| Phony Express | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Del Lord |
| Written by | Monte Collins Elwood Ullman |
| Produced by | Del Lord Hugh McCollum |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | John Stumar |
| Edited by | Paul Borofsky |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 17:09 |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Phony Express is a 1943short subject directed byDel Lord starring Americanslapstick comedy teamThe Three Stooges (Moe Howard,Larry Fine andCurly Howard). It is the 75th entry in the series released byColumbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.
In the besieged environs of Peaceful Gulch, threatened by a marauding contingent of bandits and brigands, the town's mayor, formulates a stratagem to deter the encroaching menace. This plan entails the dissemination of a fabricated report heralding the imminent arrival of three resolute marshals (the Stooges), their identities appropriated from a wanted poster portrayingvagrants, valued at a nominal price. Despite this intricate scheme, the Stooges nearly face expulsion from the township subsequent to a misguided endeavor to administer a purported panacea to the ailing sheriff, afflicted with lumbago, which imperils his well-being.
The Stooges find themselves ensconced within the precincts of a local saloon. Here, they confront the leader of the marauders, Red, who endeavors to assuage them through conviviality and libations, only to have their deception unravelled. In a display of ingenuity, the trio prevails over their adversaries, effectuating their escape from imminent peril.
Subsequently entrusted with the solemn responsibility of safeguarding the town's financial bastion, the Stooges are confronted with a brazen act of bank robbery in their charge's absence. To avert dire consequences, they embark on a quest to apprehend the culprits. Amidst their pursuit, Curly, assuming the guise of abloodhound, momentarily diverts his attention to a whimsical pursuit of a skunk. Despite this diversion, their tenacity leads them to the discovery of the stolen plunder, just as the malefactors return to their hideaway.
A series of misfortunes culminates in Curly's inadvertent confinement within a stove, unwittingly becoming a receptacle for the ill-gotten gains. However, a fortuitous mishap ensues as a conflagration, ignited accidentally, propels a cascade of bullets, dispersing the outlaws in disarray.
Phony Express was filmed on March 27–31, 1943.[1] The film title is a parody of the "Pony Express," a fastmail service that crossed theNorth American continent fromSaint Joseph, Missouri toSacramento, California from April 1860 to October 1861.[2] Some of the plot and minimalstock footage would be recycled inMerry Mavericks.[2]
This was the last Three Stooges short co-written byMonte Collins, who died on June 1, 1951.[2]
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