# Dutiful But Dumb > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Dutiful_But_Dumb > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Dutiful_But_Dumb.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutiful_But_Dumb > Source revision: 1351455937 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 1941 film by Del Lord Dutiful But Dumb Directed by Del Lord Written by Elwood Ullman Produced by Del Lord Hugh McCollum Starring Moe Howard Larry Fine Curly Howard Vernon Dent Bud Jamison Fred Kelsey Eddie Laughton Chester Conklin Harry Semels Marjorie Deanne Stanley Brown Lew Davis Cinematography Benjamin H. Kline Edited by Art Seid Distributed by Columbia Pictures Release date March 21, 1941 (1941-03-21) (U.S.) Running time 16:47 Country United States Language English ***Dutiful But Dumb*** is a 1941 [short subject](/source/Short_film) directed by [Del Lord](/source/Del_Lord) starring American [slapstick](/source/Slapstick) comedy team [The Three Stooges](/source/The_Three_Stooges) ([Moe Howard](/source/Moe_Howard), [Larry Fine](/source/Larry_Fine) and [Curly Howard](/source/Curly_Howard)). It is the 54th entry in the series released by [Columbia Pictures](/source/Columbia_Pictures) starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959. ## Plot The Stooges are Click, Clack and Cluck, paparazzi-like photographers employed by Whack Magazine, a publication renowned for its sensationalist approach to imagery. Following their unsuccessful endeavor to capture a photograph of the esteemed movie star Percival De Puyster and his newlywed spouse, their employer, Mr. Wilson, dismisses them from their positions. However, Wilson subsequently dispatches the trio to Vulgaria (a fictionalized representation of a totalitarian regime reminiscent of fascist [Bulgaria](/source/Bulgaria)) for their next assignment, fully aware that photography in Vulgaria is deemed an act of espionage punishable by death. Upon their arrival in Vulgaria, the bumbling trio inadvertently facilitate the escape of another photographer who was slated for execution. They subsequently find themselves ensnared in the clutches of the Vulgarian authorities, culminating in their incarceration within a Vulgarian prison. As the Stooges face imminent execution by firing squad, a comedic interlude ensues when Curly requests a final smoke, humorously unveiling an improbably lengthy cigar. The trio narrowly evade the firing squad's bullets by concealing their heads within their shirts. Subsequent scenes depict the Stooges encountering a demonstration of Vulgaria's new ray gun, mistakenly identified by the trio as a camera. In a series of slapstick mishaps, they inadvertently activate the device, resulting in chaos as they attempt to evade detection by the returning Vulgarian officers. Curly takes refuge inside a malfunctioning radio, engaging in a cacophonous performance using unconventional musical instruments. After getting the better of the officers, the Stooges assume their identities and enter a nearby cafe for lunch. Within this setting, Curly engages in battle against a live oyster hiding within his bowl of stew. Despite their efforts to sustain their masquerade, the Stooges are ultimately apprehended by the guards. They are physically transported away in an inverted fashion, suspended by the bayonets of their captors' rifles. ## Cast ### Credited - [Moe Howard](/source/Moe_Howard) as Moe Click - [Larry Fine](/source/Larry_Fine) as Larry Clack - [Curly Howard](/source/Curly_Howard) as Curly Cluck ### Uncredited - [Vernon Dent](/source/Vernon_Dent) as Mr. Wilson - [Edmund Cobb](/source/Edmund_Cobb) as Wilson's Assistant - Neal Burns as Photographer in Hallway - Stanley Brown as Percival DePuyster - [Marjorie Deanne](/source/Marjorie_Deanne) as Mrs. DePuyster - George Gray as Frightened man in Hallway - [Blanca Vischer](/source/Blanca_Vischer) as Wilson's Secretary - [Harry Semels](/source/Harry_Semels) as Villager - [Bud Jamison](/source/Bud_Jamison) as Vulgarian Sergeant - [George Ovey](/source/George_Ovey) as Civilian Photographer - [Fred Aldrich](/source/Fred_Aldrich) as Firing Squad Soldier - [Fred Kelsey](/source/Fred_Kelsey) as Vulgarian Colonel - [Eddie Laughton](/source/Eddie_Laughton) as Ray Machine Operator - [Bruce Bennett](/source/Bruce_Bennett) as Vulgarian Soldier in Colonel's Office - Bert Young as Vulgarian Sentry - [Kit Guard](/source/Kit_Guard) as Vulgarian Sentry - [Chester Conklin](/source/Chester_Conklin) as Counterman - [Al Thompson](/source/Al_Thompson) as Vulgarian soldier in Restaurant - Charlie Phillips as Vulgarian soldier in Restaurant - [Joe Palma](/source/Joe_Palma) as Vulgarian soldier in Restaurant ## Production notes *Dutiful But Dumb* was filmed on August 1–5, 1940;[1] the film title is a play on "beautiful but dumb."[2] An adaptation of the oyster soup battle is featured in [The Three Stooges video game](/source/The_Three_Stooges_(video_game)), where players control Curly, who attempts to pick up and eat as many crackers from the oyster soup as possible before the oysters do. Oysters occasionally fire soup at Curly.