B"H
... Monkey Banker? Nah, redundant.
THE THREE STOOGES
Monkey Businessmen (1946)
d. Edward Berndsw. Edward Bernds
p. Hugh McCollum
Full review HERE
ACT I
Moe's "Keep smilin', McGann!" is worth the price of admission alone, here. Too, it is tweet-worthy, as I did so upon my most recent viewing of this '46 short originally titled (or begun work under) Sanitarium Stooge.
We open with none other than the aforementioned McGann (Kelsey) reaming one Mr. Jordon (the uncredited voice of Richard Lane), a phone-answerer at the electric company, a new every-hole and being cut short by the clamour of a ruckus of lead-pipe fallings and, well, Stoogery. Seems our boys landed gigs...
We follow an investigating McMann (who is in great form throughout) over to see Moe and Larry flanking a laid out and tangled in ladder Curly, with pipes upside his head.
Moe: Why aren't you more careful when you climb up a ladder?!
Curly: I only climbed up 7 steps!
Moe: The ladder had 6!
The Tale of the Disappearing/Reappearing Pipe: when McGann walks into the room, Moe and Larry drop two (2) pipes atop Curly's head -- both pipes fall on the floor. You with me? Good. Then, the camera cuts and lo' and behol', one of the pipes is resting on Curly's head. You with me? Me either. To make matters worse, the pipe keeps disappearing and reappearing in different shots. My guess here is that we're seeing breaks in the action in order to facilitate a sick Curly's performance.
Some consider this the high/low-light of Curly's 'obvious' illness, and therefore a sad display. We'll get to more instances in this short as it develops, as well as tackle the subject later on. Suffice to say, this initial production of 1946, coming out of the Stooges yearly seven month hiatus, was the provider of a staunch realization of what lay ahead. Like I said though --
Lettuce see what happens in --
We follow an investigating McMann (who is in great form throughout) over to see Moe and Larry flanking a laid out and tangled in ladder Curly, with pipes upside his head.
Moe: Why aren't you more careful when you climb up a ladder?!
Curly: I only climbed up 7 steps!
Moe: The ladder had 6!
The already soft construction has softened more. There is a trace of those green herbs on the immediate and occasional draw; mainly there is cocoa to Nesquik and a medium-bodied coffee on a earth note backing. The burn is coming to even and its burn-line remains consistent. The finish is a clarified butter with hints of chocolate and, lesser, coffee. The coffee offered at a nice restaurant that does not specialize in coffee. Medium length, there.
At every one of those aforementioned goiters, the burn-line hiccups. At this point, it is self-correcting, A half inch from the burn, a crack has developed atop a slight bulge. Flavors remain unchanged, although the white pepper has greatly subdued and the chocolate has amped up. Earthiness is now a sweeter hay. Mouth-feel is a tad dry, but not requiring of a sip. At an inch, I roll off the ash to examine: flaky with -medium density, but a slick feel like a high grade talc. Medium to charcoal grey. The burn slows. Foot-smoke stays the same.
The sage remains on an only occasional retro-hale, but the rosemary is gone. I too haven't detected pepper in a bit. Sweet hay tobacco, chocolate, -medium roasted coffee. Clarified butter mouth-feel. Medium profile.
At every one of those aforementioned goiters, the burn-line hiccups. At this point, it is self-correcting, A half inch from the burn, a crack has developed atop a slight bulge. Flavors remain unchanged, although the white pepper has greatly subdued and the chocolate has amped up. Earthiness is now a sweeter hay. Mouth-feel is a tad dry, but not requiring of a sip. At an inch, I roll off the ash to examine: flaky with -medium density, but a slick feel like a high grade talc. Medium to charcoal grey. The burn slows. Foot-smoke stays the same.
The sage remains on an only occasional retro-hale, but the rosemary is gone. I too haven't detected pepper in a bit. Sweet hay tobacco, chocolate, -medium roasted coffee. Clarified butter mouth-feel. Medium profile.
Some consider this the high/low-light of Curly's 'obvious' illness, and therefore a sad display. We'll get to more instances in this short as it develops, as well as tackle the subject later on. Suffice to say, this initial production of 1946, coming out of the Stooges yearly seven month hiatus, was the provider of a staunch realization of what lay ahead. Like I said though --
Lettuce see what happens in --
ACT II
Meanwhiles, it's time for everyone to get electrocuted! (Not you somewhat-above-the-fray Larry.) McGann gets the zap first and then after a couple of pipes upside the head, Moe shows him off with, wait for it, "Keep smilin', McGann!" What Larry does is lead to the dismantling of Smilin' McGann's phone service. Although the phone works well enough for Mr. Jordan to fire his Stooge electricians. LOUDLY.
Moe: Well, partners -- looks like we resigned.
