Woman Haters (1934)

Director:

Archie Gottler

Writer:

Jerome S. Gottler (story)

Release Date:

5 May 1934 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Short

Tagline:

A Musical Novelty

Plot:

The stooges join the "Women Haters" club and vow to have nothing to do with the fair sex. Larry marries...

Plot Keywords:

Club | Train | Bride | Marriage | Daughter

Cast

Moe Howard	...	Tom (as Moe)
Larry Fine	...	Jim (as Larry)
Curly Howard	...	Jack (as Curley)
Marjorie White	...	Mary

Runtime:

21 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Certification:

Australia:G

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

This was the first short the Three Stooges made with Columbia, explaining why certain aspects of the short are very different from what they normally did.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: In the scene near the end of the film that takes place in the Woman Haters Club meeting room, as the camera moves from the chairman down the table to the door, the shadow of the boom mic moving with it can be seen on the far wall of the room.

Quotes:

Mary's father: [talking to match the background music] That reminds me of a story, listen.
[points to a fat woman]
Mary's father: That's my other daughter there. When on her wedding day, the fella she was about to marry, tried to run away. Did you ever hear of a nerve like that? Well, I took care of that guy. In a room I locked him, then I socked him right in the eye.
[points to a cop]
Mary's father: Then I turned him over to my brother, the cop. He just picked him up. And spinned him round like a top.
[points to a tall strong guy]
Mary's father: Then my other brother, who's a fighter, began. Seemed ashamed to tell you what he did to that man.
[Jim looks frightened]
Jim: Did he marry your daughter?
Mary's father: Did he? I should say he did.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Three Stooges (2000) (TV)

The first stooge short out of Columbia is one of the best!

The Three Stooges were on their way. They now had a contract at Columbia Pictures and were ready to make their mark on, not only comedy, but entertainment in general. With that Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Jerome Howard, also known as Curly, set out with director Arthur Gottlieb to make the first of over 190 short films the Stooges would make at Columbia.

This short is unlike any other Stooge short film. There are plenty of hits, slaps, pokes, and bonks. This short is different in that it is a musical novelty starring up and comer Marjorie White who, unfortunately, died in a road accident in 1935, less than a year after filming this short.

Moe, Larry, and Curly play Tom, Jim, and Jackie respectively who vow to swear off women after they join a club known as the Woman Haters. Bud Jamison, who will appear in many of the Stooge films, is the chairman, if you will, of this organization. The Stooges are initiated into the club and are off to fulfil their commitment.

After only one week, Jim tells the other two that he would have to quit that silly club. He met a girl and fell head over heels in love. The other two try and convince him that he is making a big mistake. Jim finally takes their advice and goes to break it off, but ends up marrying the girl after her father gives him so "words of encouragement".

Tom, Jim, and Jackie all meet up at the train station later that day and chaos breaks loose when each man falls for the girl in their own way.

There is a definite pattern and rhyme scheme involved in this short that makes it memorable. I have noticed that there is a lot more violence in this short then the others. But nevertheless this is one of the best from the Stooges.