The Jerk of All Trades / Swing Parade (The Three Stooges)

Customer Reviews:

Interesting rarities.......2007-08-28

The first feature on this disc is the rarely-seen 1946 film 'Swing Parade,' which would be pretty unmemorable and even less-known were it not for the Stooges. Unlike most of the other full-length features they guest-starred in, here they actually play substantial secondary roles and contribute more than usual to the plot, instead of just periodically popping up as comic relief. The plot itself is rather thin and trite; Carol Lawrence, an aspiring singer, has just gotten evicted from her apartment, and while applying for a job as a receptionist with Danny Warren, Sr., is instead hired to serve Danny, Jr. an eviction notice. The elder Warren hates how his son is running a nightclub, the Embassy, and is determined to shut the club down. (Oddly, for supposedly being on the verge of bankruptcy, this club still manages to have a lot of lavish costumes and sets during its musical performances.) Typically, Danny and Carol end up falling for one another, Carol gets hired as a singer at the club, and she abandons her plans to serve him the eviction notice. In spite of this development, though, Danny, his manager Moose, and the Stooges (who work as waiters and with the stage crew) still have to be on the lookout for other process-servers, making sure none of them come anywhere near Danny. Danny, Sr. ends up having a change of heart, and when Moose and the Stooges mistake him for yet another process-server and the truth about why Carol originally came to the club come out, it comes down to Danny's former would-be girlfriend Marie to try to save the day. The film is also cluttered up by a bunch of musical performances from then-popular acts such as Connee Boswell and the big-band jazz leader Louis Jordan. The jazz numbers are pretty good, but the other songs are rather boring and don't add anything to the plot. A couple of the routines in this film are adapted from ones they did in earlier films, such as 'Beer and Pretzels.' For being from a studio that was even more poverty-row than Columbia, it's not too shabby and is enjoyable enough, even though it's nowhere near being a great classic or even a really good movie period. It's also great to see how Curly looks and acts much more like his old self here, despite being rather far into his sick period. He seems a lot healthier than he did in the Columbia shorts being made at the same time, perhaps because this was shot over a longer period of time and he didn't need to be in every scene and thus got more of a chance to pull himself together.

The second feature (available on several other DVDs) is the unaired 1949 tv pilot 'Jerks of All Trades,' which was taken from a kinetoscope, the only known surviving print of it. The Stooges are painters and paper-hangers called in to do the house of a man whom they just had a very bad run-in with at their office. At the house, they proceed to horrify his wife as well and to pretty much make a mess of the living room, as well as angering the husband even more when he comes home and discovers his wife hired the very paper-hangers whom he had such a humiliating experience with. While it doesn't seem quite as great as one of their shorts, perhaps due to the live audience, lack of editing, and lack of sound effects, perhaps, had the show been picked up and Columbia not threatened legal action had they pressed on with doing the show, they would have gotten a lot better with more time acting in the television medium.

Overall, it's the type of thing that most new or casual fans aren't going to be that interested in, but for longer-term fans, it's an interesting way to kill some time. The prints aren't exactly pristine, but it's not as though they're really snowy, dark, scratched, or unwatchable. The latest DVD release of 'Swing Parade' is said to have a much more restored print. Since 'Jerks of All Trades' was remastered from the only known surviving print, one can't be too picky about how it's not absolutely perfect. The only other major downside is that the Good Times logo is imprinted on the lower right-hand corner of the screen, which can be rather distracting. While it can be tuned out every so often because it's pale white against black and white images, there's still no excuse for a bug to be there. One expects that from something taped from the tv, not a supposedly professional DVD.

buyer beware.......2005-12-27

What a disappointment. If you buy this product thinking you're going see any of the shorts that you remember as a kid you will be disappointed

A curiosity more than anything.......2004-01-06

This is a budget title as immediately evidenced by the fact that the case is made from brittle, Grade Z plastic, but you still get a lot all things considered. The DVD contains the film Swing Parade of 1946 as well as the live-action pilot Jerks of All Trades. Swing Parade is a feature-length musical with a weak plot and lackluster songs. The Stooges have a guest role, and are as good as ever, though. Jerks of All Trades is a bit of a rarity, and as such a good addition to any Stooge fan's collection. Its interesting to see them perform live with a few little errors and the audience's laughter but it really isnt terribly funny. The DVD is produced by Good Times DVD and for some baffling reason, they plastered their logo in the lower right hand corner of every frame like you see on tv shows. Its transparent, but still annoying. The picture and sound quality are fine, but Good Times obviously did little or no restoration or repair so I dont know why they think they deserve so much credit for the works contained on the DVD. As expected, theres nothing in the way of extras and its in full frame mode only. Overall, you get a lot for budget title, but I would have like a more professionally done version of Jerks of All Trades minus the logos.

A Lost Gem.......2002-12-27

Okay, so most Stooge fans favor the Moe, Larry & Curly version of the trio, and Shemp is featured in this live act. This Lost Classic was unearthed by Milton Berle's brother (who also gives an interview) and was actually a pilot for a series of live shows that were planned. (The Stooges were going to have a different occupation each week.) Once you immerse yourself in "Jerks of All Trades" you forget that you are watching a live performance. There are some very funny moments and the boys come through with flying colors. A must for every Stooge Collector!

The Three Stooges: Kings of Laughter/Simply Hilarious/Lost Comedy Treasures/Swing Parade and Jerks of all Trades

Average customer rating:

The Three Stooges: Kings of Laughter/Simply Hilarious/Lost Comedy Treasures/Swing Parade and Jerks of all Trades
Starring: Larry and Curly Moe
Manufacturer: Goodtimes
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

DVD:

DVD

DVD