This is a remake of "What's the Matador" with Curly Howard as third Stooge- and Let's be honest, it's not near as good, mainly because Besser was not Stooge material. But compared to other Besser Stooge shorts, It's great. Greta Thyssen is great eye candy for the male audience members. Gowan.... take the bull by the horns and see this film for yourself. It is funny. Highlights include the Stooges' harmonic crying, Greta's husband discovering Larry under the bed and some jokes that were recycled from "What's the Matador" and the Shemp Stooge short "Don't throw That Knife." For a Besser short, this is a must see.
15 Reviews
Not a particularly strong way to end the legend
Horst_In_Translation15 January 2018
Warning: Spoilers
"Sappy Bull Fighters" is an American black-and-white short film from 1959, so this one will have its 60th anniversary soon and depending on when you read this review, it may have happened already. It is another Three Stooges short made by the White Brothers who had worked with the trio on many occasions, especially Oscar nominee Jules. This is one of the final Stooges films and again it is a remake of one of the Curly short films from the days when not just Curly, but also his successor Shemp had already died. At 15.5 minutes, it is among the shorter Stooges short films too. I wish I could have found this as funny and enjoyable as the people in the arena, but there is just no way. This was very mediocre from start to finish and the only moment I somewhat liked was when the fake bull is out and the real one is in, but even that was kinda shoddy with the scene where we see the antagonist making it happen. Of course, in the end the Stooges triumph again as the good-hearted, clumsy, incompetent heroes. But I cannot celebrate with them as I have to give this mostly arena-centered short movie a thumbs-down and I cannot recommend it. The subject definitely does not justify a remake. The best thing? Perhaps Greta Thyssen's looks and I am usually not even into blondes. Not enough though. Watch something else instead.
Sappy Bull Fighters was a pretty good final released Three Stooges short
tavm8 January 2019
On Facebook, I managed to watch this-the last Three Stooges short to be released if not filmed. By this time, Joe Besser was cast as the third one after Shemp Howard's death. Also, Columbia Pictures was remaking many of the old Stooges ones as this one had the plot and used some footage from the Curly-starred What's the Matador? That's why you hear some "woo-woo"s from Joe in this one. I found this short pretty funny even when Joe does Curly's lines and mannerisms though it threatened to run out of steam at the climatic bullfight sequence mainly due to some obvious mix of stock footage and pick-up shots. Though they've obviously aged many years from their peak performances, Moe and Larry still have some energy which would serve them well during several more years of features with new member Curly Joe DeRita after Besser left the act to take care of his wife. Another good thing about this short is the presence of the beautiful Greta Thyssen. Hubba Hubba! So that's a nice recommendation of Sappy Bull Fighters.
All I am saying, is Give Joe a Chance
esstee5523 June 2003
What's up with all these people ragging on Joe Besser so harshly? The guy may have been little more than a footnote in the Stooges' history, but he could be damn funny in his own right. "Sappy Bullfighters" isn't the best Stooges short for sure, but it wasn't the worst, either (check out "Cuckoo On A Choo-choo" for that honor). And don't blame Joe for repeating Curly's lines. It wasn't his idea, that was the cheapness of what Columbia's shorts department had come to by the end of the 1950s. Joe Besser was a funny guy, as well as a decent person, and he deserves more than the derogatory statements made by some commenters here.
The Last Stooges Short--and One of the Worst
mrb198028 September 2009
Warning: Spoilers
This short subject is a remake of the Three Stooges' 1942 film "What's the Matador?", about the boys' trip to Mexico and their bullfighting adventures. Although the original short was made during the Stooges' peak period, it isn't that memorable and I believe it is one of the more mediocre films with Curly Howard.
Having established that, I believe that "Sappy Bullfighters" is just pathetically awful, like all the other shorts with Joe Besser. Moe and Larry never should have hired Besser, because his whiny, almost feminine character was completely wrong for the violent comedy of the Stooges. His 16 films with Moe and Larry marked the nadir for the team, and those shorts are embarrassing to watch. This short was released in 1959 and was the team's swan song with Columbia. Maybe Besser was a nice guy, but he was all wrong as the third stooge.
I won't review any more Besser shorts, because I would just be giving the same scathingly negative review over and over. Do yourself a big favor and don't watch this. Instead, try to catch "In the Sweet Pie and Pie" or "Hoi Polloi".
