Scotched in Scotland

1954 American short film by Jules White

November 4, 1954 (1954-11-04) (U.S.)

Running time

15:35CountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglish

Scotched in Scotland is a 1954 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Shemp Howard). It is the 158th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

Plot

The Stooges are detective school graduates who are shipped off to Scotland. Adorned in kilts and adopting contrived Scottish accents, the Stooges, adopting the aliases McMoe, McLarry, and McShemp, assuming the responsibility of safeguarding the esteemed possessions housed within the precincts of Glenheather Castle, under the auspices of The Earl. Unbeknownst to them, the castle's staff are complicit in a scheme to pilfer its treasures, taking advantage of the Stooges' presence as they slumber within its walls.

However, the Stooges ultimately apprehend the perpetrators, led by the nefarious Lorna Doone, who, under the guise of the Earl's secretary, orchestrates the clandestine operation. Their triumph is ephemeral as, amidst their jubilation, they encounter a bagpipe-playing skeletal apparition, prompting their hasty departure from the castle premises.

Cast

Credited

Moe Howard as Moe
Larry Fine as Larry
Shemp Howard as Shemp
Christine McIntyre as Lorna Doone
Phil Van Zandt as Dean O. U. Gonga
Charles Knight as Angus

Uncredited

Herbert Evans as The Earl of Glenheather (stock footage)
Ted Lorch as McPherson (stock footage)
- George Pembroke as McPherson (new footage)
Jules White as Skeleton

Production notes

Scotched in Scotland is a remake of 1948's The Hot Scots (1948), employing extensive recycled footage from its predecessor. In an effort to enhance the film's eerie atmosphere, a whistling, howling wind-like sound was incorporated into the soundtrack, a departure from the original rendition.^[1]

George Pembroke doubles for the late Ted Lorch in new scenes; Lorch died in November 1947.^[2] New footage was filmed on January 19–20, 1954.^[3]

References to a Gillette advertising slogan are also featured several times using a parrot and a skeleton. The slogan, "How are you fixed for blades?", began in 1952 using the Gillette mascot, Sharpie the Parrot.^[4]

References

^ Lenburg, Jeff; Joan Howard Maurer; Greg Lenburg (1982). The Three Stooges Scrapbook. Citadel Press. ISBN 0-8065-0946-5.
^ Solomon, Jon. (2002) The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion, p. 444; Comedy III Productions, Inc., ISBN 0-9711868-0-4
^ "Scotched in Scotland". threestooges.net. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
^ "Sharpie the Parrot Gillette 'Spokesbird'". GilletteCo History. 8 March 2010. Retrieved 27 December 2017.