He Cooked His Goose

He Cooked His Goose
Directed by	Jules White
Produced by	Jules White
Written by	Felix Adler
Starring	Moe Howard Larry Fine Shemp Howard Angela Stevens Mary Ainslee Diana Darrin
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date(s)	July 3, 1952 (1952-07-03)
Running time	15' 40"
Country	United States
Language	English

He Cooked His Goose is the 140th short subject starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.

Plot

The Stooges are separate characters in this short. Larry is a womanizer who is having an affair with Moe's wife, and making eyes at Shemp's fiancee, Millie (Angela Stevens), as well. Moe, however, tracks down the conniving Larry at his pet shop, and gives him the works. Larry is able to think fast and convinces Moe he's innocent, which calms him down. Realizing he needs to cover his tracks, Larry looks for a "fall guy" in the form of Shemp. Larry then gets Shemp a job as an underwear salesman and the first place he goes is Moe's home.

The trio vye for the affection of Moe's wife Angela Stevens.

While Shemp is modeling his ware for Moe's wife, Larry calls both Millie and Moe and lies to them about Shemp's advances on Moe's wife. Both of them go storming over to Moe's, with Moe carrying a loaded gun. Looking to avoid being killed, Shemp flees up the chimney. After he fools Moe with a Santa Claus disguise, Shemp makes a quick getaway. Shemp then spies Larry coming. Now aware that Larry set him up, Shemp knocks Larry out and dresses him in the Santa outfit and sends him to Moe, Millie, and Moe's wife. Moe unmasks Larry to the surprise of them all and chases him out of the apartment. Moe shoots Larry in the rear a few times before accidentally shooting himself in the foot while celebrating.

Production notes

• He Cooked His Goose was reworked in 1959 as Triple Crossed, using ample stock footage from the original.
• This is one of the three films in which Larry Fine is the main character. The other two where he takes the lead role are Woman Haters and Three Loan Wolves.
• Over the course of their 24 years at Columbia Pictures, the Stooges would occasionally be cast as separate characters. This course of action always worked against the team; author Jon Solomon concluded "when the writing divides them, they lose their comic dynamic". In addition to this split occurring in He Cooked His Goose (and its remake Triple Crossed), the trio also played separate characters in Rockin' in the Rockies, Cuckoo on a Choo Choo, Gypped in the Penthouse, Flying Saucer Daffy, and Sweet and Hot.

External links

• He Cooked His Goose at the Internet Movie Database
• He Cooked His Goose at AllRovi