Title: Triple Crossed
Studio: Columbia
Short Number: 189
Release Date: February 2, 1959
Running Time: 15:48
“Now no fibs Joey. How many shots?” “None.” “None?” “Hit it with my car.”
(Angela Stevens & Joe)
Short Take
Larry is a womanizer who is having an affair with Moe’s wife Belle (Mary Ainslee). At the same time, he is also making eyes at Joe’s fiancee, Millie (Angela Stevens). However, Moe tracks down the conniving Larry at his pet shop and gives him the works before Larry calms him down. Realizing he needs to cover his tracks, Larry looks for a “fall guy” in the form of Joe. Larry then gets Joe a job as an underwear salesman and the first place he goes is Moe’s home.
While Joe is modeling his ware, Larry lies to Moe about Joe’s advances on Millie. Both of them go storming over to Moe’s, while Joe flees up the chimney. After making a quiet getaway, Joe bumps into Larry and turns him in.
Joe explains to Moe how Larry had set him up. Millie reveals how Larry had tricked her into coming there. Moe tells her Larry had tricked him, too. Millie and Joe make up while an angry Moe punishes Larry.
Cast & Crew
| Directed by | Jules White |
|---|---|
| Produced by | Jules White |
| Written by | Warren Wilson |
| Starring | Moe Howard Larry Fine Joe Besser Angela Stevens Mary Ainslee Diana Darrin Connie Cezon |
| Cinematography | Fred Jackman Jr. |
| Edited by | Saul A. Goodkind |
Triple Crossed Trivia
- The Stooges play separate characters in this short and Larry has the main role.
- Over the course of their 24 years at Columbia Pictures, The Stooges would occasionally be cast as separate characters. This course of action always worked against the team; author Jon Solomon concluded: “when the writing divides them, they lose their comic dynamic.”In addition to this split occurring in Triple Crossed (as well as He Cooked His Goose, the film it originated from), the trio also played separate characters in Rockin’ in the Rockies, Cuckoo on a Choo Choo, Gypped in the Penthouse, Flying Saucer Daffy and Sweet and Hot.
- This short is a remake of He Cooked His Goose, with Joe taking over Shemp’s place, but there are a few instances where they forgot to edit Shemp out: First, when Larry is walking to meet Moe’s wife, Joe is hiding in the closet wearing a Santa Claus outfit, but if you look closely at who quickly peeks around the closet door and whistles, you can tell that it’s Shemp. Also, when Moe fires the gun up the chimney at Joe, they leave in Shemp’s yell from the original scene. And finally, in the reused shot of Moe trying to pull the vase off of his head, you can see Shemp’s face in the background peeking from under the bearskin rug.
- In addition, you can also see Shemp when he opens the janitor closet door and slams Moe.
Production Notes
- Triple Crossed is a remake of 1952’s He Cooked His Goose, using ample stock footage. New footage was filmed on December 18, 1957, the day before shooting commenced for Flying Saucer Daffy, the last Stooge short to be filmed.
