While this Three Stooges short may feature the Stooges at a time they weren't quite at the level they once were, there's nevertheless one thing this short remains and that's funny. Yes the routine with Larry and the cat and the dog does steal the spotlight and does provide this episode's funniest moments (admittedly a portion of this routine may have been stolen from Abbott and Costello but even if that's the case, the Stooges still put their own distinctive, zany stamp on the subject matter that's for rootin' tootin' certain) but there's also fun to be found later when the Stooges, all disguised as Santa Claus, must get past a huge, hulking bodyguard wielding a great big sword! How they do this proves more surprising than I and I'd assume most other folks would expect and there's even more hilarious, unpredictable Stooges hijinks in this one than that.
24 Reviews
Oh, Those Corny Names!
ccthemovieman-117 April 2010
The writers of the Three Stooges over the years really loved to use corny names. Check out the ones here: "Ginna Rumma, Affa Dollar, Hassan Ben Soba, the Cafe Casbahbah, the Emir Of Shmow," and more. For instance, check out the names on a map shown late in the film.
Anyway, this Arab-flavored story turns out to be a diamond heist story with the boys trying to capture it while disguised in Santa Claus suits. Yes, it's as absurd as it sounds! Actually, the main part of this film - almost half of it - is the restaurant bit with the thieves (and two Stooges) thinking they were eating the house cat and dog. Those comedy bits are hilarious especially when Larry and Moe "pet" their food or try to bite into it.
My favorite face in here is Frank Lackteen, one of those tough-looking mugs with the bony, scarred face that would be perfect in an Al Capone gangster film. In real life, he was a Lebanese man who played a lot of bit parts for many years on TV and in the movies, beginning way back in the silent film era.
By the way, note the "trivia" on the title page here under "Fun Stuff" to read an interesting comment about the deleted scene with Curly in this film. Kind of sad, but I'd like to have seen what he looked like.
Overall, this is very entertaining even if much of the material had been used before in various forms.
Anyway, this Arab-flavored story turns out to be a diamond heist story with the boys trying to capture it while disguised in Santa Claus suits. Yes, it's as absurd as it sounds! Actually, the main part of this film - almost half of it - is the restaurant bit with the thieves (and two Stooges) thinking they were eating the house cat and dog. Those comedy bits are hilarious especially when Larry and Moe "pet" their food or try to bite into it.
My favorite face in here is Frank Lackteen, one of those tough-looking mugs with the bony, scarred face that would be perfect in an Al Capone gangster film. In real life, he was a Lebanese man who played a lot of bit parts for many years on TV and in the movies, beginning way back in the silent film era.
By the way, note the "trivia" on the title page here under "Fun Stuff" to read an interesting comment about the deleted scene with Curly in this film. Kind of sad, but I'd like to have seen what he looked like.
Overall, this is very entertaining even if much of the material had been used before in various forms.
"I've had a few to many myself."
KennethEagleSpirit12 January 2007
Lines like the above, shot back by Shemp after having been introduced to Hassan Ben Soba, are classic. The parts with the cat and dog? Just plain funny. Sight gags, puns, and slap stick comedy. Why else watch the Three Stooges? Everette Brown, as the Nubian guard, was cool. He had a very nice, long lasting career even if most of it was uncredited. This particular Stooges short stands out a little for me because it lacks one thing that most of their films have plenty of ... Girls. I say plenty of girls. Most of them had at least three so that the Stooges could take a moment to pair off in romantic silliness. But all is not lost. This things worth the money regardless. Say, at least Affa Dolla.
One of the funniest 3 stooges episodes ever.
pvtkeyser12 May 2000
When looking through the video 'discount bin' the next time you go shopping, you'll probably notice a tape saying "Three Stooges Classics" or something like that. No matter the design of the sleeve, and no matter what company manufactured the video, there is about a 99% chance that this video will contain the following episodes:
Disorder in the Court, Brideless Groom, Malice in the Palace, Sing a Song of Six Pants
Yes, these are the Three Stooges episodes that somehow slipped through the fingers of our friends at Columbia Pictures, and have found themselves in the ranks of Public Domain Films. I received copies of these episodes when I was nine or so, mainly because they were the most affordable, and I watched them quite possibly 50 times. Nowadays, when I see an episode of the Three Stooges, I tend to think its juvenile and unfunny. But these four episodes still make me chuckle. Are they funny because they're public domain, or are they public domain because they're funny? I guess it's one of those chicken/egg questions.
