While Curly's performance is different here from his more buoyant performances from before, I wouldn't use the term "marred" because this particular performance works very well in this film. His slower speech enhances this film while it doesn't enhance others. His delivery of the line "Hey, you're smart" to the ape wouldn't be as funny (imho) if delivered in the normal "classic" Curly way. It is interesting to note that Director Ed Bernds felt that Curly's performance was troublesome. There seems to be 2 versions of this film floating around. On a store bought collection, immediately after Vernon Dent (the mad scientist) says to his helper, that they'll go in through the back, there is a jump cut to them doing just that. On a TV airing of this episode that I happened to have taped, after Vernon says this line, there is a bit of business in the locked laboratory where the Stooges are. The ape gets drunk. Then you see the mad scientist come in the back entrance.
Review of A Bird in the Head