Having established that, I believe that "Sappy Bullfighters" is just pathetically awful, like all the other shorts with Joe Besser. Moe and Larry never should have hired Besser, because his whiny, almost feminine character was completely wrong for the violent comedy of the Stooges. His 16 films with Moe and Larry marked the nadir for the team, and those shorts are embarrassing to watch. This short was released in 1959 and was the team's swan song with Columbia. Maybe Besser was a nice guy, but he was all wrong as the third stooge.
I won't review any more Besser shorts, because I would just be giving the same scathingly negative review over and over. Do yourself a big favor and don't watch this. Instead, try to catch "In the Sweet Pie and Pie" or "Hoi Polloi".
"Sloppy Bullfighters" Is More Like It.
maxcellus469 December 2005
And again, Columbia Pictures decides to merely make "hash" using the original version with Curly and without any of the gags or jokes to boot! Toward the end of this pitiful flick when Joe gets stuck riding the bull, the studio didn't even make much of an effort to re-record the sound for if you listen carefully you can still here Curly going "Woo woo woo woo". Also, when Moe and Larry throw the darts in order to "slow the bull down so he can get off", that's lifted right from the original because you can actually see Moe and Larry "magically" appear 15 years younger. Why oh why did Moe allow all this to happen? It's a burning question that probably can never be answered because as far as I know, in real life he was quite sensitive to any type of criticism and had rather high standards for his work, as also did Larry, Curly and Shemp. Don't waste your time on this one.
A Disappointing End
Cornonthecobb29 July 2007
Warning: Spoilers
The Three Stooges are arguably the greatest comedy team in film history. For that reason alone, they deserved a much better ending at Columbia than they received with this short.
"Sappy Bullfighters" is just not good. Granted, this is not all Joe Besser's fault. I personally feel that some of his shorts are fun enough, simply because of the departure from the Stooges usual fanfare that they contain, and for the fact that Larry is sometimes showcased more. However, this short just will not do. And the fact that one knows that it is their last short that was ever shown, well that just adds to the overall disgust.
This film just epitomizes how short subjects were on their last dying breaths during this time and how little effort went into making them. This short is so sloppy. It is a simple re-make of a Curly short, "What's the Matador?", filmed years before. As if this fact wasn't bad enough, the studio actually threw in footage of Moe and Larry from the original (which was filmed nearly 20 years prior). Are these things not obvious? Laughable or sad? You be the judge.
Another part of this short that makes it miserable is the fact that it is basically a Joe Besser showcase, with him showing that all he is (at least in this film) is a Curly-wanna-be-gone-completely-wrong! Moe and Larry have little to do in this short. As a Larry fan, I also must say that I feel it a bit disgraceful to have Besser get to use the joke that Larry originally popularized in the short "Ants In The Pantry". To see Besser say "I can't see, I can't see!" and have Larry say the simple "Why can't you see?", while Besser gets to quip "I got my eyes closed", is just wrong on all levels.
The two brave soldiers who stuck it out for all those years, Howard and Fine, have so little to do in this short. There are hardly any funny bits with them. The only thing that qualifies is Larry hiding under the bed of a jealous husband, attempting to be "Pepe", his dog.
One can't blame the dynamic duo. Larry and Moe give it their all. No matter how ridiculous things could get (and I'm sure they had their opinions by this point in their careers) Howard and Fine never gave anything less than their best. Their efforts do not pale from 1934-1959.
I often enjoy many shorts that some will dismiss as horrible. I'm all for their more "experimental", unusual shorts. At least those contain new ideas. However, this short, I think everyone can agree, is just not good.
Thank goodness TV later discovered the boys after the shorts department closed. Had they been forced to go out in THIS fashion, well that would have been a gross injustice to all the years they invested in making audiences laugh.
"Sappy Bullfighters" is just not good. Granted, this is not all Joe Besser's fault. I personally feel that some of his shorts are fun enough, simply because of the departure from the Stooges usual fanfare that they contain, and for the fact that Larry is sometimes showcased more. However, this short just will not do. And the fact that one knows that it is their last short that was ever shown, well that just adds to the overall disgust.
This film just epitomizes how short subjects were on their last dying breaths during this time and how little effort went into making them. This short is so sloppy. It is a simple re-make of a Curly short, "What's the Matador?", filmed years before. As if this fact wasn't bad enough, the studio actually threw in footage of Moe and Larry from the original (which was filmed nearly 20 years prior). Are these things not obvious? Laughable or sad? You be the judge.
