Sappy Bull Fighters

Sappy Bull Fighters
Directed by Jules White
Produced by Jules White
Written by Saul Ward
Jack White
Starring Moe Howard
Larry Fine
Joe Besser
Greta Thyssen
George J. Lewis
Joe Palma
Cinematography Irving Lippman
Edited by Harold White
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release dates
  • June 4, 1959 (1959-06-04) (U.S.)
Running time
 15:12
Country United States
Language English

Sappy Bull Fighters is the 190th and final short film released by Columbia Pictures in 1959 starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Joe Besser). The comedians released 190 short films for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

Plot

The Stooges are vaudeville entertainers who trek to Mexico to perform their gag bullfight shtick, with Joe as the brave matador, and Moe and Larry dressed in a bull costume. Unfortunately, their gig is cancelled once they arrive. According to the trio, the manager fired them after they refused to do 10 additional shows for free. With no money to return home the stooges are stranded. Feeling bad for them, attractive señorita Greta (Greta Thyssen) gets the boys a gig at the local bull ring. However, when she leaves Greta mistakenly takes the trio's suitcase instead of hers. They go to retrieve it, however, while there Joe becomes attracted to Greta and begins to kiss her, initially unbeknownst to him, her evil man-hating husband José (George J. Lewis)sees this and becomes jealous, he orders them out and threatens Joe if he ever sees Joe again. The stooges leave but realize they again have the wrong suitcase forcing them to return and hide from a sleeping José, José awakens and chases the stooges but they escape with their correct suitcase.

The next day, The Stooges perform their act in front of a live crowd the act goes without a hitch however, once José recognizes the trio, in an act of revenge he pays the bullring attendant (Joe Palma) to release a live bull into the ring. Moe and Larry flee the ring, but Joe is unaware of the switch. He eventually head-butts the wild animal, and is paraded out of the ring to the rousing cheers of "Olé, Americano!"

Production notes

Sappy Bull Fighters is a reworking of 1942's What's the Matador?. Minimal recycled footage from the original was used, including far shots (and "woo woo woo" 's) of Curly Howard riding the bull.[1] The film is a parody of the 1941 film Blood and Sand.[1]

Though filmed over two days in mid-1957 (June 30-July 1), Sappy Bull Fighters film was not released until nearly two years later. By that time, the Stooges were experiencing a rebirth in popularity, due to the release of their shorts on television. In essence, the June 1959 release of Sappy Bull Fighters actually competed with the enormously successful television revival.[1]

The film also marks Joe Besser's final appearance as a Stooge, as he left the act to tend to his ailing wife following its production. Besser would be succeeded by Joe DeRita (as "Curly Joe") in the trio's subsequent projects.

At 15:12 Sappy Bull Fighters is the shortest film the team made at Columbia Pictures. The longest is A Pain in the Pullman (1936) at 19:46.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Solomon, Jon. (2002) The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion, p. 209; Comedy III Productions, Inc., ISBN 0-9711868-0-4
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