Wrapper takes on a somewhat fragile feel. Must be made in Italy. An uneven burn-line is razor-thin and slowly working through that bulge/crack. Not much to report by way of flavors, as all is unchanged, I do find myself rather enjoying the calm, however. A good offering, this Banker, to keep on your desk (as the smoke is kind) and count beans while puffing (as you'll avoid nicotine-laced distractions). You'll enjoy the simple flavors as you remain eyes glued to your ledger. One does not always have the head-space for nuance.
Chocolate notes get the spotlight and there is some dimension by way of meandering from cocoa to milk chocolate and back again. Pleasant. Burn-line is razor-thin and ribbons frequently, self-corrects always. Burn remains calm and smoke, cool. Ash darkens a notch and while not pretty, remains firmly held. Draw resistance meets the profile at medium. I keep being surprised I ain't bored. Must be something to this.
The boys decide they need a rest, and what better a place than Mallard's Rest Home and Clinic: "High altitude , low prices -- no matter what you got, you'll lose it at Mallard's." Reads the brochure that just happens to have been right there. But what will they do for money? Seems Curly has "Something put away for a rainy day," and grabs an umbrella... No really. He keeps a wad of cash in there. Ease up on the fella, fellas.
A very nice chew and a kind foot-smoke keeps the thing glued in my smoke-hole. Ash clumps off and breaks into powder on my concrete porch. White pepper returns now at a bit past the half. Burn stray a touch beyond ribbon. Flavors sharpen a bit, but don't threaten biting. Softening of the pack has ceased.
White pepper falls back and is mainly on the retro-hale. Finish has strengthened but not lengthened and tastes the same. Mouth-feel moistens and the butter is heavier than clarified. Burn starts to even. Body ticks up to near medium+ with a creamier butter as the curtain falls on the second act.
And we're at the Clinic. It takes no time flat for Dr. Mallard (MacDonald, in his debut and not best Stooges performance) to prove himself a shyster. Saying of a patient: "It's mostly in his mind, but if the patients like to pay us for the privilege of being sick, it's there business." When the boys do enter, we know exactly what they're in for -- but they don't. Until they get a hint of the lowdown by way of their daily schedule which consists of back-breaking work, working out, and road work -- with a breakfast and lunch of a "nice big bowl of milk." And for dinner?
"I know, a nice big bowl of milk?" tries Curly. "No, you drank it all for lunch." Says Mallard. You see it's the good Doctor's idea to "run them ragged and take them for every nickel they got."
It's cited here by mournful and learn'ed Stooge fans, how pained Curly's performance in the office scene was, and how often Moe nudged him cues. I can honestly say -- it ain't so bad, gentlepersons. Even while looking hard for it, nothing egregious occurred to my eyes. Although I could be wrong, because Larry takes his temp and the Super Stooge has a fever of "90 proof."
The nurses aren't the hot numbers the boys had hoped for, and are big burly crooks, instead. "Gentlemen," the crook orderlies address the Stooges; "Who came in?" comes the classic response, as the boys look behind themselves for the answer. This bit is used in the shorts (courtesy of ThreeStooges.net) "We Want our Mummy, You Natzy Spy! Malice in the Palace, Spooks! Rumpus in the Harem, Space Ship Sappy." -- what they fail to mention is that this bit is also and with fantastic frequency, used by me.
Chocolate notes get the spotlight and there is some dimension by way of meandering from cocoa to milk chocolate and back again. Pleasant. Burn-line is razor-thin and ribbons frequently, self-corrects always. Burn remains calm and smoke, cool. Ash darkens a notch and while not pretty, remains firmly held. Draw resistance meets the profile at medium. I keep being surprised I ain't bored. Must be something to this.
The boys decide they need a rest, and what better a place than Mallard's Rest Home and Clinic: "High altitude , low prices -- no matter what you got, you'll lose it at Mallard's." Reads the brochure that just happens to have been right there. But what will they do for money? Seems Curly has "Something put away for a rainy day," and grabs an umbrella... No really. He keeps a wad of cash in there. Ease up on the fella, fellas.
A very nice chew and a kind foot-smoke keeps the thing glued in my smoke-hole. Ash clumps off and breaks into powder on my concrete porch. White pepper returns now at a bit past the half. Burn stray a touch beyond ribbon. Flavors sharpen a bit, but don't threaten biting. Softening of the pack has ceased.
White pepper falls back and is mainly on the retro-hale. Finish has strengthened but not lengthened and tastes the same. Mouth-feel moistens and the butter is heavier than clarified. Burn starts to even. Body ticks up to near medium+ with a creamier butter as the curtain falls on the second act.