Malice in the Palace is one of the all-time greats. It's almost impossible not to laugh in the scene where everyone is convinced Larry is chopping up the cat and dog. And just like any Three Stooges episode, loaded with plenty of puns and lame jokes, and pokes and slaps galore. 3 1/2 stars.
Disorder in the Court, Brideless Groom, Malice in the Palace, Sing a Song of Six Pants
Yes, these are the Three Stooges episodes that somehow slipped through the fingers of our friends at Columbia Pictures, and have found themselves in the ranks of Public Domain Films. I received copies of these episodes when I was nine or so, mainly because they were the most affordable, and I watched them quite possibly 50 times. Nowadays, when I see an episode of the Three Stooges, I tend to think its juvenile and unfunny. But these four episodes still make me chuckle. Are they funny because they're public domain, or are they public domain because they're funny? I guess it's one of those chicken/egg questions.
Malice in the Palace is one of the all-time greats. It's almost impossible not to laugh in the scene where everyone is convinced Larry is chopping up the cat and dog. And just like any Three Stooges episode, loaded with plenty of puns and lame jokes, and pokes and slaps galore. 3 1/2 stars.
The Lost Diamond Of King Rootin Tootin
bkoganbing17 January 2011
Most aficionados of The Three Stooges consider Malice In The Palce to be their best short with Shemp. It certainly provides all of them with good moments.
The boys start out as waiters here in a restaurant somewhere in North Africa and a couple of rough customers come in for service which they get Stooge style. A rather lengthy bit with all the others including Moe and Shemp think Larry is cutting up cats and dogs for the dishes served at the establishment.
But the two villains decide that since a curse is on the famous lost diamond of King Rootin Tootin is said to strike the first who lay eyes on it, these guys are definitely expendable members of the human race. The Stooge mission is to retrieve that diamond and if one of them spots it first, no loss.
Of course there is a providence in heaven for women, small children and a Stooge. Check that last routine where the three of them come disguised in Santa Claus suits to fool the bad guys holding the Rootin Tootin diamond.
It's quite a rock and quite a Stooge delight.
The boys start out as waiters here in a restaurant somewhere in North Africa and a couple of rough customers come in for service which they get Stooge style. A rather lengthy bit with all the others including Moe and Shemp think Larry is cutting up cats and dogs for the dishes served at the establishment.
But the two villains decide that since a curse is on the famous lost diamond of King Rootin Tootin is said to strike the first who lay eyes on it, these guys are definitely expendable members of the human race. The Stooge mission is to retrieve that diamond and if one of them spots it first, no loss.
Of course there is a providence in heaven for women, small children and a Stooge. Check that last routine where the three of them come disguised in Santa Claus suits to fool the bad guys holding the Rootin Tootin diamond.
It's quite a rock and quite a Stooge delight.
This short is imaginative and full of great sight gags.
wobsaxoshin7 June 2006
oddly enough,Curly Howard had a brief gag appearance as the head chef in the restaurant but while this seen was in theaters it got cut from all TV and video copies and may have been lost forever.I would love to see that scene as it was the only post Hold that Lion cameo Curly made since his May6,1946 stroke that forced his retirement.That cut scene was also never used in stock footage as train passenger scene was.All that survives is a poster showing Curly holding a rolling pin at Larry and Moe.Does this have to do with TV rights,copyrights and things that were signed after Curly's death in 1952? Other that that the short was one of Shemp,s best,hilarious,even colorized.IT WAS ALSO THE FIRST SHORT WITH THE BLOCK PRINTING OF THE THREE STOOGES IN THE BEGINNING SEQUENCE AS UP FROM 1945-1949 OTHER SHORT HAD THE three stooges IN SCRIPT WITH FIRST CURLY AND THEN SHEMP.
