Higher Than a Kite - Misplaced Pages

1943 film by Del Lord

Higher Than a Kite

Directed by	Del Lord
Written by	Monte Collins Elwood Ullman
Produced by	Del Lord Hugh McCollum
Starring	Moe Howard Larry Fine Curly Howard Vernon Dent Dick Curtis Duke York
Cinematography	John Stumar
Edited by	Paul Borofsky
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date	July 30, 1943 (1943-07-30) (U.S.)
Running time	17:28
Country	United States
Language	English

Higher Than a Kite is a 1943 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 72nd entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

Plot

The Stooges want to fly for the Royal Air Force but find themselves relegated to the role of mechanics in an airport garage. Assigned the task of remedying a mysterious squeaking noise emanating from the Colonel's car by his assistant, Kelly, the Stooges embark on a series of misadventures. Moe's mishap, resulting in his head becoming lodged in a pipe, sets the tone for their subsequent escapades.

As the trio endeavors to resolve the vehicle's issue, their efforts yield chaos, culminating in the inadvertent disassembly of the engine. Their ignorance regarding the nature of the squeak further complicates matters, leaving them at a loss. Subsequently, the Stooges find themselves on the run after Kelly discovers their mishap, seeking refuge in a blockbuster bomb mistaken for a sewer pipe.

Events take a dramatic turn as the blockbuster is dropped behind enemy lines (reflecting the recent British bombing of Cologne, Germany in June 1942). In a bid to evade capture, Moe and Curly adopt disguises as German officers, while Larry assumes the role of a woman named "Moronica." Their subterfuge leads to encounters with General Bommel and Marshall Boring (caricatures of German military figures Erwin Rommel and Hermann Göring), respectively, as they navigate a comedic flirtation with "Moronica."

In a moment of daring, the Stooges seize enemy secrets from under the noses of the Nazi officers, incapacitating them in the process. However, their escape is not without additional absurdity, as Curly inadvertently acquires an uninvited attachment in the form of a bulldog adorned in U.S. Marines regalia.

Cast

Credited

Moe Howard as Moe
Larry Fine as Larry
Curly Howard as Curly

Uncredited

Duke York as Kelly
Dick Curtis as General Bommel
Vernon Dent as Marshall Boring
Johnny Kascier as German Soldier
George Gray as German Soldier
Joe Garcio as German Soldier

Production notes

Higher Than a Kite was filmed over five days on February 20–25, 1943. It was the only Stooge film to feature supporting actor Duke York in a non-monster role.

Footage of Moe getting his head wedged inside a pipe was reused in the 1960 compilation feature film Stop! Look! and Laugh!.

References

^ Solomon, Jon. (2002) The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion, p. 230; Comedy III Productions, Inc., ISBN 0-9711868-0-4
Higher Than a Kite at threestooges.net
Galbraith IV, Stuart (July 7, 2012). "The Three Stooges: The Ultimate Collection". DVD Talk. Retrieved September 5, 2013.

External links

v t e The Three Stooges
Moe Howard Larry Fine Curly Howard Shemp Howard Joe Besser Curly Joe DeRita
Works	The Three Stooges filmography The Three Stooges Collection Jerks of All Trades The New 3 Stooges The Three Stooges Scrapbook Kook's Tour Moe Howard and the Three Stooges
Related topics	List of supporting actors in Three Stooges films Yogi Bear and the Three Stooges Meet the Mad, Mad, Mad Dr. No-No The Robonic Stooges Stoogemania "Swingin' the Alphabet" "The Curly Shuffle" 1984 arcade game 1987 video game 2000 TV biopic 2012 feature film C3 Entertainment
Associated people	Felix Adler Edward Bernds Tiny Brauer Clyde Bruckman Charley Chase Paul Garner Ted Healy Rich Koz Del Lord Norman Maurer Hugh McCollum Christine McIntyre Frank Mitchell Joe Palma/Fake Shemp Fred Sanborn Emil Sitka Greta Thyssen Elwood Ullman Jack White Jules White
Category

v t e The Three Stooges filmography (1934–1946)
1934	Woman Haters Punch Drunks Men in Black Three Little Pigskins
1935	Horses' Collars Restless Knights Pop Goes the Easel Uncivil Warriors Pardon My Scotch Hoi Polloi Three Little Beers
1936	Ants in the Pantry Movie Maniacs Half Shot Shooters Disorder in the Court A Pain in the Pullman False Alarms Whoops, I'm an Indian! Slippery Silks
1937	Grips, Grunts and Groans Dizzy Doctors 3 Dumb Clucks Back to the Woods Goofs and Saddles Cash and Carry Playing the Ponies The Sitter Downers
1938	Termites of 1938 Wee Wee Monsieur Tassels in the Air Healthy, Wealthy and Dumb Violent Is the Word for Curly Three Missing Links Mutts to You Flat Foot Stooges
1939	Three Little Sew and Sews We Want Our Mummy A Ducking They Did Go Yes, We Have No Bonanza Saved by the Belle Calling All Curs Oily to Bed, Oily to Rise Three Sappy People
1940	You Nazty Spy! Rockin' thru the Rockies A Plumbing We Will Go Nutty but Nice How High Is Up? From Nurse to Worse No Census, No Feeling Cookoo Cavaliers Boobs in Arms
1941	So Long, Mr. Chumps Dutiful But Dumb All the World's a Stooge I'll Never Heil Again An Ache in Every Stake In the Sweet Pie and Pie Some More of Samoa
1942	Loco Boy Makes Good Cactus Makes Perfect What's the Matador? Matri-Phony Three Smart Saps Even as IOU Sock-a-Bye Baby
1943	They Stooge to Conga Dizzy Detectives Spook Louder Back From the Front Three Little Twirps Higher Than a Kite I Can Hardly Wait Dizzy Pilots Phony Express A Gem of a Jam
1944	Crash Goes the Hash Busy Buddies The Yoke's on Me Idle Roomers Gents Without Cents No Dough Boys
1945	Three Pests in a Mess Booby Dupes Idiots Deluxe If a Body Meets a Body Micro-Phonies
1946	Beer Barrel Polecats A Bird in the Head Uncivil War Birds The Three Troubledoers Monkey Businessmen Three Loan Wolves G.I. Wanna Home Rhythm and Weep Three Little Pirates
1947	Half-Wits Holiday
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