Production Information
Title: Bedlam In Paradise
Studio: Columbia
Short Number: 162
Release Date: April 15, 1955
Running Time: 15:51
“Dear Uncle Mortimer…” – (Shemp)
Bedlam In Paradise Short Take
On his deathbed, Shemp struggles between life and death as Moe and Larry attempt to nurse him back to health. He warns them to behave or he will return to haunt them. After Shemp’s arrival to Heaven, his Uncle Mortimer contemplates whether Shemp will remain or go to Hell. Then the Devil (Philip Van Zandt) appears in a burst of flame to tempt Shemp with a sultry dancer, Helen Blazes (Sylvia Lewis). Uncle Mortimer intervenes, promising Shemp eternity in Heaven if he returns to Earth unseen and unheard and reforms Moe and Larry.
Meanwhile, one “Mr. Heller” (the Devil) is giving Moe and Larry some “devilishly good ideas,” such as conning a wealthy couple into financing the production of fountain pens that write under whipped cream. Shemp sabotages their demonstration but accidentally starts a fire. The scene fades back to Shemp’s bedroom. It has all been a dream, but Shemp is on fire because he fell asleep smoking in bed. When he tells Moe and Larry about their fountain pen writing under whipped cream, Moe hits him with a creampie and Larry gives Shemp a fountain pen.
Bedlam In Paradise Cast & Crew
| Directed by | Jules White |
|---|---|
| Produced by | Jules White |
| Written by | Zion Myers Felix Adler |
| Starring | Moe Howard Larry Fine Shemp Howard Philip Van Zandt Sylvia Lewis Vernon Dent Victor Travers Symona Boniface |
| Cinematography | Ray Cory Allen Siegler |
Bedlam In Paradise Trivia
- Sylvia Lewis who played Helen Blazes was a dancer and choreographer and appeared on many TV shows including The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Beverly Hillbillies, and She born in 1931 and will celebrate another birthday on April 22.
- Lewis dances in Bedlam In Paradise to music by Jerry Feldman (“Blues”) and Mischa Bakaleinikoff (“New End of Blues”).
- A gag in the film’s script called for a fountain pen to be thrown into the middle of Larry’s forehead. The pen was to be thrown on a wire and into a small hole in a tin plate fastened to Larry’s head. However, due to a miscalculation on the part of the special effects department, the sharp pen point punctured Larry’s skin, leaving a gash on his forehead. Moe later chased director Jules White around the set because White had promised that the gag would be harmless.
Production Notes
- Bedlam in Paradise is a remake of Heavenly Daze, using ample stock footage.
- The new footage was filmed on July 9, 1954.
- Coincidentally, as the musical Carousel was a hit on Broadway at the time of the making of Heavenly Daze, the film version of Carousel was in production when Bedlam in Paradise was made.