If a Body Meets a Body
Encyclopedia
If a Body Meets a Body is the 86th 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.
While getting a tour of their sleeping quarters, Curly gets spooked when it is revealed his is standing on the exact spot his uncle was murdered. The rest of the night consists of a parrot walking around inside a human skull, howling wind, and uncle Bob O. Link's corpse leaning on Moe.
The Stooges flee down the stairwell and knock over the maid (Joe Palma
), who is the killer in disguise, with the stolen will falling out of the killer's wig. After excitedly reading the will, Curly learns that he has been bequeathed a grand total of $0.67 net
.
suffered a mild stroke
. As a result, his performance was marred by slurred speech, and slower timing. Though the trio did not know it at the time, Curly's health would gradually deteriorate, resulting in languid, almost sickly performances right up to his last film with the team, Half-Wits Holiday
.
" as the Stooges' official theme song. The original 'sliding strings' version was regularly used from 1939's We Want Our Mummy
until 1942's What's the Matador?
. Due to the timing of this theme's usage, it is often associated with the post-stroke Curly Howard era, as the new theme coincidentally made its debut in the same film that Curly's illness became apparent. This version of "Three Blind Mice" would only be utilized in four films during the Shemp Howard era: Fright Night
, Out West
, Squareheads of the Round Table
and The Hot Scots
.
Short subject
A short film is any film not long enough to be considered a feature film. No consensus exists as to where that boundary is drawn: the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes or less, including all...
starring American slapstick
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,...
. 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 unemployed again, and looking through the want-ads for work. Moe stumbles on an article stating that Curly's uncle Bob O. Link had died and left his nephew Curly Q. Link a nice inheritance. Upon arriving at the uncle's mansion for the reading of the will, the lawyer disappears along with the will, and is then found murdered. All potential heirs, including the Stooges, are held as suspects and forced to spend the night.While getting a tour of their sleeping quarters, Curly gets spooked when it is revealed his is standing on the exact spot his uncle was murdered. The rest of the night consists of a parrot walking around inside a human skull, howling wind, and uncle Bob O. Link's corpse leaning on Moe.
The Stooges flee down the stairwell and knock over the maid (Joe Palma
Joe Palma
Joe Palma was an American film actor. Born in New York, New York, Palma appeared in over 120 films between 1937 and 1968.-Early years:...
), who is the killer in disguise, with the stolen will falling out of the killer's wig. After excitedly reading the will, Curly learns that he has been bequeathed a grand total of $0.67 net
Net pay
Net pay is the remaining amount after deductions from the gross salary, where net means ultimate.Example deductions: income taxes, trade union dues, it mean authorized deduction for a retirement...
.
Curly's illness
If a Body Meets a Body was the first film made after 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...
suffered a mild 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...
. As a result, his performance was marred by slurred speech, and slower timing. Though the trio did not know it at the time, Curly's health would gradually deteriorate, resulting in languid, almost sickly performances right up to his last film with the team, Half-Wits Holiday
Half-Wits Holiday
Half-Wits Holiday is the 97th 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:...
.
Theme change
If a Body Meets a Body is the first Stooge film to employ a revamped performance of the 'sliding strings' version of "Three Blind MiceThree Blind Mice
Three Blind Mice is an English nursery rhyme and musical round. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 3753.-Lyrics:The modern words are:-Variations and uses:Amateur music composer Thomas Oliphant noted in 1843 that:...
" as the Stooges' official theme song. The original 'sliding strings' version was regularly used from 1939's We Want Our Mummy
We Want Our Mummy
We Want Our Mummy is the 37th short subject starring American slapstick team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:Two museum curators We Want Our Mummy is the 37th short subject starring American slapstick team the Three Stooges....
until 1942's What's the Matador?
What's the Matador?
What's the Matador? is the 62nd 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 :...
. Due to the timing of this theme's usage, it is often associated with the post-stroke Curly Howard era, as the new theme coincidentally made its debut in the same film that Curly's illness became apparent. This version of "Three Blind Mice" would only be utilized in four films during the Shemp Howard era: Fright Night
Fright Night (film)
Fright Night is the 98th 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:...
, Out West
Out West (1947 film)
Out West is the 99th 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:...
, Squareheads of the Round Table
Squareheads of the Round Table
Squareheads of the Round Table is the 106th 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:...
and The Hot Scots
The Hot Scots
The Hot Scots is the 108th 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:...
.