Directed by Jules White, "Musty Musketeers" is a Three Stooges short that is a remake, with ample stock footage, of an earlier Stooge short titled "Fiddlers Three" (1948), in which the Stooges are constituents in the kingdom of Coleslaw-vania, where they manage to save the king's daughter from abduction. "Musty Musketeers" is okay, but it's not nearly as good as the original. In the original, the Stooges are fiddlers who entertain the king with songs, dances, and nursery rhymes, but in the remake, they do not even come close.
Still, "Musty Musketeers" contains its share of memorable scenes. Moe, Larry, and Shemp ride together on one mule upon their initial appearance, accompanied by some fine music that mixes majesty with humor (new footage). While the Stooges are in the blacksmith's shop, Shemp does some crazy antics such as jumping up after sitting in a pile of burning horseshoes and getting a horseshoe nailed to his foot; later, the Stooges get kicked by their mule and fall directly through the floor into the cellar (stock footage). The boys get harassed by saws and swords as they hide in the magician's box (stock footage). And the final sword fight has several amusing bits (new footage).
Even with such a great supporting cast as Vernon Dent, Philip Van Zandt, and Joe Palma, "Musty Musketeers" is unfortunately not one of the better Three Stooges remakes from the midfifties, but it IS still enjoyable. Don't forget that the Stooges' intent was always to make us laugh, no matter how good or bad the films are.
Still, "Musty Musketeers" contains its share of memorable scenes. Moe, Larry, and Shemp ride together on one mule upon their initial appearance, accompanied by some fine music that mixes majesty with humor (new footage). While the Stooges are in the blacksmith's shop, Shemp does some crazy antics such as jumping up after sitting in a pile of burning horseshoes and getting a horseshoe nailed to his foot; later, the Stooges get kicked by their mule and fall directly through the floor into the cellar (stock footage). The boys get harassed by saws and swords as they hide in the magician's box (stock footage). And the final sword fight has several amusing bits (new footage).
Even with such a great supporting cast as Vernon Dent, Philip Van Zandt, and Joe Palma, "Musty Musketeers" is unfortunately not one of the better Three Stooges remakes from the midfifties, but it IS still enjoyable. Don't forget that the Stooges' intent was always to make us laugh, no matter how good or bad the films are.