Malice in the Palace

For the professional wrestling event, see WrestleFanFest Malice in the Palace. For the 2004 brawl at The Palace of Auburn Hills, see Pacers–Pistons brawl.
Malice in the Palace
Directed by Jules White
Produced by Jules White
Written by Felix Adler
Starring Moe Howard
Larry Fine
Shemp Howard
Vernon Dent
George J. Lewis
Frank Lackteen
Everett Brown
Johnny Kascier
Joe Palma
Cinematography Vincent J. Farrar
Edited by Edwin H. Bryant
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release dates
  • September 1, 1949 (1949-09-01)
Running time
 15:42
Country United States
Language English

Malice in the Palace is the 117th short film released by Columbia Pictures in 1949 starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Shemp Howard). The comedians released 190 short films for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

Plot

Shemp: "Boy, if I hadn't ducked, we'd have collided sure. What a narrow escape!"

The Stooges, while running the Cafe Casbah Bah (a Middle Eastern restaurant) and attempting to prepare a meal for customers Hassan Ben Sober (Vernon Dent) and Ginna Rumma (George J. Lewis), discover a plan that their hungry customers are hatching. These two thieves are attempting to rob the tomb of King Rootintootin, which contains a priceless diamond, but they discover that the Emir of Shmow (Johnny Kascier) has already gotten his hands on the diamond. The two plotters start wailing and are thrown out of the restaurant. The Stooges then attempt to retrieve the diamond themselves, as there is a $50,000 reward at stake.

The Stooges arrive at the Emir's palace dressed as Santa Claus. They then manage to acquire the diamond and make a quick exit, but not before dealing with a burly guard (Everett Brown).

Production notes

A thinner Curly (with a full head of hair and false handlebar mustache) as the Chef in Malice in the Palace. His scene was deleted from the final release.

According to The Three Stooges Journal, a part was written for Curly Howard after his brief cameo in 1947's Hold That Lion!. The lobby card photo noticeably features a slim, mustachioed Curly as an angry chef. However, his illness caused his scenes to be cut (another story is that Moe Howard decided that "The Four Stooges" could not be sustained) and ultimately Larry assumed the role as the chef.[1]

Malice in the Palace is one of four Stooge shorts that are currently in public domain (the others being Disorder in the Court, Brideless Groom, and Sing a Song of Six Pants). As such, these four shorts frequently appear on low-budget VHS and DVD compilations and endless television reruns at no cost to the stations. The film was reworked in 1956 as Rumpus in the Harem, using ample stock footage from the original.[1]

Watch Malice in the Palace here

Malice in the Palace was one of five Stooge films included in the TBS 1995 Halloween special The Three Stooges Fright Night.

The 2004 NBA brawl between the Indiana Pacers and the Detroit Pistons has come to be known as the Malice at the Palace, a play on the title of this short and a reference to the fact that the event happened at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

This short was seen in a movie theater in The Garbage Pail Kids Movie.

References

  1. 1 2 Solomon, Jon. (2002) The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion; Comedy III Productions, Inc., ISBN 0-9711868-0-4
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