Fuelin’ Around

Production Information
Title: 
Fuelin’ Around
Studio: Columbia
Short Number: 116
Release Date: July 7, 1949
Running Time: 16:40

“I got a little booklet here: How to Train Your Memory in Five E-Z Lessons.”

Short Take

The Stooges are carpet layers working at the home of Professor Sneed (Emil Sitka) and his daughter (Christine McIntyre). Sneed is developing a rocket fuel in secret for the government. Anemian spy Captain Rork (Philip Van Zandt) watches the professor through his front window, with hopes of kidnapping him. The Anemians accidentally capture The Stooges instead, mistaking Larry for the professor.

Trouble brews when The Boys are required to quickly create some fuel, and then write down the formula. It does not take long for the Anemians to capture the real Professor Sneed, along with his daughter, and throw them in jail until the formula is disclosed. Thanks to a shy prison guard (Jacques O’Mahoney) who cannot help but flirt with Sneed’s daughter, the group makes a quick exit.

Fuelin’ Around Cast & Crew

Directed byEdward Bernds
Produced byHugh McCollum
Written byElwood Ullman
StarringMoe Howard
Larry Fine
Shemp Howard
Emil Sitka
Christine McIntyre
Vernon Dent
Philip Van Zandt
Jacques O’Mahoney
Andre Pola
Harold Brauer
CinematographyVincent J. Farrar
Edited byHenry Batista

Fuelin’ Around Trivia

  • This is the first Stooge film since Booby Dupes (1945) to satirize a political enemy
  • The quest for the super rocket fuel is one weapon-generation after the Televanian -9 submarine from Three Little Sew and Sews (1939). It precedes The Stooges’ sci-fi/outer space films by almost a decade. Colonel Clutz, who helped captured Snead, chastises Rork for it later
  • This was remade as Hot Stuff (1956) using available stock footage

Production Notes

Filming for Fuelin’ Around took place from April 6-9, 1948