
) and his assistant, Mr. Hyde (Tom Kennedy
Tom Kennedy (American actor)
Tom Kennedy was an American actor best known for his roles in Hollywood comedies from the silent days, with such producers as Mack Sennett and Hal Roach, mainly supporting lead comedians such as the four Marx Brothers, WC Fields, Mabel Normand, Shemp Howard and Laurel and Hardy.-Career:For over 50...
). There is also a gorilla kept imprisoned in the house for experimental purposes. The Stooges arrive to rescue the kidnapped girl disguised as door-to door pie salesmen.
Production
Spooks! was the first of two shorts (the other being Pardon My BackfirePardon My Backfire
Pardon My Backfire is the 149th 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:...
) made by Columbia with the Stooges in 3-D, after the 3-D craze of 1953 began with Bwana Devil
Bwana Devil
Bwana Devil is a 1952 drama based on the true story of the Tsavo maneaters. It was written, directed, and produced by Arch Oboler, and is considered the first color, American 3-D feature. It started the 3-D boom in the U.S. film making industry from 1952 to 1954...
. It originally premiered on May 20, 1953 with the Columbia western Fort Ti (also in 3-D).
Technical notes
Both the Columbia 3-D Edmund O'Brien thriller Man in the DarkMan in the Dark
Man in the Dark is a film noir drama 3-D film starring Edmund O'Brien, Audrey Totter and Ted de Corsia released in 1953. It is a remake of the 1936 Ralph Bellamy vehicle The Man who Lived Twice.It was the first Columbia Pictures film released in 3-D....
and Spooks! were originally sepia toned
Film tinting
Film tinting is the process of adding color to black-and-white film, usually by means of soaking the film in dye and staining the film emulsion...
in order to allow for more light to pass through the Polaroid filters necessary for the dual-strip 3-D projection method of that time. The process did not work as expected and the idea was dropped after these two productions.
Academy ratio
The Academy ratio of 1.375:1 is an aspect ratio of a frame of 35mm film when used with 4-perf pulldown. It was standardized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as the standard film aspect ratio in 1932, although similar-sized ratios were used as early as 1928.The Academy ratio is...
and released in wide-screen during the confusion, Spooks! and further shorts from then on were composed at 1.85:1, Columbia's house ratio.