Well, the writers must have had an "off day" or got a burst of inspiration when they came up with this one. Without a doubt this is about as good a short with Joe Besser as the third stooge as "Sweet & Hot" is the ultimate worst. This about three sets of triplets who have not seen each other in many years and through "conincidences" taken to the outer limits, all end up at the same hotel for various reasons. The idea, of course, was taken from a Laurel & Hardy feature from the late 1930's called "Our Relations". In this Stooge version, the comedy actually takes off and flies because it's increased from just twins to three sets of triplets. That's a good idea for increasing the humor, and it does. The pace, the gags, jokes and supporting cast are certainly back up to snuff with any of the shorts with Curly or Shemp. So, what happened? Why didn't the "front office guys" at Columbia realize that the Stooges still had a lot to offer? We'll never know. Just watch this one and enjoy it to the max!
5 Reviews
"A Merry Mix-Up"
cellotune22710 June 2007
"A Merry Mix-Up" was a great short. However, when AMC and Spike TV showed the Stooges on television, Sony/Columbia failed to put this short (and others) in the television package. As a true Stooges fan, I enjoy seeing all of the episodes. Other Joe Besser shorts omitted were, "Sweet and Hot," "Flying Saucer Daffy," and a few others. I cannot find any Joe Besser Stooge shorts on DVD. Will any ever be released? There were some Shemp shorts omitted as well: "Pardon My Backfire, (originally in 3-D)," "Shot in the Frontier," "Self-Made Maids," and several others. I cannot find them on DVD either.
But let's give Joe his props. He might not have wanted to be hit like the other third-Stooges, but he got hit anyway. Some of Joe's Stooge shorts were unique as long as they were not shown everyday. A good Three Stooges television package each day may show a Curley episode first, then either another Curley on the second short, the next day a Shemp on the second short, Curley the next day on the second short, Shemp the next, and then Joe the next (nice rotation).
But let's give Joe his props. He might not have wanted to be hit like the other third-Stooges, but he got hit anyway. Some of Joe's Stooge shorts were unique as long as they were not shown everyday. A good Three Stooges television package each day may show a Curley episode first, then either another Curley on the second short, the next day a Shemp on the second short, Curley the next day on the second short, Shemp the next, and then Joe the next (nice rotation).
The Nine Stooges
slymusic15 November 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Directed by Jules White, "A Merry Mix-Up" is one of the most interesting Three Stooges shorts in that Moe, Larry, and Joe portray three sets of triplets! (Can you imagine having NINE Stooges running around on the loose?) The mix-up begins at a tavern where the wives of the second set of triplets (Max, Louie, and Jack) fight with the fiancées of the third set of triplets (Morris, Luke, and Jeff) for the affections of the first set of triplets (Moe, Larry, and Joe). As good as all of this sounds, it's quite unfortunate that "A Merry Mix-Up" is not one of the funnier films in the Three Stooges library.
At any rate, there are two highlights from this short that I can pinpoint. First, when Moe, Larry, and Joe enter the restaurant, Larry orders a shingled roof, because "it's on the house." And second, by the end of this film the waiter (Frank Sully) chases all three sets of triplets around the restaurant (believing that there are only three Stooges who just happen to get around very quickly) and knocks himself silly when he sees all nine Stooges standing side by side.
One final point regarding "A Merry Mix-Up": Back in the summer of 1993, I attended quite an enjoyable Three Stooges convention in Philadelphia. The theme for this convention was "Merry Mix-Ups," in which all the Stooge shorts that were shown on the big screen dealt with mix-ups or mistaken identities. Most of those shorts featured Curly as the third Stooge, and those films generated a lot of laughter from the audience. It's just too bad that the screening of "A Merry Mix-Up" elicited virtually no laughter at all.
At any rate, there are two highlights from this short that I can pinpoint. First, when Moe, Larry, and Joe enter the restaurant, Larry orders a shingled roof, because "it's on the house." And second, by the end of this film the waiter (Frank Sully) chases all three sets of triplets around the restaurant (believing that there are only three Stooges who just happen to get around very quickly) and knocks himself silly when he sees all nine Stooges standing side by side.
One final point regarding "A Merry Mix-Up": Back in the summer of 1993, I attended quite an enjoyable Three Stooges convention in Philadelphia. The theme for this convention was "Merry Mix-Ups," in which all the Stooge shorts that were shown on the big screen dealt with mix-ups or mistaken identities. Most of those shorts featured Curly as the third Stooge, and those films generated a lot of laughter from the audience. It's just too bad that the screening of "A Merry Mix-Up" elicited virtually no laughter at all.
Good Three Stooges short!
Movie Nuttball5 August 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 with Joe and its arguably My favorite one with Joe.There really isn't that many cast members in this and its mostly actresses including Nanette Bordeaux, Jeanne Carmen, the beautiful Ruth White, Suzanne Ridgeway, Harriette Tarler, and Diana Darrin. Frank Sully is also in this one and his performance is very good and funny. I recommend this one!
This is a good Three Stooges short with Joe and its arguably My favorite one with Joe.There really isn't that many cast members in this and its mostly actresses including Nanette Bordeaux, Jeanne Carmen, the beautiful Ruth White, Suzanne Ridgeway, Harriette Tarler, and Diana Darrin. Frank Sully is also in this one and his performance is very good and funny. I recommend this one!
A MERRY MIX-UP Review ...
dweilermg-123 March 2017
I consider A MERRY MIX-UP the best of the Joe Besser era Stooges shorts. However the cast listing doesn't give us names of the Moe, Larry and Joe stand-in doubles. I'm wondering if Emil Sitka might have have 1 of the faux stooge doubles since he has always been considered a kind of honorary 4th stooge. ☺
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