Woman Haters | |
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Directed by | Archie Gottler |
Written by | Jerome S. Gottler |
Produced by | Jules White |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Joseph August |
Edited by | James Sweeney |
Music by | Louis Silvers |
Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 19:18 |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Woman Haters is a 1934 musical short subject directed by Archie Gottler starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Jerry Howard). It is the inaugural entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who would ultimately star in 190 short subjects for the studio between 1934 and 1959. This short is known to be the first program shown on Antenna TV, a channel that was launched on January 1, 2011, by Tribune Broadcasting (later bought by Nexstar Media Group).
The Stooges are staunch members of the Woman Haters Club, dedicated to eschewing romantic entanglements with women. However, their resolve is swiftly tested when Jim succumbs to the charms of Mary and proposes marriage. His comrades, Tom and Jack, initially dissuade him from the union, citing their oath to the club.
Things escalate when Mary's formidable father coerces Jim into marrying her, recounting a tale of familial honor and coercion. Reluctantly, Jim acquiesces to the marriage, leading to tension and confrontation aboard a train journey. Mary, utilizing her feminine allure, endeavors to provoke jealousy in Jim by captivating Tom and Jack with her charms, thereby undermining the Stooges' fidelity to their avowed oath. Through a series of exchanges and musical interludes, Mary's machinations unravel the Stooges' steadfast commitment to celibacy, ultimately revealing Jim's marital status. The climax unfolds as Mary, candidly disclosing her marriage to Jim, inadvertently propels Tom and Jack out of the train window during a chaotic struggle.
The denouement portrays the aging Stooges reuniting at the nearly deserted Woman Haters clubhouse, symbolizing the passage of time and the evolution of their attitudes towards relationships. Jim's desire to rejoin the club serves as a humorous conclusion.