The Three Stooges in Orbit
Encyclopedia
The Three Stooges In Orbit was the fourth feature film to star the Three Stooges
after their 1959 resurgence in popularity. By this time, the trio consisted of Moe Howard
, Larry Fine
, and Joe DeRita (dubbed "Curly Joe"). Released by Columbia Pictures
, The Three Stooges In Orbit was directed by long-time Stooge director Edward Bernds
. Over the years, Moe would cite Bernds as the team's finest director.
The first 30 minutes of this film was recycled from a 1960 Three Stooges unsold television pilot, The Three Stooges Scrapbook, and many of the film's props had previously been used in the film Forbidden Planet
.
. Unfortunately, their producer does not like anything. He gives the boys ten days to come up with a gimmick or their show will be cancelled.
Professor Danforth (Emil Sitka
) is convinced that the Martians will soon invade Earth. He persuades the boys to help him with his new military invention—a land, air and sea vehicle (tank
, helicopter
, submarine
). In return, Danforth will create a new "electronic animation" machine for the Stooges to use in their TV show.
The Martians, meanwhile send two alien
spies named Ogg and Zogg to Earth to prepare for the invasion. When Moe accidentally sends a television transmission through the Martian's communication device, they are offended and call off the invasion, opting instead to destroy Earth
.
Meanwhile, the Stooges give the vehicle a test run. They mistakenly enter a nuclear test area, causing the engine to malfunction. They land near a test rig where a test nuclear depth bomb
is set up. The Stooges take the bomb, thinking it's a carburetor
, and fasten it to the engine. Water, meant to detonate the bomb, shoots out of the testing rig. The testers are bewildered by test's failure. But with the bomb attached, the vehicle now performs beyond expectations, even going into space.
Later, the Martians steal the vehicle, mount a ray gun on it, and begin destroying targets (including Disneyland). The boys sneak onto the craft to stop them. The Stooges are able to use one of the Martians' ray guns to separate the fuselage from the conning tower. The fuselage, holding Ogg and Zogg, crashes into the ocean, detonating the nuclear depth bomb. Clinging to the auto-rotating helicopter section, the Stooges survive, crashing through the roof of their television studio.
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,...
after their 1959 resurgence in popularity. By this time, the trio consisted of Moe Howard
Moe Howard
Moses Harry Horwitz , known professionally as Moe Howard, was an American actor and comedian best known as the leader of The Three Stooges, the farce comedy team who starred in motion pictures and television for four decades...
, Larry Fine
Larry Fine
Louis Feinberg , known professionally as Larry Fine, was an American comedian and actor, who is best known as a member of the comedy act The Three Stooges.-Early life:...
, and Joe DeRita (dubbed "Curly Joe"). Released by 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...
, The Three Stooges In Orbit was directed by long-time Stooge director Edward Bernds
Edward Bernds
Edward Bernds was an American screenwriter and director, born in Chicago, Illinois.-Career:While in his junior year in Lake View High School, he and several friends formed a small radio clique and obtained amateur licenses...
. Over the years, Moe would cite Bernds as the team's finest director.
The first 30 minutes of this film was recycled from a 1960 Three Stooges unsold television pilot, The Three Stooges Scrapbook, and many of the film's props had previously been used in the film Forbidden Planet
Forbidden Planet
Forbidden Planet is a 1956 science fiction film directed by Fred M. Wilcox, with a screenplay by Cyril Hume. It stars Leslie Nielsen, Walter Pidgeon, and Anne Francis. The characters and its setting have been compared to those in William Shakespeare's The Tempest, and its plot contains certain...
.
Plot
The Stooges are down and out actors who are trying to sell ideas for their animated TV show The Three Stooges ScrapbookThe Three Stooges Scrapbook
The Three Stooges Scrapbook was an unaired 1960 television pilot starring The Three Stooges . The pilot featured the slapstick trio getting evicted from a rooming house for cooking in their apartment, looking for a new place to live, finding refuge in the home of a mad inventor , and presenting an...
. Unfortunately, their producer does not like anything. He gives the boys ten days to come up with a gimmick or their show will be cancelled.
Professor Danforth (Emil Sitka
Emil Sitka
Emil Sitka was a veteran American actor who appeared in hundreds of movies, short films, and television shows, and is best known for his numerous appearances with the Three Stooges—nearly 40...
) is convinced that the Martians will soon invade Earth. He persuades the boys to help him with his new military invention—a land, air and sea vehicle (tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
, helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
, submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
). In return, Danforth will create a new "electronic animation" machine for the Stooges to use in their TV show.
The Martians, meanwhile send two alien
Extraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...
spies named Ogg and Zogg to Earth to prepare for the invasion. When Moe accidentally sends a television transmission through the Martian's communication device, they are offended and call off the invasion, opting instead to destroy Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
.
Meanwhile, the Stooges give the vehicle a test run. They mistakenly enter a nuclear test area, causing the engine to malfunction. They land near a test rig where a test nuclear depth bomb
Nuclear Depth Bomb
A Nuclear Depth Bomb is the nuclear equivalent of the conventional depth charge and can be used in Anti-Submarine Warfare for attacking submerged submarines...
is set up. The Stooges take the bomb, thinking it's a carburetor
Carburetor
A carburetor , carburettor, or carburetter is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. It is sometimes shortened to carb in North America and the United Kingdom....
, and fasten it to the engine. Water, meant to detonate the bomb, shoots out of the testing rig. The testers are bewildered by test's failure. But with the bomb attached, the vehicle now performs beyond expectations, even going into space.
Cast
- Moe HowardMoe HowardMoses Harry Horwitz , known professionally as Moe Howard, was an American actor and comedian best known as the leader of The Three Stooges, the farce comedy team who starred in motion pictures and television for four decades...
as Moe - Larry FineLarry FineLouis Feinberg , known professionally as Larry Fine, was an American comedian and actor, who is best known as a member of the comedy act The Three Stooges.-Early life:...
as Larry - Joe DeRita as Curly Joe
- Emil SitkaEmil SitkaEmil Sitka was a veteran American actor who appeared in hundreds of movies, short films, and television shows, and is best known for his numerous appearances with the Three Stooges—nearly 40...
as Professor Danforth - Carol ChristensenCarol ChristensenCarol Christensen was an American film actress and former model. Born in Detroit, Michigan, she appeared in several film and television shows between 1960 and 1963.-Career:...
as Carol Danforth - Edson StrollEdson StrollEdson Stroll was an American actor. He made over 20 film and television appearances since 1958.-Career:Stroll began his career as a bodybuilder in the 1950s. He then moved to acting in 1958 with bit parts on television shows such as How to Marry a Millionaire, Sea Hunt and The Twilight Zone...
as Captain Tom Andrews - George N. NeiseGeorge N. NeiseGeorge N. Neise was an American character actor. He made over 120 film and television appearances between 1942 and 1978.-Career:Born in Chicago, Neise began his career playing soldiers in war-themed films...
as Ogg/Airline Pilot - Rayford Barnes as Zogg/Airline Co-Pilot
- Norman Leavitt as Williams, the Butler
- Nestor PaivaNestor PaivaNestor Paiva was an American actor of Portuguese descent who portrayed the innkeeper on Walt Disney's live-action television series Zorro by ABC and its feature film The Sign of Zorro which was shot in Burbank's Walt Disney Studios.-Career:Nestor appeared in motion pictures and television shows...
as Chairman - Don Lamond as Colonel Smithers
- Peter Dawson as General Bixby
- Peter Brocco as Doctor Appleby
- Cheerio Meredith as Tooth Paste Old Maid