Curly’s Disorder in the Court
The Three Stooges are America?s physical comedy masters
Physical comedic actors, Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Curly Howard made legendary reputations as America?s funny men, “The Three Stooges.” Director, Preston Black led the three comedians in Columbia Pictures’ 1936 film, “Disorder in the Court.” The black and white short film depicts one laughable moment after another, as the three stumble, bumble, fall, trip, and confuse otherwise simple and seemingly clear instructions given to them in the courtroom during Curly’s direct and cross-examinations as a key trial witness.
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Curly exhibits disorder in the court when taking the witness oath
“Curly’s Disorder in the Court” depicts the havoc that the three actors, and in particular, Curly, is able to wreak in the courtroom. The Stooges are actually a high-profile murder trial’s key witnesses. The film’s plot focuses upon identifying the party who murdered victim, Kirk Robbin. One of the murder mystery’s most famous and hilarious clips is the scene where Curly is sworn in before he even takes the witness stand.
In that funny film clip, Curly struggles to complete a simple task of approaching the witness stand and taking the oath in a momentous and legendary manner. First, he struggles to get through the gate to the witness stand because it is locked. Second, he can?t seem to coordinate his hands to remove his top hat, hold his cane, raise his right hand, and put his left hand on the Bible to take the oath. He lacks enough hands and instead of putting down the cane or hat, he repeatedly fumbles and bumbles with both objects. Third, he cannot comprehend, let alone repeat or affirm the oath the bailiff is administering to him about stating only the truth during his pending witness testimony.
The bailiff and judge are not amused by Curly’s courtroom antics but the audience laughs regardless
In response, the bailiff and even more importantly, the presiding judge are clearly less than amused. Fortunately, the audience’s laughter results regardless of Curly’s maturity and composure (or lack thereof) exhibited in the courtroom.
