The Three Stooges\u2019 \u201cHalf-Wits Holiday\u201d is one of the saddest comedies ever made, not so much because of its content \u2013 which tries but mostly fails at being amusing \u2013 but because of its troubled production history. On May 6, 1946, the final day of the four-day shoot, Curly Howard suffered a massive stroke during the production that effectively ended his career. Curly\u2019s health had been in decline since mid-1944 and it is believed that he endured several mini-strokes prior to making this short.
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\u201cHalf-Wits Holiday\u201d is a reworking of the trio\u2019s 1935 \u201cHoi Polloi,\u201d where they find themselves the subject of a bet between two psychologists over whether a person\u2019s behavior is defined by hereditary factors or the environment where they exist. The Stooges are inept plumbers \u2013 \u201cWe always fix it right the second time!\u201d boasts Larry Fine \u2013 who are recruited as the subjects of the psychologists\u2019 experiment.<\/p>\n
The film has two lengthy and none-too-funny segments that clog up the action: where the Stooges learn table manners using imaginary utensils and meals and when they are given a reading lesson using elementary school-level books. A fast-forward in time brings them their tuxedoed debut in high society, but Moe Howard is apoplectic as Larry and Curly revert to their natural uncouth behavior. Not surprisingly, the Stooges disrupt the party\u2019s dignified vibe and the evening devolves into a feral pie fight among the well-heeled guests.<\/p>\n
To its credit, the film is gifted with Stooges\u2019 regulars Vernon Dent as one of the psychologists, Symona Boniface as (what else?) a society doyenne, and Emil Sitka making his debut with the team as Sappington the butler \u2013 he gets trampled by the roughneck trio at one point and received a pie in the face during the pastry-filled climax. The pie fight footage is typical Stooges slapstick \u2013 it is fun, but not as wildly inventive as \u201cIn the Sweet Pie and Pie\u201d from 1941 \u2013 and the mayhem was recycled several times later including for the 1958 remake \u201cPies and Guys\u201d with Joe Besser taking Curly\u2019s role.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, most of the material with Curly is pretty weak \u2013 his enervated performance is a far cry from the manic genius of his peak years, and he looks worn and tired for most of the film, particularly in a moment when he applies and then eats lipstick. Curly\u2019s stroke occurred just prior to the pie fight, which forced director Jules White to quickly reconfigure the segment without Curly\u2019s involvement. Indeed, Curly\u2019s exit occurs just before the climactic mayhem starts and watching him walk off-screen is heartbreaking when one considers his scene exit was also the end of his brilliant career.<\/p>\n