I have never been a fan of Shemp, but this is still an excellent Stooges effort
planktonrules9 June 2007
Okay, when it comes to comedy I love the old silent stars as well as Laurel and Hardy BUT I never was a huge fan of the Stooges. Plus, after the incapacitation and subsequent replacement of Curly, my interest in their antics became even less--mostly because I missed Curly so much and he just wasn't replaceable. While Shemp wasn't quite as funny and many of his films were remakes of older Stooge films, he at least was considerably more entertaining than his replacements--the insipid Joe Besser and Joe DeRita. Both Joes were "comedians" who relied on schmaltz instead of slapstick. As a result of this, the edge was gone after Shemp died and NONE of these later films are worth seeing.
Fortunately, this Shemp film is one of the best ones--because of one particularly funny scene and because while parts of it were re-hashed, the overall story was still pretty fresh. In particular, I loved the long sequence in the restaurant that,...wait, I'd better not say, as I don't want to spoil the surprise. However, this film is funny and is worth seeing--even to a casual fan like myself.
Fortunately, this Shemp film is one of the best ones--because of one particularly funny scene and because while parts of it were re-hashed, the overall story was still pretty fresh. In particular, I loved the long sequence in the restaurant that,...wait, I'd better not say, as I don't want to spoil the surprise. However, this film is funny and is worth seeing--even to a casual fan like myself.
Great Three Stooges Shemp short!
Movie Nuttball19 October 2004
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 a good three Stooges short. Vernon Dent, George J. Lewis,and Frank Lackteen all performed well. There and many funny scenes here and The Three Stooges are hilarious! There is another short very similar like this one called Rumpus in the Harem. My favorite of the two is Malice in the Palace but I recommend to see both of these Three Stooges shorts!
This is a good three Stooges short. Vernon Dent, George J. Lewis,and Frank Lackteen all performed well. There and many funny scenes here and The Three Stooges are hilarious! There is another short very similar like this one called Rumpus in the Harem. My favorite of the two is Malice in the Palace but I recommend to see both of these Three Stooges shorts!
a Shemp-Stooge classic
beauzee12 January 2015
this one hangs together pretty good, less emphasis on sadistic violence.
another terrific mix of slapstick and anachronism, as the boys find themselves in the land of the Casbah...and the worst restaurant on the planet...cuisine straight out of Times Square, New York! And Vernon DEnt gets another chance to do his thing with his usual adversaries.
however...any viewing of this above-average short is marred by the knowledge that Brother Curly was intended to have a small part, as a Chef, who leaves his kitchen....to go out to lunch! that is apparently why Larry takes on the role of culinary artist! proof of Curly's 2nd cameo? well...we see him in the Lobby Card for the flick and in a script fragment found in a STOOGES JOURNAL, NUMBER 6! interesting that the film was completed in mid-1948 but released late in 1949!
let's hope this deleted footage turns up!
another terrific mix of slapstick and anachronism, as the boys find themselves in the land of the Casbah...and the worst restaurant on the planet...cuisine straight out of Times Square, New York! And Vernon DEnt gets another chance to do his thing with his usual adversaries.
however...any viewing of this above-average short is marred by the knowledge that Brother Curly was intended to have a small part, as a Chef, who leaves his kitchen....to go out to lunch! that is apparently why Larry takes on the role of culinary artist! proof of Curly's 2nd cameo? well...we see him in the Lobby Card for the flick and in a script fragment found in a STOOGES JOURNAL, NUMBER 6! interesting that the film was completed in mid-1948 but released late in 1949!
let's hope this deleted footage turns up!
Malice in the Palace
Smells_Like_Cheese20 October 2005
This is one of my favorite Shemp shorts, I think other fans would agree that this is one of the classics.
