The United States had not yet entered World War II when The Three Stooges made this short (and its 1941 sequel, I'll Never Heil Again). Lampooning the Third Reich had not yet become commonplace and, in fact, this comedy two-reeler even came out before Charles Chaplin's The Great Dictator. Three munitions manufacturers in the country of Moronica -- Messrs. Ixnay, Onay, and Amscray -- decide to drum up some business by overthrowing the king and turning the country into a dictatorship. As their pawns they choose their wallpaper hangers, who happen to be the Stooges -- Moe Hailstone, Curly Gallstone, and Larry Pebble. Predictably, Moe winds up in charge, with Curly as Field Marshal and Larry as Minister of Propaganda. There is much politically-based silliness -- Moe giving a speech to the masses as Larry holds "applause" and "cheers" cards; burning books (except for one listing the phone numbers of Curly's girlfriends); and sending a poor unfortunate to a "concentrated camp." The king's daughter (Adrian Booth Bryan) shows up in disguise and tries to put a halt to the Stooges' shenanigans. Curly is supposed to execute her but winds up shooting Moe's backside instead -- "You shot me in the excitement, you fool!" Moe roars. It's too late, anyhow -- the king has gathered up a mob and they're storming the Stooges' palace. The boys decide that their only choice is to abdicate and they do -- right into a den of hungry lions.
by Janiss Garza
synopsis
