October 5, 2017

Larry Fine ~ A mummy's dummy












Today, October 5, is the birthday of Louis Feinberg who was born in 1902, 115 years ago, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is better known professionally as Larry Fine, an American actor, comedian, violinist and boxer and a member of the comedy act, The Three Stooges.      
         
The Stooges must have made a bazillion film shorts but of them all, Mummy's Dummies, their 111th film (November 4, 1948), is my all-time favorite. I was 8 years old and totally enamored of all things ancient, especially Egypt and King Tutankhamun of the New Kingdom. At the time, it was my desire to be an archeologist when I grew up; that didn't happen but I've never lost my fascination of ancient civilizations.    

Mummy's Dummies had the zany trio cast as used chariot salesmen in Ancient Egypt; need I say more?        

 


The Pharaoh was King Rootentootin, played by Vernon Dent. I remember howling with unbridled laughter every time his name was mentioned. Well, to be honest, I still do; yes, I admit I HAVE to watch it when I come across it on TV.        


  Vernon Dent as King Rootentootin


Dent was featured in many of the Three Stooges films; he made more appearances in their films than any other supporting actor (96). Dent also appeared with The Three Stooges on a live CBS Television broadcast of The Frank Sinatra Show on January 1, 1952. Through his association with the Stooges, Dent became a close friend of Shemp Howard.      


The plot 

King Rootentootin has a toothache and Shemp is Painless Papyrus, an expert (???) dentist. Eventually Rootentootin offers the hand of his daughter Fatima, played by Dee Green, in marriage to Painless (Shemp). The laughs generated by this exchange are non-stop. Totally silly, totally wacky but totally hysterical (link to YouTube below).   


 Shemp Howard, right, as Painless Papyrus
 


When Larry Fine was a child, his left arm was badly burned from acid used by his father in his jewelry business and a skin graft was done on his arm. The doctors recommended that he be given violin lessons as a form of therapy; playing the violin was supposed to strengthen his damaged arm muscles. His skill as a violinist became so impressive that eventually, he began to play professionally and played in local theater amateur nights usually taking the top prize.       

Fine was also a boxer who earned money as a lightweight fighter. Later on, he would develop an act in which he would do a Russian dance while playing the violin. He went on with Moe Howard and Curly Howard to form The Three Stooges, who appeared in the Columbia Pictures shorts beginning in 1934.     

On January 9, 1970, Fine suffered a stroke that paralyzed the left side of his body. It marked the end of his performing career. He moved to the Motion Picture Country House, an industry retirement community in Woodland Hills, where he  completed his "as told to" autobiography, Stroke of Luck. He suffered several additional strokes before his death on January 24, 1975, at the nursing home, at age 72.          
        
     
         
Viewfinder links:         
          
The Three Stooges      
The Andrews Sisters     
Batman, Adam West & the Whole Gang     
The Night of the Hunter & Robert Mitchum          
          
Net links:         
          
The Three Stooges:         
              Filmography     
              website bios      
NY Times Larry Fine obit         
           
YouTube links:         
          
The Three Stooges 111: Mummy's Dummies 1948 (16 minutes)  Disorder in the Court       
           
        
       
         
           
         
  
         


Thanks for the yuks, Larry!


                
                 
Styrous® ~  Thursday, October 5, 2017                  
          


















     

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