This takes place in the middle east where the boys are cooks. When two very important treasure hunters come in with a map for King Rutan-Tutan's diamond, they are very optimistic and ask the boys for their help. The boys agree and serve a dinner to the men, Larry being the head chief is in the kitchen alone with his two pets, a dog and a cat. When the boys and the men are discussing the plan, they hear the dog and cat screaming from a fight, and you know the assumption. But then something else goes wrong, the men find out that the diamond has already been taken and instead of running to retrieve it, they start crying. Moe takes advantage with Larry and Shemp and go to get the diamond back themselves.
10/10
This takes place in the middle east where the boys are cooks. When two very important treasure hunters come in with a map for King Rutan-Tutan's diamond, they are very optimistic and ask the boys for their help. The boys agree and serve a dinner to the men, Larry being the head chief is in the kitchen alone with his two pets, a dog and a cat. When the boys and the men are discussing the plan, they hear the dog and cat screaming from a fight, and you know the assumption. But then something else goes wrong, the men find out that the diamond has already been taken and instead of running to retrieve it, they start crying. Moe takes advantage with Larry and Shemp and go to get the diamond back themselves.
10/10
Malice In THe Palace
psilver_112 November 2007
One of the better written and directed shorts with Shemp. Actually, the Shemp shorts up to about 1952 are pretty consistent as to quality. It's been written that a version with Curly was filmed, or planned. This makes sense, as it would free up Moe, Larry, and Shemp to react as a trio to Curly, who plays the A-type personality in charge of fixin's. It seems that all that remains is a single lobby card photo with a mustached Curly in a chef's costume. One source says that a complete Curly version exists alongside the Shemp version, but has never been shown. I am mystified that there isn't more interest in the alternate version. I hope to contact Columbia pictures and request it, as it appears that the original shorts will finally be released on DVD. Thanks!
Shemp is pretty much the whole show
frankfob1 March 2008
Being a Three Stooges fan doesn't mean you have to like all their shorts, and I'm not particularly fond of this one. The Stooges shorts were shot on the cheap, especially the ones they did later in their career, like this one, but "Malice in the Palace" not only IS cheap but it LOOKS cheap. It also looks rushed--another characteristic of their later films--and just isn't all that funny, although it's got a good, reliable supporting cast in Stooge regulars Vernon Dent, George Lewis and Frank Lackteen (despite the fact that he only has about a minute's screen time). I didn't find the gags with the dog and cat particularly funny, and Larry, always the weakest of the team, is especially so here. The inane, tired script doesn't help matters--stupid one-liners like "When it comes to cookin', I'm the cat's meow!" or "We have rabbit and hot dog. Hot dog! He'll take rabbit!" scattered among recycled puns from their earlier films only serve to point out how juvenile it is. In fact, just about the only reason to watch this entry is Shemp. He gives it his all and gets off some snappy ad-libs, which was always one of his strong points. He injects what little energy there is in this poorly written, sloppily directed (by Jules White, what a surprise there . . . ) entry. If you like Shemp, there are far better shorts than this featuring him. You'd be better off watching them instead.
Shemp at his best.
crusefamily12 October 2001
MALICE IN THE PALACE is probably Shemp's best and most popular short. I can't say it's number 1 on my list, but I'd make it number 5. The best scene is when everyone thinks Larry is chopping up cats and dogs in the kitchen.
My Rating: A++
My Rating: A++
So funny of "The Three Stooges" short film.
JohnnyStar_00721 January 2021
This one is so funniest slapstick of late 1940's short film from "The Three Stooges" and very fan of "The Three Stooges" short film. This one also public domain short film with "Disorder in the Court" (1936), "Brideless Groom" (1947) and "Sing a Song of Six Pants" (1947) and there too many cheap VHS and DVD (I own some of cheap DVD and VHS) and also "The Three Stooges Collection: Volume Six" DVD with the blue cover and disc 1 from Sony Pictures.
