Production Information
Title: Uncivil War Birds
Studio: Columbia
Short Number: 90
Release Date: March 29, 1946
Running Time: 17:16
“I’ll be more than a Colonel… I’ll be a Corporal.” – (Curly)
Uncivil War Birds Short Take
It is the American Civil War, and the Stooges enlist in the service. Moe and Larry accidentally join the Union Army, while Curly manages to correctly sign up with the Confederate. Before the error can be corrected, several Union soldiers order Moe and Larry to lock up their “prisoner.” A few moments later, a Confederate general sees Curly being released and, upon seeing Moe and Larry, thinks he has captured two Union soldiers. This mix up goes back and forth several times, until Moe and Larry finally find Confederate uniforms, only to be caught in Union army headquarters. They eventually escape by performing minstrel song-and-dance routine in blackface, with Curly playing a Mammy-type character and Larry strumming a banjo.
Uncivil War Birds Cast & Crew
| Directed by | Jules White |
|---|---|
| Produced by | Jules White |
| Written by | Clyde Bruckman |
| Starring | Moe Howard Larry Fine Curly Howard Eleanor Counts Marilyn Johnson Faye Williams Ted Lorch Joe Palma Cy Schindell John Tyrrell Lew Davis |
| Cinematography | Philip Tannura |
| Edited by | Charles Hochberg |
Uncivil War Birds Trivia
- The song “Dixie” replaces the Stooges’ regular opening theme of “Three Blind Mice” for this film, and continues as background music for approximately twenty seconds into the opening scene.
- This marked the final appearance of long-time Stooge supporting actors John Tyrrell and Lew Davis.
Curly’s illness
- The film was produced after Curly Howard suffered a mild stroke. As a result, his performance was marred by slurred speech, and slower timing, though Curly was more energetic and displayed better timing than in previous shorts. In addition, Moe Howard and Larry Fine are paired together and given the lion’s share of the film’s dialogue.
Production Notes
- Uncivil War Birds was filmed on August 24–25, 1945.a It is a remake of the 1939 Buster Keaton short Mooching Through Georgia; the stock shot of the Union lieutenant on horseback with his battalion of eight was borrowed from that film.