Another part of this short that makes it miserable is the fact that it is basically a Joe Besser showcase, with him showing that all he is (at least in this film) is a Curly-wanna-be-gone-completely-wrong! Moe and Larry have little to do in this short. As a Larry fan, I also must say that I feel it a bit disgraceful to have Besser get to use the joke that Larry originally popularized in the short "Ants In The Pantry". To see Besser say "I can't see, I can't see!" and have Larry say the simple "Why can't you see?", while Besser gets to quip "I got my eyes closed", is just wrong on all levels.
The two brave soldiers who stuck it out for all those years, Howard and Fine, have so little to do in this short. There are hardly any funny bits with them. The only thing that qualifies is Larry hiding under the bed of a jealous husband, attempting to be "Pepe", his dog.
One can't blame the dynamic duo. Larry and Moe give it their all. No matter how ridiculous things could get (and I'm sure they had their opinions by this point in their careers) Howard and Fine never gave anything less than their best. Their efforts do not pale from 1934-1959.
I often enjoy many shorts that some will dismiss as horrible. I'm all for their more "experimental", unusual shorts. At least those contain new ideas. However, this short, I think everyone can agree, is just not good.
Thank goodness TV later discovered the boys after the shorts department closed. Had they been forced to go out in THIS fashion, well that would have been a gross injustice to all the years they invested in making audiences laugh.
I found it funny overall...
Jim-5002 July 2009
I feel that although Joe's shorts weren't up to the par of Curly and Shemp, they definitely improved over time. The first half of the 16 shorts Joe made with Moe and Larry were not very good, with the exception of Space Ship Sappy. Then, for my money, the last seven or so (starting with Fifi Blows Her Top) were very good, with many belly laughs. Out of that bunch, Sweet and Hot is the only one I didn't really enjoy, although it did have an original concept behind it.
One reason I think Joe's shorts kept getting better is that he began getting bonked by Moe. Joe had expressly stated in his contract that he wasn't to be hit by Moe. In his early shorts, it makes the comedy suffer greatly. Whenever the Larry, Curly or Shemp had a stupidly clever comment directed at Moe, you could be sure Moe would respond with a whack. But with Joe, all he could do was stand there and yell at him. He looked extremely frustrated.
But in the last half of Joe's run, that policy apparently got relaxed as Moe freely pokes and bangs Joe. If you're a real Stooge fan it's a real relief.
I liked Sappy Bullfighters mainly for the first half. The scenes of the boys crying in harmony, the scenes in Greta's cabin, and Larry hiding under the husband's bed are funny. And when the husband tried to chase the boys and ends up putting his head through the door, it smacks of the old-time Stooges!
One reason I think Joe's shorts kept getting better is that he began getting bonked by Moe. Joe had expressly stated in his contract that he wasn't to be hit by Moe. In his early shorts, it makes the comedy suffer greatly. Whenever the Larry, Curly or Shemp had a stupidly clever comment directed at Moe, you could be sure Moe would respond with a whack. But with Joe, all he could do was stand there and yell at him. He looked extremely frustrated.
But in the last half of Joe's run, that policy apparently got relaxed as Moe freely pokes and bangs Joe. If you're a real Stooge fan it's a real relief.
I liked Sappy Bullfighters mainly for the first half. The scenes of the boys crying in harmony, the scenes in Greta's cabin, and Larry hiding under the husband's bed are funny. And when the husband tried to chase the boys and ends up putting his head through the door, it smacks of the old-time Stooges!
Glad some people like Joe
Edermike20 March 2007
Not the Stooges best, but Joe is always funny. I am tired of ignorance against what he was trying to do. He wasn't trying to be gay, he was just a funny wimp. Such homophobic modern mentality really is horrible. He was a gentleman and person that made me always feel happy. Why does he have to be be dragged through the mud by people who don't really get the comedy of the day. Joe was a good fit in the Stooges and YES got hit, but to compare any third Stooge to each other is fruitless, all were funny in their own way and did their own thing. Glad some of you DO like Joe and the later films, the ones not too obviously aimed at children have a lot to offer. This one does at least put in a decent amount of new footage and Joe's version of the "I Can't See" gag is better suited to his character. Curly could do plenty Joe couldn't but it's just as true the Howard couldn't do everything Joe could either.
