Directed by Jules White, with stock footage from 1948's "Pardon My Clutch" (under Edward Bernds' direction), "Wham-Bam-Slam!" is actually a pretty good Three Stooges remake. Most Stooge fans probably do not think very highly of the cheap stock footage remakes that were churned out beginning in 1953, but this particular short contains quite a number of memorable gags in both new and old footage.
Highlights: By far the funniest scene in this short is the new footage of the live lobster in Shemp's foot bath, especially when Larry and Moe dance around while Shemp hops on his unbitten foot. The Stooges set up their tent indoors and break several valuables (stock footage). Shemp mistakenly eats a powder puff instead of a pancake, thus spewing powder from his mouth and ears (new footage). After taking two pills, Shemp "skips an hour" by unwillingly jumping rope (stock footage). Moe, Larry, and Larry's friend Claude A. Quacker (Matt McHugh) cause even more hijinks when they try to pull Shemp's bad tooth (stock footage). And finally, Larry and Shemp try to remove a flat tire, causing Moe a lot of agony when the entire car lands on his foot (stock footage).
"Wham-Bam-Slam!" is a Stooge short that is definitely worth seeing, even if it is a remake. The ending is rather abrupt, but at least Larry gets to do some head-conking!
Highlights: By far the funniest scene in this short is the new footage of the live lobster in Shemp's foot bath, especially when Larry and Moe dance around while Shemp hops on his unbitten foot. The Stooges set up their tent indoors and break several valuables (stock footage). Shemp mistakenly eats a powder puff instead of a pancake, thus spewing powder from his mouth and ears (new footage). After taking two pills, Shemp "skips an hour" by unwillingly jumping rope (stock footage). Moe, Larry, and Larry's friend Claude A. Quacker (Matt McHugh) cause even more hijinks when they try to pull Shemp's bad tooth (stock footage). And finally, Larry and Shemp try to remove a flat tire, causing Moe a lot of agony when the entire car lands on his foot (stock footage).
"Wham-Bam-Slam!" is a Stooge short that is definitely worth seeing, even if it is a remake. The ending is rather abrupt, but at least Larry gets to do some head-conking!