And we're at the Clinic. It takes no time flat for Dr. Mallard (MacDonald, in his debut and not best Stooges performance) to prove himself a shyster. Saying of a patient: "It's mostly in his mind, but if the patients like to pay us for the privilege of being sick, it's there business." When the boys do enter, we know exactly what they're in for -- but they don't. Until they get a hint of the lowdown by way of their daily schedule which consists of back-breaking work, working out, and road work -- with a breakfast and lunch of a "nice big bowl of milk." And for dinner?
"I know, a nice big bowl of milk?" tries Curly. "No, you drank it all for lunch." Says Mallard. You see it's the good Doctor's idea to "run them ragged and take them for every nickel they got."
It's cited here by mournful and learn'ed Stooge fans, how pained Curly's performance in the office scene was, and how often Moe nudged him cues. I can honestly say -- it ain't so bad, gentlepersons. Even while looking hard for it, nothing egregious occurred to my eyes. Although I could be wrong, because Larry takes his temp and the Super Stooge has a fever of "90 proof."
The nurses aren't the hot numbers the boys had hoped for, and are big burly crooks, instead. "Gentlemen," the crook orderlies address the Stooges; "Who came in?" comes the classic response, as the boys look behind themselves for the answer. This bit is used in the shorts (courtesy of ThreeStooges.net) "We Want our Mummy, You Natzy Spy! Malice in the Palace, Spooks! Rumpus in the Harem, Space Ship Sappy." -- what they fail to mention is that this bit is also and with fantastic frequency, used by me.
ACT III
Anyways, it's time to hit the gym and Stoogery there leads to the murses getting cold-cocked and one of them spilling the beans while semi-conscious re: Dr Mallard's con. The boys are now alerted and the chase is on. mallard and the murses (decent band name) chase the boys through the facility. Moe, Larry, and Curly need to get gone, but how? Wait! I get it -- Mallard is a quack "That means DUCK."
There's a third murse guarding the door (asleep). Curly has an idea:
Curly: We'll get some grease...
Moe and Larry: Yeah...
Curly: Spill it on the floor...
Moe and Larry: Yeah...
Curly: And slip by.
That's nixed, but before another plan can be fully hatched, Curly sneezes, knocking a vase off a shelf and onto his head. The guard murse awakens and suddenly their only out is for Moe and Larry to become doctors and the pained Curly, their patient.
Moe: Dr. Windbag, I presume.
Larry: Well blow me down. (Once again, nobody delivers a line like Larry.)
A tang develops on my tongue, but nothing terrible. Not into'd on a new flavor note, and not pepper -- an evolving of the hay, perhaps? Primarily earth notes now, which the chocolates swirl around. Coffee is what remains after the dance and into the finish to two-step with the still present now milk chocolate. That finish lengthens to a sweet and light medium+. Profile I'd say is a medium with an occasional tick up to + as far as body.
Ash clumps off again and is same as same as ever, but kindly hits my schmatta dead on. A nice dampening sets in and flavors roast a tad, and a woody flirtation comes on, or almost does. A hickory type thing that stays with the earthiness and doesn't seem to want to develop on its own. The aroma is very much a selling point of this Upmann, as my porch is now among the most pleasant spots on G-d's green earth. I hit the band point and ride it out, slow and cool. Mellow and simple -- but not boringly so, and far from laborious.
Ash clumps off again and is same as same as ever, but kindly hits my schmatta dead on. A nice dampening sets in and flavors roast a tad, and a woody flirtation comes on, or almost does. A hickory type thing that stays with the earthiness and doesn't seem to want to develop on its own. The aroma is very much a selling point of this Upmann, as my porch is now among the most pleasant spots on G-d's green earth. I hit the band point and ride it out, slow and cool. Mellow and simple -- but not boringly so, and far from laborious.
Curly never gets out of the somersault he attempts off the stretcher*.
When Curly falls off the stretcher, some say they hear Bud Jamison's voice in the background. Although he was not in this short -- oh and dead by the time of its filming.
A pretty decent foot-chase scene ensues through the halls, into an exploding steam room, and beyond. And remember the patient Dr. Mallard was referencing in "but if the patients like to pay us for the privilege of being sick, it's there business?" Well, somewheres along the way the boys fix his all-in-his-head foot and at the end here, he tracks them down and bestows upon them a thousand bucks in payment of their cure.
"Nearly a million!" Says Larry. Curly offers up the idea of a nice long rest &
Moe: This rest almost killed me!
I'd say this Upmann will leave your ledger in the black.
THE CIGAR
H. Upmann Banker
6 x 52 Annuity Toro
Ecuadorian Habano wrapper
Nicaraguan Jalapa binder
Nicaraguan & Dominican fillers
Ecuadorian Habano wrapper
Nicaraguan Jalapa binder
Nicaraguan & Dominican fillers
Full review HERE
L'shalom