Sappy bull fighters, or Joe's last chance.
mrbates201021 May 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Joe is one of the most criticized stooges, but no one criticizes "curly"-joe, who was not original. But i like all the stooges, they are all great at bringing something funny to the table.
Now to the review, it is very much like one of those angry husband shorts but is way less over used. but the funniest thing was when moe is just about to hit joe and then joe uses his hand and does one of curlys hand distractor(not the snapping but when he distracts some one by moving his hand up and down) and then he stops, looks at moe, and the face he makes is priceless.
But i can agree that it was maybe a little lazy reusing an other ending to a short but you think about two things. 1)they were fired so they couldn't re shoot 2)it was a dangerous thing to do anyway But the characters were more developed a little more because there are only 5 main characters.
I do get a little sad watching it know it is the final short.
I give it a ten not because it is great but because i love it and it may be great to me but not to every one, but i rate based on enjoyability.
*sorry this is my first review that is why it's not a great review*
Now to the review, it is very much like one of those angry husband shorts but is way less over used. but the funniest thing was when moe is just about to hit joe and then joe uses his hand and does one of curlys hand distractor(not the snapping but when he distracts some one by moving his hand up and down) and then he stops, looks at moe, and the face he makes is priceless.
But i can agree that it was maybe a little lazy reusing an other ending to a short but you think about two things. 1)they were fired so they couldn't re shoot 2)it was a dangerous thing to do anyway But the characters were more developed a little more because there are only 5 main characters.
I do get a little sad watching it know it is the final short.
I give it a ten not because it is great but because i love it and it may be great to me but not to every one, but i rate based on enjoyability.
*sorry this is my first review that is why it's not a great review*
The Last Stooge Short, somewhat disapointing and recycled
bozotheripper19 June 2001
This short was remade from "where's the matador".I hoped more for the last stooge short. I've always hated Besser. All he was doing was Curly Howard's material, and a bad job at it.The original version of this short was much better. All of the bullfighting scene is Besser doing Curly's material, recycled footage from "where's the matador", and even "where's the matador" had a little bit of recycled footage from the first Abbot & Costello movie movie "One night in the tropics"(The footage of the other bullfighter before the three stooges come in). The budget was much smaller than the one for the original verion of the short.All and all, at least it isn't "Sweet and hot","Horsing around", or "Snow White and the Three Stooges".
Good Three Stooges short!
Movie Nuttball28 February 2005
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!
One of the most different Three Stooges shorts is Sappy Bullfighters. In this short are the beautiful Greta Thyssen, George J. Lewis, and Joe Palma. The acting by these actors are good especially by Thyssen and Lewis. There are many funny scenes here that I think most Three Stooges fans will love! In My opinion this one of the most different Three Stooges shorts. I strongly recommend this one!
One of the most different Three Stooges shorts is Sappy Bullfighters. In this short are the beautiful Greta Thyssen, George J. Lewis, and Joe Palma. The acting by these actors are good especially by Thyssen and Lewis. There are many funny scenes here that I think most Three Stooges fans will love! In My opinion this one of the most different Three Stooges shorts. I strongly recommend this one!
The Last Three Stooges Short
stooge6054011 July 2001
Warning: Spoilers
***POSSIBLE SPOILERS ALERT!!***
This is the very last Three Stooges short for Columbia Pictures. Sadly, it's not a good short at all. It's just a cheap, low-budget remake of the funnier WHAT'S THE MATADOR? (1942). The rehashed scenes are all weak and slow, and Joe Besser is at his worst here. The whole short has him doing Curly's lines from the original short, and as Cy Schindell said in FRIGHT NIGHT (1947), "that is BAD". The man is NOT Curly Howard, nor should he try to be. He even tried to act like Shemp in RUSTY ROMEOS (which was a remake of a Shemp Three Stooges short), and he's not Shemp Howard either. Heck, he's not even funny as himself!
The low-budgets really become noticeable in the part where Besser is shown riding on back of the bull - that scene looked so extremely fake, it's almost funny in itself because of how ridiculous it is.
I'm just glad that the last Stooge short wasn't FLYING SAUCER DAFFY, which was actually the last Stooge short filmed, but not the last one released. The last Stooge short ending with Moe and Larry winding up as losers in jail, as Besser's living the high life would be a terrible, morbid ending to the Three Stooges run at Columbia. Ironically, SAPPY BULLFIGHERS, the actual last short released, ends with Joe Besser being knocked out by a pole. That's more like it (even though it was much funnier when Curly did it)!
