The Three Stooges were known for their physicality, but most of the antics were supplied to themselves. In April 1936' "Half Shot Shooters," Clyde Bruckman's script was unusually violent for its time. The legendary screenwriter Bruckman, who co-wrote many of Buster Keaton's silent movie classics, inserted many unusual cruel scenes for this, the Stooges' 14th episode.
Actor Stanley Blystone, as Sgt. MacGillicuddy, dishes out the brutally sadistic punishment to our three heroes. "Half Shot Shooters" opens in the last day of World War One on the front. The sergeant spots our three heroes sleeping while the morning battle rages, and proceeds to punch Curly and Larry in the face, giving them both black eyes while he twists Moe's arm so much he breaks it. The three are subsequently given medals for their 'wounds.' The short jumps to year 1935, with the Stooges out of work, and are coerced into joining the Army again. They meet up with their same sergeant, who takes them to the bathroom, makes them dunk their heads in a large sink, and shoots his gun into the water, making them deaf. Lastly, after the Stooges are firing a coast artillery canon in what they think is a practice session, MacGillicuddy arrives, lines them up as if taking their picture, aims the canon at them and fires. All that's left of the Three Stooges are the smoking shoes they left behind.
"Half Shot Shooters" is famous for being the first Columbia Pictures short to not contain any females. In addition, the studio's logo, designed in 1928, was last seen in the opening of this Stooges short. The new logo, introduced in the studio's next film, has the Torch Lady standing on a pedestal, not adorning any headdress, and having the text 'Columbia' chiseled in letters behind her.
"Half Shot Shooters" also introduces to the Three Stooges series veteran actor Vernon Dent, playing the restaurant patron whose chicken is stolen by the Stooges' dog. A Mack Sennett actor in the early 1920s, Dent played in a number of Harry Langdon's movies, and worked alongside comedians Buster Keaton, Charley Chase and Bert Wheeler. Dent appeared in more Stooges' shorts than any other supporting actor-96. He became especially good friends with Shemp Howard when he returned to the Stooges after replacing Curly.