This is so funniest of "The Three Stooges" short film moment with one with 2 thieves customers, Moe and Shemp think Larry cooking with the live cat and dog, Moe, Larry and Shemp dresses up as Santa costumes (same footage scene as 1938 of "Wee Wee Monsieur" with Curly), Shemp fight with nubian guard with the sword and also throwing fruit (it hard to see what is it but it can be apple or an orange?) and then a banana in nubian guard's mouth (so cracks me up!) and plus so many funniest scene moment and also plus face slap/eye pokes. Vernon Dent (plenty of guest-star on "The Three Stooges" short film) as one of the thieves customer Hassan Ben Sober and he the hilarious character. Curly Howard who member of "The Three Stooges" who made a cameo but it deleted and I would love to see that but I don't think it not going to be happen (I seen Curly Howard image from the Goggle).
This is so funniest of "The Three Stooges" short film moment with one with 2 thieves customers, Moe and Shemp think Larry cooking with the live cat and dog, Moe, Larry and Shemp dresses up as Santa costumes (same footage scene as 1938 of "Wee Wee Monsieur" with Curly), Shemp fight with nubian guard with the sword and also throwing fruit (it hard to see what is it but it can be apple or an orange?) and then a banana in nubian guard's mouth (so cracks me up!) and plus so many funniest scene moment and also plus face slap/eye pokes. Vernon Dent (plenty of guest-star on "The Three Stooges" short film) as one of the thieves customer Hassan Ben Sober and he the hilarious character. Curly Howard who member of "The Three Stooges" who made a cameo but it deleted and I would love to see that but I don't think it not going to be happen (I seen Curly Howard image from the Goggle).
I got the Diamond, you got the Gate...
simeon_flake18 January 2019
Pretty much the typical Stooge classic, at a time when the Shemp trio was really rolling & not too many "dud" shorts are found during this time period. I guess if I have to nitpick, is that maybe the section in the Emir's palace is not up to the level of the previous scenes--but how could it be.
Maybe the funniest "retaliation" anybody ever had to Moe is Shemp using the "magic handwave" to pull him down to the floor & conk his head repeatedly. And--of course--the kitchen antics of Larry.
When it comes to cooking, I'm the cat's meow....
Maybe the funniest "retaliation" anybody ever had to Moe is Shemp using the "magic handwave" to pull him down to the floor & conk his head repeatedly. And--of course--the kitchen antics of Larry.
When it comes to cooking, I'm the cat's meow....
more hot dogs
SnoopyStyle12 November 2020
Larry, Moe, and Shemp are bumbling waiters in Cafe Casbahbah. Hassan Ben Sober and Ginna Rumma are customers. The two are thieves trying to steal the diamond from the tomb of King Rootintootin. There is a curse on the jewel and they try to trick the Stooges to do the dirty work. Before that happens, they get a note that Emir of Shmow has already grab the diamond. The boys figure to steal it back for the reward while dressed as Santa Claus.
Petting the hot dogs is pure comedic genius. I would be happier to have the whole short be the boys trying to serve the food to their customers. A more daring comedic attempt would have no plot. It's funnier to be about nothing. The other stuff is fine but the map scene is way too long. It's trying to show the hilarity of the countries in the map but it's not that funny. I want more of the hot dogs.
Petting the hot dogs is pure comedic genius. I would be happier to have the whole short be the boys trying to serve the food to their customers. A more daring comedic attempt would have no plot. It's funnier to be about nothing. The other stuff is fine but the map scene is way too long. It's trying to show the hilarity of the countries in the map but it's not that funny. I want more of the hot dogs.
Worth seeing for the first half-after that, it drags
elisereid-2966626 January 2020
Years ago, I saw the first act of this short alone and thought it contained some of the best Stooges routines of the Shemp era. I didn't see the rest of the film until last week, and was sorely disappointed. It simply failed to live up to the promise of that first act, especially when it started stealing routines from earlier Stooges films, such as Wee Wee Monsieur. There's even a long closeup of a map with funny place names that goes on for forever, well after the joke has worn off and we've had time to read all of them, which slows down the film unforgivably. If only the Stooges had pursued the story to its rightful conclusion, this might have been one of my favorite Stooge films. As is, it's uneven.
They forgot to put laughs on the menu...
