Mutts to You
Encyclopedia
Mutts to You is the 34th short subject
starring American slapstick
comedy team the Three Stooges
. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures
between 1934 and 1959.
invention (no doubt influenced by director Charley Chase
's exposure to that series). On their way home, the Stooges pick up what they believe to be an abandoned baby on a front doorstep. When the trio realize that the mother (Bess Flowers
) had simply locked herself out and was simply in the back of house looking for an extra house key, they become frantic.
In an effort to quietly work their way to the police station with the infant, Moe and Larry disguise Curly as the baby's mother, crowning him "Mrs. O'Toole." Unfortunately, kindly Policeman O'Halloran (Bud Jamison
, sporting an authentic Irish accent) strikes up a conversation with the Irish mother, leading the boys to eventually get cold feet and run. After they are caught, the father of the child (Lane Chandler
) recognizes the Stooges as the local dog groomers and all is forgiven.
and I beg you don't bother me and I don't mean maybe." Moe follows this with "He from China, East Side" (a sly reference to the Lower East Side of Manhattan
, which is predominantly Jewish). Noticeably, the policeman does not buy into the Stooges' charade.
Short subject
A short film is any film not long enough to be considered a feature film. No consensus exists as to where that boundary is drawn: the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes or less, including all...
starring American slapstick
Slapstick
Slapstick is a type of comedy involving exaggerated violence and activities which may exceed the boundaries of common sense.- Origins :The phrase comes from the batacchio or bataccio — called the 'slap stick' in English — a club-like object composed of two wooden slats used in Commedia dell'arte...
comedy team the Three Stooges
Three Stooges
The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy act of the early to mid–20th century best known for their numerous short subject films. Their hallmark was physical farce and extreme slapstick. In films, the Stooges were commonly known by their first names: "Moe, Larry, and Curly" and "Moe,...
. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
between 1934 and 1959.
Plot
The trio run a dog grooming business who use a conveyor belt contrivance à la an Our GangOur Gang
Our Gang, also known as The Little Rascals or Hal Roach's Rascals, was a series of American comedy short films about a group of poor neighborhood children and the adventures they had together. Created by comedy producer Hal Roach, the series is noted for showing children behaving in a relatively...
invention (no doubt influenced by director Charley Chase
Charley Chase
Charley Chase was an American comedian, actor, screenwriter and film director, best known for his work in Hal Roach short film comedies...
's exposure to that series). On their way home, the Stooges pick up what they believe to be an abandoned baby on a front doorstep. When the trio realize that the mother (Bess Flowers
Bess Flowers
Bess Flowers was an American actress. By some counts considered the most prolific actress in the history of Hollywood, she was known as "The Queen of the Hollywood Extras," appearing in over 700 movies in her 41 year career....
) had simply locked herself out and was simply in the back of house looking for an extra house key, they become frantic.
In an effort to quietly work their way to the police station with the infant, Moe and Larry disguise Curly as the baby's mother, crowning him "Mrs. O'Toole." Unfortunately, kindly Policeman O'Halloran (Bud Jamison
Bud Jamison
Bud Jamison was an American film actor. He appeared in 450 films between 1915 and 1944.-Career:...
, sporting an authentic Irish accent) strikes up a conversation with the Irish mother, leading the boys to eventually get cold feet and run. After they are caught, the father of the child (Lane Chandler
Lane Chandler
Lane Chandler was an American actor specializing in Westerns.-Early life:He was born as Robert Chandler Oakes on a ranch near Culbertson, Montana, the son of a horse rancher. At an early age, the family relocated to Helena, Montana, where he graduated from high school...
) recognizes the Stooges as the local dog groomers and all is forgiven.
Yiddish
When Officer O'Halloran noticed Moe and Larry disguised as Chinese laundrymen he stops them and begins asking questions. Moe responds with some mock Chinese while Larry responds with a mixture of Yiddish and English: "Ikh bin ah China boychik fun Slobodka un Ikh bet dir 'hak mir nit ah chaynik' and I don't mean efsher". The phrase is Yiddish for "I am a Chinese kid from SlobodkaSlobodka
Slobodka , Slabodka , Slobidka is a diminutive from "sloboda", a kind of settlement. The word may refer to one of the following:*Slabodka, Belarus...
and I beg you don't bother me and I don't mean maybe." Moe follows this with "He from China, East Side" (a sly reference to the Lower East Side of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, which is predominantly Jewish). Noticeably, the policeman does not buy into the Stooges' charade.