Production Information
Title: Horses’ Collars
Studio: Columbia
Short Number: 5
Release Date: January 10, 1935
Running Time: 18:01
“Moe, Larry… the cheese!”
Short Take
The Stooges are hired by the Detective Hadyn Zeke to go out West and help his client, Nell Higginbottom regain the I.O.U. her father was tricked into signing. The boys get into several scrapes in the process, but fortunately Curly goes insane whenever he sees a mouse, and only a mouthful of cheese will settle him down… “Moe, Larry … the cheese!”
Cast & Crew
| Directed by | Clyde Bruckman |
|---|---|
| Produced by | Jules White |
| Written by | Felix Adler |
| Starring | Moe Howard Larry Fine Curly Howard Dorothy Kent Fred Kohler Fred Kelsey |
| Cinematography | John W. Boyle |
| Edited by | James Sweeney |
Horses’ Collars Trivia
- The opening theme song is titled “At the Races,” composed by Louis Silvers.
- Curly has a violent reaction to the sight of a live mouse at any time, going into a fit while demanding, “Moe! Larry! The Cheese!”. The only cure is for someone to feed him cheese, leading to Curly’s manic catchphrase upon sighting a mouse in the film short. The reason for this is explained by Larry, stating that Curly’s father was a rat.
- An external stimulus — as with Curly spotting the mouse — that causes him to go bonkers was also used as a plot element in Punch Drunks, Grips, Grunts and Groans, and Tassels in the Air.
- Horses’ Collars was the first of 17 Western-themed films The Stooges would make.
- It is the first short where The Stooges sing “You’ll Never Know What Tears Are” in barbershop music style. This song would make an appearance in future shorts Half-Shot Shooters and A Ducking They Did Go.
Production Notes
- Horses’ Collars was filmed on November 23-27, 1934.
