Rumpus in the Harem

Infobox Film
name = Rumpus in the Harem


caption =
director = Jules White
writer = Felix Adler
starring = Moe Howard
Larry Fine
Shemp Howard
Joe Palma
Vernon Dent
George J. Lewis
Diana Darrin
Helen Jay
Ruth White
Harriette Tarler
Suzanne Ridgeway
cinematography = Ray Cory |
editing = Harold White
producer = Jules White
distributor = Columbia Pictures
released = flagicon|US June 21, 1956
runtime = 15' 58"
country = USA
language = English
preceded_by = "For Crimin' Out Loud"
followed_by = "Hot Stuff"
amg_id = 1:149509
imdb_id = 0049695

"Rumpus in the Harem" is the 171st 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.

Plot

The Stooges are about to head off to open their restaurant (the Cafe Casbah Bah, a Middle Eastern restaurant) when they are awoken by their crying sweethearts. It seems the girls are in need of some money to pay off a bad debt. While attempting to prepare a meal for customers Hassan Ben Sober (Vernon Dent) and Gin-A Rummy (George J. Lewis), the Stooges try to think of a way to raise the needed cash. In the interim, they discover a plan that their hungry customers are hatching. These two thieves are attempting to rob the tomb of Rootentooten, which contains a priceless diamond, but they discover that the Emir of Schmow (Johnny Kascier) has already gotten his hands on the diamond. The two plotters start wailing and are thrown out of the restaurant. The Stooges then attempt to retrieve the diamond themselves, as there is a $50,000 reward at stake.

The Stooges arrive at the Emir of Shmow's palace, all three dressed as Santa Claus. They then manage to acquire the diamond and make a quick exit, but not before dealing with a burly guard.

End of the Shemp Howard era

As Shemp Howard had already passed away, for these last four films ("Rumpus in the Harem", "Hot Stuff", "Scheming Schemers" and "Commotion on the Ocean"), Columbia utilized supporting actor Joe Palma to be Shemp's double. Even though the last four shorts were remakes of earlier Shemp efforts, Palma's services were needed to link what few new scenes were filmed to the older stock footage.cite book
last = Solomon
first = Jon
authorlink = Jon Solomon
coauthors =
title = "The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion"
publisher = Comedy III Productions, Inc
date = 2002
location =
pages = 481
url = http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Three-Stooges-Filmography-Companion/dp/0971186804/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201570359&sr=1-1
doi =
id =
isbn = 0971186804]

For "Rumpus in the Harem", Palma is seen from the back several times. The first time occurs in the restaurant when Moe declares that the trio must do something to help their sweethearts. Larry then concludes the conversation by saying "I've got it, I've got it!" Moe inquires with "What?" Larry replies, "a terrific headache!"Later, Palma is seen from the back being chased in circles by the palace guard. A few lines of dialogue appear — "Whoa, Moe, Larry! Moe, help!" — by dubbing Shemp's voice from the soundtracks of "Fuelin' Around" and "Blunder Boys".

Palma is seen one final time, making a mad dash for the open window, and supplying his own yell before making the final jump. This was one of the few times during his tenure as Shemp's double that Palma was required to speak without the aid of dubbing. [Lenburg, Jeff; Howard Maurer, Joan; Lenburg, Greg; (1982). "The Three Stooges Scrapbook", p. 263, Citadel Press. ISBN 0806509465 ]

Notes

"Rumpus in the Harem" is a remake of 1949's "Malice in the Palace", using ample stock footage.

See also

* Fake Shemp

References

Further reading

*"Moe Howard and the Three Stooges"; by Moe Howard, (Citadel Press, 1977). ISBN 0806507233
*"The Three Stooges: An Illustrated History, From Amalgamated Morons to American Icons"; by Michael Fleming (Broadway Publishing, 2002). ISBN 0767905563
*"One Fine Stooge: A Frizzy Life in Pictures"; by Steve Cox and Jim Terry, (Cumberland House Publishing, 2006). ISBN 1581823630
*"The Three Stooges: The Triumphs and Tragedies of the Most Popular Comedy Team of All Time", by Jeff Forrester, Tom Forrester, Joe Wallison. (Donaldson Books, 2004). ISBN 0971580103