JoeytheBrit4 September 2005
The Three Stooges are in the desert restaurant business in this cheap short that struggles to raise many laughs. The big routine in this one is the cat and dog sequence described by others and it seems to go on forever. It's mildly amusing, but there's no correlation between the length of the skit and the laughs it produces. In fact the best thing about this flick is the character and location names, which appear to have been dreamed up late one night in a dimly lit booth of a bar after a few too many sherbets: Ginna Rumma, Affa Dollar, Hassan Ben Soba it's a shame as much imagination wasn't put into the every other aspect of the film.
Has Some Funny Gags
Snow Leopard30 November 2005
There are some pretty funny gags in this Three Stooges comedy, and they generally make good use of a deliberately far-fetched, silly setup. It has a couple of slow stretches, but the high points easily make up for them. Most of it relies on standard Stooge gag ideas, with a couple of gags borrowed from other sources and one or two new ideas thrown in.
It starts off with Moe, Larry, and Shemp as the staff of a restaurant in which Vernon Dent and two other heavies plot a diamond robbery. The first part of the movie takes place there, followed by a wacky sequence in which the Stooges attempt to recover the diamond.
The restaurant sequence combines some slapstick with an extended gag that uses a dog and a cat. This gag goes on too long, especially for an idea that was not entirely new, and it mostly ends up slowing things down (although there are other viewers who have found it entertaining). The last part is mostly physical comedy, most of which is done with good timing and an appropriate sense of the absurd.
Overall, it's too uneven to be considered among the best Stooges comedies, but the highlights certainly make it worth watching.
It starts off with Moe, Larry, and Shemp as the staff of a restaurant in which Vernon Dent and two other heavies plot a diamond robbery. The first part of the movie takes place there, followed by a wacky sequence in which the Stooges attempt to recover the diamond.
The restaurant sequence combines some slapstick with an extended gag that uses a dog and a cat. This gag goes on too long, especially for an idea that was not entirely new, and it mostly ends up slowing things down (although there are other viewers who have found it entertaining). The last part is mostly physical comedy, most of which is done with good timing and an appropriate sense of the absurd.
Overall, it's too uneven to be considered among the best Stooges comedies, but the highlights certainly make it worth watching.
Malicious, alright
TBJCSKCNRRQTreviews25 June 2010
This was part of a 3-DVD box-set, and it also came with the Laurel and Hardy shorts Mud & Sand, Just Ramblin' Along, Oranges and Lemons, The Tree in a Test Tube, as well as two other Three Stooges ones, Brideless Groom and Sing a Song of Six Pants, and, on the two other discs, the features Atoll K(or Utopia) and Flying Deuces. Well, thankfully this is the last of the ones with this trio. I forced myself to watch them because, well, people love them, there must be *some* reason, and I already had these three. Other than the audiences' bitterness, I can't see what the explanation could be. I by far prefer the lighter and at times clever slapstick of L&H(guess which of the groups were the reason I bought these; go on) to this angry, violent style. Well, this one goes back and forth between being nasty and silly, but it never manages to actually be funny. OK, At least one or two hits in this don't seem to hurt. Yes, I get it; it's politically incorrect. That, on its own, doesn't make me laugh. If there isn't something entertaining to it... yeah. This one is even racist. I agree with Yes, Dear; that show has one episode where a kid becomes brutal with someone else on account of these things. While it may be a joke there, I think it should be taken seriously. What are we teaching children? I recommend this to fans of them. 5/10
a cat, a dog, Santa Claus
Kirpianuscus8 February 2019
One of seductive episodes, mixing the pieces of mistery, exoticism, the gags and cook. Nice scene by scene. Naive today, it remains amusing. For a cat, a dog, Santa Claus and a map. All as pieces from a past who remains real cool.
Inane and recycled humor.
BrettErikJohnson20 July 2004
Larry is in a restaurant kitchen cooking up some rabbit and hot dogs for a couple of customers. Yum Yum! A cat shows up and he chases it away just so he can pick it up and bring it back to the kitchen. A dog then shows up and he chases it away. Why? So he can grab it and bring it back to the kitchen.
