Swing Parade of 1946
Encyclopedia
Swing Parade of 1946 is musical
comedy film
. In it the Three Stooges
help an aspiring singer, Carol Lawrence (Gale Storm
), and a nightclub owner, Danny Warren (Phil Regan), find love. It features dizzy dishwashers Moe, Larry, and Curly, and musical numbers by Connee Boswell
and the Louis Jordan
and Will Osborne orchestras, including "Stormy Weather" and "Caldonia
."
at MGM: the plumbing sequences are adapted from Meet the Baron
(1933), and some of the waiter gags are borrowed from Beer and Pretzels
(1933). The plumbing sequence later reused again with Curly-Joe DeRita in their 1959 feature, Have Rocket, Will Travel
was also featured the maze of pipes
's career. The 42-year-old comedian had suffered a series of minor stroke
s several months prior to filming, and his performances had been unpredictable. By the time of Swing Parade of 1946, he had lost a considerable amount of weight, and lines had creased his baby face. As a result, he could no longer ad-lib for the camera as in previous instances. His scene where he recreates the maze of pipes from 1940's A Plumbing We Will Go
has been described as sluggish and lethargic.
Musical film
The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate...
comedy film
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
. In it 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,...
help an aspiring singer, Carol Lawrence (Gale Storm
Gale Storm
Gale Storm was an American actress and singer who starred in two popular television programs of the 1950s, My Little Margie and The Gale Storm Show.-Early life:...
), and a nightclub owner, Danny Warren (Phil Regan), find love. It features dizzy dishwashers Moe, Larry, and Curly, and musical numbers by Connee Boswell
Connee Boswell
Constance Foore "Connee" Boswell was an American female vocalist born in Kansas City but raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. With her sisters, Martha and Helvetia "Vet" Boswell, she performed in the 1930s as The Boswell Sisters and became a highly influential singing group during this period via...
and the Louis Jordan
Louis Jordan
Louis Thomas Jordan was a pioneering American jazz, blues and rhythm & blues musician, songwriter and bandleader who enjoyed his greatest popularity from the late 1930s to the early 1950s. Known as "The King of the Jukebox", Jordan was highly popular with both black and white audiences in the...
and Will Osborne orchestras, including "Stormy Weather" and "Caldonia
Caldonia
"Caldonia" is a jump blues song, first recorded in 1945 by Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five. A version by Erskine Hawkins, also in 1945, was described by Billboard magazine as "rock and roll", the first time that phrase was used in print to describe any style of music.-Louis Jordan recording:In...
."
Stooge appearance
The Stooges rework several bits they performed with Ted HealyTed Healy
Ted Healy was an American vaudeville performer, comedian, and actor. He is chiefly remembered today as the original creator of the Three Stooges, but had a successful stage and film career of his own.- Early life :...
at MGM: the plumbing sequences are adapted from Meet the Baron
Meet the Baron
Meet the Baron is a comedy film starring Jack Pearl, Jimmy Durante, Edna May Oliver, Zasu Pitts, Ted Healy and the Three Stooges.-Plot:...
(1933), and some of the waiter gags are borrowed from Beer and Pretzels
Beer and Pretzels
Beer and Pretzels is the second of five short subjects starring Ted Healy and His Stooges released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. A musical-comedy film, the short also featured Bonnie Bonnell, Healy's girlfriend at the time.-Plot:...
(1933). The plumbing sequence later reused again with Curly-Joe DeRita in their 1959 feature, Have Rocket, Will Travel
Have Rocket, Will Travel
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 . Released by Columbia Pictures, the feature was produced to capitalize on the comedy trio's late 1950s resurgence in popularity...
was also featured the maze of pipes
Curly's illness
Swing Parade of 1946 was filmed near the end of Curly HowardCurly 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 career. The 42-year-old comedian had suffered a series of minor 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...
s several months prior to filming, and his performances had been unpredictable. By the time of Swing Parade of 1946, he had lost a considerable amount of weight, and lines had creased his baby face. As a result, he could no longer ad-lib for the camera as in previous instances. His scene where he recreates the maze of pipes from 1940's A Plumbing We Will Go
A Plumbing We Will Go
A Plumbing We Will Go is the 46th 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:...
has been described as sluggish and lethargic.