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Being red-blooded USA bred, I grew up in awe of the Three Stooges. From earliest memories to the most recent spate of reruns I have always reveled at their puerile antics. There is something so fufilling about a good smack over the head, a slap across the face, a stomach punch, or nynuck, nynuck, nynuck. (Is it because it's not happening to me?)Out of the six stooges, the most remembered are the original three: Larry, Curly, and Moe. Anyone would agree that those ARE the Three Stooges as I surely do. But, of the three, who is the greatest? First reflex would be to say CURLY! He took the most punishment. He made the best faces and sound effects and stole so many scenes he should have done hard time. Then, Moe. The meanie. The sharp-tongued guy with with a nasty outlook on life who was self-appointed fuhrer in order to keep the other two on track. Unfortunately, Moe was just not lovable--glaringly so. He probably didn't care, did he? His anteBeatle haircut set him apart but did not inspire the endearment of Curly's bald pate. Then Larry, the Porcupine. The guy who beat Bozo the clown to the barber shop: he was the GREATEST of all!
Why Larry? Simple: deovotion to craft and script. Porcupine never stole a scene, deftly waited to the side, spoke only when spoken to, and exhibited the only amount of sensitivity and acting skill of the three. His discipline was staggering to bear the brunt of so much abuse with so little opportunity for retaliation. Paying attention to Larry is much like watching the lineman in a football game rather than the QB or his recievers. But, Larry was good. It's worth paying attention to him.
Ironically, Larry was really a reasonably accomplished violinst, a skirt chaser, and in love with the horse track. What a guy! He deserves a toast or two---maybe some day I'll lay a wreath.
Follow Ups:
rufus,Much of what you say has that unmistakable air of the true Stoogaphile, which is to say, it smells like burning hair!
How could you possibly overlook for Greatest Stooge Walter Balko as "Balko" the seventh Stooge?
Balko trademark of twisting his ear so that his mouth would close and then his fist swinging around to pound his own head from behind were ultimate screen classics. As well, Balko's endearing trait of pinching women but making it appears that Curly had done it brought down several houses in the Philadelphia area. Finally, Balko's look of immaculate suit but with crazy, destroyed floppy hat will never be forgotten as long as we genuine Stoogaphiles live!
SK
nt
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