The contrived plot has Moe, Curly and the two customers all thinking that Larry has just butchered the cat and dog and is serving them as dinner. They hear dog and cat noises each time they start to eat the food. Um, excuse me, but isn't that a total ripoff of a famous Lou Costello scene a few years earlier. Yeah! Poor Lou thought that his steak was actually a cat and he kept hearing meows and purrs that he thought was coming from the pieces of meat on his plate. Nice ripoff Stooges!
The highlight of the short comes when the film makers actually tie something around a cat and viciously yank it upwards in order to get it to shriek in pain. Fun for the whole family! The only positive thing to say about "Malice In The Palace" is that their signature idiotic slapping and eye-poking is kept to a minimum here. I'm thankful for that small miracle.
The contrived plot has Moe, Curly and the two customers all thinking that Larry has just butchered the cat and dog and is serving them as dinner. They hear dog and cat noises each time they start to eat the food. Um, excuse me, but isn't that a total ripoff of a famous Lou Costello scene a few years earlier. Yeah! Poor Lou thought that his steak was actually a cat and he kept hearing meows and purrs that he thought was coming from the pieces of meat on his plate. Nice ripoff Stooges!
The highlight of the short comes when the film makers actually tie something around a cat and viciously yank it upwards in order to get it to shriek in pain. Fun for the whole family! The only positive thing to say about "Malice In The Palace" is that their signature idiotic slapping and eye-poking is kept to a minimum here. I'm thankful for that small miracle.
Diamonds are a Stooge's best friend
Horst_In_Translation19 March 2016
Warning: Spoilers
"Malice in the Palace" is a black-and-white short film from the Stooges and the year is 1949. Days of World War II are over, Stooges are unpolitical again and Shemp has replaced Curly. Director is Jules White and writer is Felix Adler as usual. This one here only runs a couple seconds longer than 16 minutes and thus it is among the shortest films. There are more differences to their usual routine. There is no major female character in here this time and there is a lot of dressing-up in here, which is not too common for the trio. Sure it was fun to see the Moe and the gang in Santa outfits, but somehow it wasn't enough to carry the film. The comedy and story seemed a touch too absurd for me in this one here. I guess this may be the reason why many like it and why it is among the most known works from the Stooges, but I am not convinced. my dislike has nothing to do with Shemp, however, he is always a nice addition and a worthy replacement for Curly. Nonetheless, overall I do not recommend this one here. Thumbs down.
"Service! Waiters!"
slymusic17 October 2009
Warning: Spoilers
"Malice in the Palace" is a fine Three Stooges short starring Larry, Shemp, and Moe. The boys operate a restaurant in the Orient, where they learn of a priceless Rootentooten diamond.
The best and most celebrated sequence in this short is that of the cat & dog at the Stooges' restaurant. I also like how the boys' Santa Claus disguises get the best of an Arabian guard who claims there is no Santa, but the boys have a present for him: a blow to the head! (The opening two shots of the entire Santa sequence, in which the guard allows a stranger to pass and then the Stooges ride in a sleigh carried by a reindeer, are actually stock footage from "Wee Wee Monsieur" [1938]; that's actually Curly in the sleigh!)
"Malice in the Palace" was remade several years later as "Rumpus in the Harem" (1956), using plenty of stock footage and a double for Shemp, as he had passed away by the time the remake went into production.
The best and most celebrated sequence in this short is that of the cat & dog at the Stooges' restaurant. I also like how the boys' Santa Claus disguises get the best of an Arabian guard who claims there is no Santa, but the boys have a present for him: a blow to the head! (The opening two shots of the entire Santa sequence, in which the guard allows a stranger to pass and then the Stooges ride in a sleigh carried by a reindeer, are actually stock footage from "Wee Wee Monsieur" [1938]; that's actually Curly in the sleigh!)
"Malice in the Palace" was remade several years later as "Rumpus in the Harem" (1956), using plenty of stock footage and a double for Shemp, as he had passed away by the time the remake went into production.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
