Out West (1947) Online

As much as I love Curly, I never complain seeing Shemp in a Three Stooges film.

Shemp made me laugh almost as much as Curly, sometimes even more. He had tremendous footwork, able to make great pratfalls or dance around like some rubber-legged Muhammad Ali-type boxer. He shows it early on in this story by collapsing while walking out of the doctor's office.

The only solution to Shemp's ailing leg is a trip out West, says his doctor. Make sense? No, but these stories never did. In this case, it gave The Boys a chance to make some laughs by being cowboys.

Except for the first minute-and-a-half, this is all Old West gags and some of them are still clever. Almost all the action takes place in a saloon, where we get shootouts, crooked card games, jail breakouts, the U.S. Calvary (which "has never been late in the history of motion pictures," as stated in here) and more!

Jock Mahoney, who starred in a short-lived but excellent 1950s TV western called "Yancy Derringer," guest stars in here as "The Arizona Kid." He's billed in here as "Jacques O'Mahoney."

This was a very enjoyable Three Stooges film, and a very fast-moving one.

The second Three Stooges short with Shemp Howard back with the team, "Out West" is a very good comedy Western with efficient direction by Edward Bernds and fine support from Jack Norman, Christine McIntyre, Jock Mahoney, Vernon Dent, and Stanley Blystone ("Never in the history of motion pictures has the United States Cavalry been too late").

Highlights from this wonderful short include the following (if you haven't seen "Out West," don't read any further). Moe's and Larry's act of mixing a drink in an old boot is a classic Three Stooges bit ("Pardon My Scotch" [1935] and "Bubble Trouble" [1953] are other Stooge films that utilize this gag). During the poker game, the two primary outlaws (Norman and George Chesebro) try to cheat but inadvertently render Shemp the winner with four aces. As Shemp and Doc Barker (Norman) discuss Shemp's vein, Barker figures that picks and shovels will be needed for the mother lode, but Shemp overreacts, since his "vein" is actually an enlarged vein in his right leg! The pretty saloon gal Nell (McIntyre) sings "There's a Last Rose of Summer" in order to distract the outlaws while Moe & Shemp are in the basement, clumsily and noisily trying to break Larry out of his jail cell. After Doc Barker drinks the Stooges' mickey, he goes into a convulsion, and Shemp sprays a fire hose at him. (Interestingly, when this short was remade several years later as "Pals and Gals" [1954], Doc Barker actually DROPS DEAD from tasting the oddly-mixed drink!)

To put it very simply, "Out West" is a fine Three Stooges Western. Ed Bernds, who ultimately was the best director the boys ever worked with, claimed that the numerous Stooge films he directed required a lot of hard work. But Bernds got a temporary respite during the filming of "Out West" when the cast & crew surprised him by bringing a cake on the set to celebrate his birthday!

OUT WEST is the funniest of 17 Three Stooges westerns. The reason I like it is because it's more cleverly plotted that other westerns like: PUNCHY COWPUNCHERS, THE THREE TROUBLEDOERS, & WHOOPS, I'M AN INDIAN! The plot is that the stooges have to go out west until Shemp's bad leg heals. This is Christine McIntrye's first appearence with Shemp.So, Stooge fans, watch OUT WEST and have a good laugh.

3 1/2 out of 4 stars!

Trivia- Remade as PALS AND GALS in 1954.

The Three Stooges has always been some of the many actors that I have loved. I love just about every one of the shorts that they have made. I love all six of the Stooges (Curly, Shemp, Moe, Larry, Joe, and Curly Joe)! All of the shorts are hilarious and also star many other great actors and actresses which a lot of them was in many of the shorts! In My opinion The Three Stooges is some of the greatest actors ever and is the all time funniest comedy team!

This is one of My favorite Three Stooges shorts with Shemp! All Appearing in this short are Christine McIntyre, Norman Willis, Jock Mahoney, Stanley Blystone, George Chesebro, Heinie Conklin, Vernon Dent, Frank Ellis, and Blackie Whiteford! This one is so hilarious! Shemp has a great performance here and in My opinion its one of his best. I strongly recommend this Three Stooges short!