Movie spotlight
The Three Stooges Meet Hercules
The Three Stooges manage to crash through the time barrier with their slap-happy antics in this classic feature-length comedy. Larry, Moe, and Curly-Joe are friends of a young scientist, Schuyler Davis, who has created a time machine. Together with Schuyler's girlfriend, Diane, they are all transported back to ancient Ithaca which is ruled by the tyrannical King Odius. The lecherous king promptly takes a liking to Diane and banishes Schuyler and The Stooges to the galleys. When they manage to escape, they begin promoting Schuyler as "Hercules" at local gladiatorial combats - until the real Hercules shows up. But, with their unique "charm," The Stooges convince Hercules to help them rescue Diane. Written by Robert Lynch
Insights
Plot Summary
In ancient Greece, the bumbling but good-hearted Larry, Moe, and Curly-Joe are mistaken for the legendary Hercules and his sidekicks by the goddess Diana. They are transported to Mount Olympus where they must help Hercules defeat the evil Kronos, who has stolen his divine strength. Their comical attempts to fulfill their heroic roles lead to a series of absurd situations and slapstick encounters.
Critical Reception
The film is generally regarded as a typical, low-budget Three Stooges comedy, appealing primarily to fans of the trio's slapstick humor. Critics at the time often found the material formulaic and the jokes repetitive, but acknowledged its harmless entertainment value for younger audiences.
What Reviewers Say
Relies heavily on the Stooges' signature slapstick and visual gags.
The fantasy setting provides a unique backdrop for their usual antics.
Plot is thin, serving mainly as a vehicle for the comedy.
Google audience: Audience reviews often highlight the nostalgic enjoyment of seeing the classic Stooge routines, with many appreciating the return of Curly-Joe. However, some viewers find the humor dated and the production values quite low.
Fun Fact
This was the first film where all three Stooges (Moe, Larry, and Curly-Joe DeRita) appeared together as the main trio, following the death of Shemp Howard.
AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources