Three Stooges: Extreme Rarities is for the true weirdos

Is it worth your time?

If you grew up watching these guys on a grainy UHF channel, yes. Absolutely. If you are just curious about comedy history, you might find the Extreme Rarities title a bit oversold.

It’s not a film in the traditional sense. It’s more like an attic being cleared out by someone who loves slapstick a little too much.

The Color Issue

They’ve gone and colorized some of this stuff. It looks… strange. Not bad, just like a fever dream where everyone is wearing slightly-too-saturated suits. There’s a specific shade of blue on Moe’s tie in one segment that honestly distracted me for five full minutes. It’s weird seeing Shemp in technicolor when you’re used to the stark, punchy black-and-white of a classic like Tire Trouble.

The restoration is technically impressive, though. You can actually see the dust flying off their jackets when they get hit.

The Steve Allen Stuff

The segments from the Steve Allen Show are the highlight here. Seeing them in a live, talk-show setting feels way more dangerous than their scripted shorts. The timing is off. The energy is frantic. It’s like watching a cage match where nobody told the participants that the cage wasn't actually locked.

There’s a moment where Larry looks genuinely confused by a prop, and for a second, the mask slips. It’s the kind of human, imperfect beat you just don't get in their polished studio work.

Why it feels like a fever dream

The pacing is all over the place. One minute you’re watching a silent, rare clip, and the next you’re dropped into a disjointed interview that feels like it was recorded on a dying tape deck. It reminded me of the erratic energy in Broma pesada, where you’re just waiting for the next bit of chaos to start.

It’s not trying to be Vampyr, that’s for sure. It’s just three guys trying to keep the bit alive for a new medium.

• The sound quality on the old interviews is rough. Bring your headphones if you want to hear the jokes.
• Some of the colorization choices are bafflingly bright.
• The transitions are non-existent. It just jumps.
• I still can't tell if Shemp is the secret genius or just the loudest one in the room.

It’s messy. It’s loud. It’s definitely not for everyone. But for the people who still find the eye-poke gag funny after the thousandth time, it’s a goldmine. Just don't expect a narrative flow, because there isn't one. 🤡