[3] The gag was later performed by Moe in 1948's *[Shivering Sherlocks](/source/Shivering_Sherlocks)*, and Larry, who fights the Lobster Gumbo in 1954's *[Income Tax Sappy](/source/Income_Tax_Sappy)*.[2] The gag also appears in the 1945 [Abbott and Costello](/source/Abbott_and_Costello) film, *[Here Come the Co-Eds](/source/Here_Come_the_Co-Eds)*.[2] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-pauley_1-0)** Pauley, Jim (2012). [*The Three Stooges Hollywood Filming Locations*](http://www.santamonicapress.com/index.php?page_name=threestooges&page_type=book&show=desc&hide0=excerpt&hide1=author&hide2=reviews&hide5=number5). [Solana Beach, California](/source/Solana_Beach%2C_California): Santa Monica Press, LLC. p. 91. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781595800701](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781595800701). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Solomon_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Solomon_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Solomon_2-2) Solomon, Jon (2002). *The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion*. [Glendale, California](/source/Glendale%2C_California): Comedy III Productions, Inc. pp. 190–191. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-9711868-0-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-9711868-0-4). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Joystiq_3-0)** Fletcher, JC (April 17, 2008). ["Virtually Overlooked: The Three Stooges"](http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/virtually-overlooked-the-three-stooges/). Retrieved February 25, 2011. ## External links - [*Dutiful But Dumb*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033565/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier)) - [*Dutiful But Dumb* at threestooges.net](http://www.threestooges.net/filmography/episode/54) v t e The Three Stooges Moe Howard Larry Fine Curly Howard Shemp Howard Joe Besser Curly Joe DeRita Works The Three Stooges filmography The Three Stooges Collection Jerks of All Trades The New 3 Stooges The Three Stooges Scrapbook Kook's Tour Moe Howard and the Three Stooges Related topics List of supporting actors in Three Stooges films Yogi Bear and the Three Stooges Meet the Mad, Mad, Mad Dr. No-No The Robonic Stooges Stoogemania "Swingin' the Alphabet" "The Curly Shuffle" 1984 arcade game 1987 video game 2000 TV biopic 2012 feature film C3 Entertainment Stooge sort Associated people Felix Adler Edward Bernds Tiny Brauer Clyde Bruckman Charley Chase Paul Garner Ted Healy Rich Koz Del Lord Norman Maurer Hugh McCollum Christine McIntyre Frank Mitchell Joe Palma/Fake Shemp Fred Sanborn Emil Sitka Greta Thyssen Elwood Ullman Jack White Jules White Category v t e The Three Stooges filmography (1934–1947): Moe, Larry, Curly 1934 Woman Haters Punch Drunks Men in Black Three Little Pigskins 1935 Horses' Collars Restless Knights Pop Goes the Easel Uncivil Warriors Pardon My Scotch Hoi Polloi Three Little Beers 1936 Ants in the Pantry Movie Maniacs Half Shot Shooters Disorder in the Court A Pain in the Pullman False Alarms Whoops, I'm an Indian! Slippery Silks 1937 Grips, Grunts and Groans Dizzy Doctors 3 Dumb Clucks Back to the Woods Goofs and Saddles Cash and Carry Playing the Ponies The Sitter Downers 1938 Termites of 1938 Wee Wee Monsieur Tassels in the Air Healthy, Wealthy and Dumb Violent Is the Word for Curly Three Missing Links Mutts to You Flat Foot Stooges 1939 Three Little Sew and Sews We Want Our Mummy A Ducking They Did Go Yes, We Have No Bonanza Saved by the Belle Calling All Curs Oily to Bed, Oily to Rise Three Sappy People 1940 You Nazty Spy! Rockin' thru the Rockies A Plumbing We Will Go Nutty but Nice How High Is Up? From Nurse to Worse No Census, No Feeling Cookoo Cavaliers Boobs in Arms 1941 So Long Mr. Chumps Dutiful But Dumb All the World's a Stooge I'll Never Heil Again An Ache in Every Stake In the Sweet Pie and Pie Some More of Samoa 1942 Loco Boy Makes Good Cactus Makes Perfect What's the Matador? Matri-Phony Three Smart Saps Even as IOU Sock-a-Bye Baby 1943 They Stooge to Conga Dizzy Detectives Spook Louder Back from the Front Three Little Twirps Higher Than a Kite I Can Hardly Wait Dizzy Pilots Phony Express A Gem of a Jam 1944 Crash Goes the Hash Busy Buddies The Yoke's on Me Idle Roomers Gents Without Cents No Dough Boys 1945 Three Pests in a Mess Booby Dupes Idiots Deluxe If a Body Meets a Body Micro-Phonies 1946 Beer Barrel Polecats A Bird in the Head Uncivil War Birds The Three Troubledoers Monkey Businessmen Three Loan Wolves G.I. Wanna Home Rhythm and Weep Three Little Pirates 1947 Half-Wits Holiday Category --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Dutiful But Dumb](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutiful_But_Dumb) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutiful_But_Dumb?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.