Watch Back from the Front For Free
Back from the Front
The Stooges join the war effort by enlisting at Merchant Marines. While aboard, they have a brief run-in with (a secret German Nazi officer) Lt. Dungen (Vernon Dent), and then mistake a torpedo for a beached whale. Moe says they have to kill it, and it promptly explodes. After being lost at sea for several days, they come across the SS Schicklgruber and climb aboard. Now with fully grown beards, they come across Lt. Dungen again, who does not recognize them. After realizing they are on a German war ship they eventually overtake the crew and toss them overboard.
| Release : | 1943 |
| Rating : | 7.4 |
| Studio : | Columbia Pictures, |
| Crew : | Art Direction, Cinematography, |
| Cast : | Curly Howard Larry Fine Moe Howard Stanley Blystone Vernon Dent |
| Genre : | Comedy War |
Watch Trailer
Cast List
Related Movies
Recess - Third Street
Yellow Belt Fury
Reviews
One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.
This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.
This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama
It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film
"Back from the Front" is an American black-and-white short film from almost 75 years ago. It features the Stooges in the formation that most consider their best: Moe, Curly and Larry. This one came out in 1943 and if you know a bit about history, you will know that World War II was in full gear at the time and as a consequence the Stooges make mostly fun of German politic(ian)s from start to finish. The film runs for slightly under 20 minutes as they usually do. Unfortunately, I cannot agree with people who think this is among the most popular and best the comedy trio had to offer. A couple German words cannot really make up for the lack of convincing slapstick humor in here and I don't think this is anywhere near the best what the Stooges have to offer. I would even say that this one is the best watch for historians and not for comedy fans as it is an interesting combination of film and politics and you could certainly call it a propaganda movie. But it's not a particularly witty or funny one. Thumbs down.
The boys rush in the house, and we hear "Tizzy! Lizzie! Dizzy! Inky! Winky! Stinky! as they greet one another. The girls - all with those long early '40s hairdos - ask, "what's with the get-ups? "We've signed up as sailors on a steamer," they explain. "Kiss us goodbye." The dodge that and Larry and Moe wind up kissing each other while Curly smooches the Saint Bernard. They get their real kisses, though, and announce "we're off to sea to see what we can see! See?" Yes, there are a lot of corny lines in here, as a corny dance number as they exit.Once on the boat, Larry and Moe are seasick while Curly is fine and asks them if they'd like some of his raw liver. He laughs at them, as they run elsewhere to throw up, but then it hits him.Longtime Stooges contributor Vernon Dent plays the Bosun "Duncan" who is really a German spy. Totally insane things happen from that point, such as the boys thinking a torpedo is a whale and trying to hammer it and, in the process, blowing up the ship. Yet, after surviving on a small raft for days eating beans, they wind up on a German ship (the S.S. Shickelgruber) with the same "Duncan" and another longtime Stooge player, Bud Jamison.Through some ridiculous turn of events in which the Nazis are made to look like total idiots (too much so, to be fair), the eliminate every German on the ship! Don't ask....none of it makes sense, but that's the Three Stooges.
"Back from the Front" is my favorite Nazi-themed Three Stooges short. Moe, Larry, and Curly serve their country on the S.S. Dotty until it is torpedoed; they end up as stowaways on the S.S. Schickelgruber! The most fun part of this short is watching the boys, disguised as Nazi sailors, using their quick wits to wipe out every crew member on the Nazi ship. Adding to the fun is Moe's great Hitler impersonation, complete with stereotypical German double-talk, before the threesome literally overthrows the ship's commanding officers.And please, let us not overlook the talents of a few supporting actors who portray Nazi sailors in this film. Stanley Blystone as the captain and Vernon Dent as Lt. Dungen are perfect foils for the Stooges. And Bud Jamison as the petty officer is probably the best dialect actor the Stooges ever worked with ("Mutts to You" [1938], "Termites of 1938" [1938], and "Whoops, I'm an Indian!" [1936] are other Stooge shorts that showcase Jamison's capability with accents).
I find most of the Three Stooges shorts very funny and this one is no exception. It starts a little boring but the final parts make up for that. Moe's Hitler imitation is great. The way Moe, Larry and Curly can repeat the same joke and still keep it funny is great. Another funny Three Stooges movie.