This is the very last Three Stooges short for Columbia Pictures. Sadly, it's not a good short at all. It's just a cheap, low-budget remake of the funnier WHAT'S THE MATADOR? (1942). The rehashed scenes are all weak and slow, and Joe Besser is at his worst here. The whole short has him doing Curly's lines from the original short, and as Cy Schindell said in FRIGHT NIGHT (1947), "that is BAD". The man is NOT Curly Howard, nor should he try to be. He even tried to act like Shemp in RUSTY ROMEOS (which was a remake of a Shemp Three Stooges short), and he's not Shemp Howard either. Heck, he's not even funny as himself!
The low-budgets really become noticeable in the part where Besser is shown riding on back of the bull - that scene looked so extremely fake, it's almost funny in itself because of how ridiculous it is.
I'm just glad that the last Stooge short wasn't FLYING SAUCER DAFFY, which was actually the last Stooge short filmed, but not the last one released. The last Stooge short ending with Moe and Larry winding up as losers in jail, as Besser's living the high life would be a terrible, morbid ending to the Three Stooges run at Columbia. Ironically, SAPPY BULLFIGHERS, the actual last short released, ends with Joe Besser being knocked out by a pole. That's more like it (even though it was much funnier when Curly did it)!
THEY SAVED THE WORST FOR LAST
bbrasher15 June 2003
With titles like FLYING SAUCER DAFFY, SPACE SHIP SAPPY, and this one, SAPPY BULLFIGHTERS, it was clear that the creative force behind the Three Stooges was running out of steam. This one, in fact was their last short. Of course, having Joe Besser on board didn't help either.
Not to say that Joe Besser was a no-talent loser. I found him hilarious in THE ABBOTT & COSTELLO SHOW as Stinky Jones. Besser just wasn't cut out to be a Stooge, any more than Bill Clinton was cut out to be President, but we won't go there.
Fortunately, their career took off again in the 1960's, so this wasn't their swan song.
Rating: * out of *****
(or as Shemp so fondly put it, "beebeebeebeebeebeebeebeebee.......)
Not to say that Joe Besser was a no-talent loser. I found him hilarious in THE ABBOTT & COSTELLO SHOW as Stinky Jones. Besser just wasn't cut out to be a Stooge, any more than Bill Clinton was cut out to be President, but we won't go there.
Fortunately, their career took off again in the 1960's, so this wasn't their swan song.
Rating: * out of *****
(or as Shemp so fondly put it, "beebeebeebeebeebeebeebeebee.......)
One of the weakest of them all
slymusic8 December 2013
Warning: Spoilers
"Sappy Bull Fighters" is one of the worst Three Stooges shorts starring Larry, Moe, and Joe. It culminates into Joe battling a real bull who interferes with the Stooges' comedy bullfight act, featuring a fair amount of bullring stock footage that is too unrealistic for us to believe that Joe is in any danger. In addition to that, after Moe gives Joe a trademark eye poke, Joe does a poor imitation of former popular Stooge Curly, thus proving that Joe was always better doing his own whiny overgrown child characterization rather than imitating someone else.
In spite of all that, there are still a few moments in "Sappy Bull Fighters" that I do find amusing. In the beginning, the Stooges harmonize their boo-hoos pretty well, reminiscent of their famous "Hello, hello, hello!" A little later, Joe brains Moe in the face with a suitcase as Joe does his "Bullring, here we come, gosh" dance. Finally, as Larry hides underneath a couch from a jealous husband (George Lewis), a little dog named Pepe barks at him; the husband then reaches down and pets whom he thinks is Pepe but is actually Larry. "Pepe, what has happened to your hair?! It is bald-headed on the top!"
In spite of all that, there are still a few moments in "Sappy Bull Fighters" that I do find amusing. In the beginning, the Stooges harmonize their boo-hoos pretty well, reminiscent of their famous "Hello, hello, hello!" A little later, Joe brains Moe in the face with a suitcase as Joe does his "Bullring, here we come, gosh" dance. Finally, as Larry hides underneath a couch from a jealous husband (George Lewis), a little dog named Pepe barks at him; the husband then reaches down and pets whom he thinks is Pepe but is actually Larry. "Pepe, what has happened to your hair?! It is bald-headed on the top!"
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