In the later years of The Three Stooges shorts, a tactic was used to cut costs by recycling footage from previous shorts. A typical example consists of using wrap-arounds: new footage is used for an opening, old footage is used for the middle, and new footage is used at the end to wrap things up.
One example is Dizzy Detectives (1943) directed by Jules White. The short incorporates a scene from Pardon My Scotch (1935) – one of the all-time most memorable scenes performed by the Stooges, in which Moe is standing on a table while Curly uses a power-saw to cut it down the middle.
Another example involves the short Husbands Beware. Moe and Larry are shown enduring the agony of married life. As such, they feel that Shemp should be married too. They decide to trick him into getting married. Cut to footage from Brideless Groom where Moe falsely tells Shemp he will inherit $500,000 if he is married by the end of the day. Shemp is married, and the short then ends with new footage of Moe and Larry telling Shemp it was all a lie because he let Moe and Larry marry his two overweight sisters and got divorced.
This was mostly done with shorts featuring Shemp Howard as the previous third stooge Curly Howard was no longer involved in production. There are, however, exceptions, especially when Joe Besser came on board, and far-away shots of Curly could sort of pass for a shot of Joe. After Shemp's death in November 1955, four entries even went so far as to use recycled footage, and a double posing as Shemp ("Fake Shemp") in his place.
Title of Original Short Production Order Date of Release Title of New Short Production Order Date of Release Notes Pardon My Scotch 9 August 1, 1935 Dizzy Detectives 68 February 5, 1943 carpenter sequence Hoi Polloi 10 August 29, 1935 In the Sweet Pie and Pie 58 October 16, 1941 dance lesson scene Ants in the Pantry 12 February, 1936 Pest Man Wins 136 December 6, 1951 plot only; no stock footage 3 Dumb Clucks 22 April 17, 1937 Up in Daisy's Penthouse 144 February 5, 1953 plot only; minimal stock footage Goofs and Saddles 24 July 2, 1937 Pals and Gals 155 June 3, 1954 saloon escape scene Oily to Bed, Oily to Rise 42 October 6, 1939 Oil's Well That Ends Well 188 December 4, 1958 some plot reused; only stock shot is Curly riding the oil gusher Boobs in Arms 52 December 27, 1940 Dizzy Pilots 74 September 24, 1943 drill sergeant sequence In the Sweet Pie and Pie 58 October 16, 1941 Beer Barrel Polecats 88 January 10, 1946 cell block footage In the Sweet Pie and Pie 58 October 16, 1941 Pest Man Wins 136 December 6, 1951 minimal pie fight footage What's The Matador? 62 April 23, 1942 Sappy Bull Fighters 190 June 4, 1959 minimal stock footage used Idiots Deluxe 85 July 20, 1945 Guns a Poppin! 179 June 13, 1957 minimal stock footage used Half-Wits Holiday 97 January 9, 1947 Pest Man Wins 136 December 6, 1951 pie fight scenes Half-Wits Holiday 97 January 9, 1947 Scheming Schemers 173 October 4, 1956 pie fight scenes Half-Wits Holiday 97 January 9, 1947 Pies and Guys 185 June 12, 1958 minimal stock footage used Fright Night 98 March 6, 1947 Fling in the Ring 159 January 6, 1955 Out West 99 April 24, 1947 Pals and Gals 155 June 3, 1954 Hold That Lion! 100 July 17, 1947 Booty and the Beast 145 March 5, 1953 second half of film remade Hold That Lion! 100 July 17, 1947 Loose Loot 146 April 2, 1953 first half of film remade Hold That Lion! 100 July 17, 1947 Tricky Dicks 147 May 7, 1953 filing cabinet sequence Brideless Groom 101 September 11, 1947 Husbands Beware 167 January 5, 1956 Sing a Song of Six Pants 102 October 30, 1947 Rip, Sew and Stitch 150 September 3, 1953 two thirds stock footage, one third new footage All Gummed Up 103 December 18, 1947 Bubble Trouble 151 October 8, 1953 Shivering Sherlocks 104 January 8, 1948 Of Cash and Hash 160 February 3, 1955 Pardon My Clutch 105 February 26, 1948 Wham Bam Slam 164 September 1, 1955 Squareheads of the Round Table 106 March 4, 1948 Knutzy Knights 156 September 4, 1954 Fiddlers Three 107 May 6, 1948 Musty Musketeers 154 May 13, 1954 The Hot Scots 108 July 8, 1948 Scotched in Scotland 158 November 4, 1954 The Hot Scots 108 July 8, 1948 Hot Ice 165 October 6, 1955 Scotland Yard sequence Heavenly Daze 109 September 2, 1948 Bedlam in Paradise 162 April 14, 1955 I'm a Monkey's Uncle 110 October 7, 1948 Stone Age Romeos 163 June 2, 1955 Crime on Their Hands 112 December 9, 1948 Commotion on the Ocean 174 November 8, 1956 Newspaper room scene Crime on Their Hands 112 December 9, 1948 Hot Ice 165 October 6, 1955 The Ghost Talks 113 February 2, 1949 Creeps 168 February 2, 1956 Who Done It? 114 March 3, 1949 For Crimin' Out Loud 170 May 3, 1956 Hokus Pokus 115 May 5, 1949 Flagpole Jitters 169 April 5, 1956 Fuelin' Around 116 July 7, 1949 Hot Stuff 172 September 6, 1956 "Fake Shemp"; filmed after Shemp's death Malice in the Palace 117 September 1, 1949 Rumpus in the Harem 171 June 21, 1956 "Fake Shemp"; filmed after Shemp's death Vagabond Loafers 118 October 6, 1949 Scheming Schemers 173 October 4, 1956 "Fake Shemp"; filmed after Shemp's death Dunked in the Deep 119 November 3, 1949 Commotion on the Ocean 174 November 8, 1956 "Fake Shemp"; filmed after Shemp's death Love at First Bite 123 May 4, 1950 Fifi Blows Her Top 184 April 10, 1958 Corny Casanovas 139 May 1, 1952 Rusty Romeos 181 October 17, 1957 He Cooked His Goose 140 July 3, 1952 Triple Crossed 189 February 2, 1959
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