The Big Idea (1934 film)
| The Big Idea | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | William Beaudine |
| Written by | Ted Healy Matty Brooks |
| Starring | Ted Healy The Three Stooges Bonnie Bonnell Muriel Evans Heinie Conklin Lew Harvey Jimmy Hollywood Eddie Bartell Henry Taylor Tut Mace MGM Dancing Girls |
| Music by | L. Wolfe Gilbert |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release date |
|
Running time | 19:15 |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Big Idea is the fifth and last of five short films starring Ted Healy and His Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard) released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on May 12, 1934.
Plot
A scenario company president, played by Ted Healy, is trying to think but never ending visits to his office have him distracted. Being visited by a man with a gun, a woman who loves making a mess, and a trio of musicians can be distracting to anyone. Trying to think while all these wackos keep interrupting, hilarity is sure to ensue.
Cast
- Ted Healy as Scenario Company President
- Moe Howard as Healy's Stooge (as Howard)
- Larry Fine as Healy's Stooge (as Fine)
- Curly Howard as Healy's Stooge (as Howard)
- Bonnie Bonnell as Cleaning Lady
- Muriel Evans as Honey, Ted's Fiancée
- The Radio Rogues as Themselves (as Three Radio Rogues)
- Tut Mace as Dancer
- M-G-M Dancing Girls as Themselves
Production
Like other shorts Healy and the Stooges filmed at MGM, stock footage was utilized to fill out the 20 minutes. For The Big Idea, MGM used musical numbers edited out of the feature films Dancing Lady (1933), which has a supporting role by Healy and a cameo by the Stooges, and Going Hollywood (1933).[1]
This is one of the last films and the fifth and final musical-comedy short subject in which the Three Stooges appeared with longtime partner Ted Healy. By the time of the release of The Big Idea, the Three Stooges had signed a new contract with Columbia Pictures to do a series of comedy short films without Healy, beginning with Woman Haters (1934).