Meet the Baron

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Jon C Neglected pure Thirties gem Perhaps this film has been largely forgotten because it's usually marketed as (if you can find it at all) a 3 Stooges film, but in fact The Boyz play only a minor supporting role. The film in fact is a much classier production than the later Stooges features, with a screenplay by Herman J. Mankiewicz, whose other scripting credits include Dinner at Eight and Citizen Kane, and songs by Dorothy Fields, one of the all time great popular songwriters who wrote or co-wrote classics like I Can't Give You Anything But Love, On The Sunny Side of the Street, and The Way You Look Tonight. The ostensible lead is Jack Pearl, reprising his radio-show characterization of the folk hero Baron Munchausen -- the show made a national catch-phrase of Pearl's trademark query, "Vas you dere, Sharley?" which is of course worked into the movie. But the show is totally stolen by a startlingly young Jimmy Durante, whose speech is one long rapid-fire stream of malapropisms, and who in one great scene is asleep snoring: "Hot cha-a-a-ah! Hot-cha-a-a-ah!" The plot is too silly and irrelevant to need summarizing, having something to do with the real Baron deserting Pearl and Durante in the wilds of Africa, after which Pearl travels to America where he gains fame and fortune by impersonating the Baron, which results in an invitation to lecture at the all-female Cuddle College, a venue which provides the opportunity for several girls' dormitory bevy-of-beauties musical numbers a la Busby Berkeley. Edna May Oliver, veteran of a million character roles, is the no-nonsense Dean. The script is almost composed of a series of outrageously and deliberately bad jokes slapstick, sometimes veering into the surreal, reminiscent of the Marx Brothers' antics in Duck Soup. All in all, a delightful, outrageous 1930s confection which deserves to be better known. Available in a region 1 DVD from Warners Home Video in an adequate but not great print/transfer. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/07/16 Full Review Audience Member look for an early appearence by the 3 stooges Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Audience Member Silly but engaging, the great comic cast and pre-Hays Code naughtiness gives this one an "A" for effort. The Stooges are in a supporting role, but no fans of their should miss them playing plumbers trying in a female dormitory shower...with the while the students are still in it. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Pretty dumb B-picture with The 3 Stooges, Jimmy Durante, and a slew of old-timey film comedians. But you could do worse with an hour of moviewatching. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Audience Member This is the best of the pre-Columbia Three Stooges films. It's so well-done, Ted Healy is <i>almost</i> likable. However, the Three Stooges are not the stars. I found Jack Pearl to be quite amusing in his role as Baron Munchhausen. There's also an unforgettable musical number featuring bathing beauties actually bathing. Recommended for all camp fans, and I don't mean band camp or Summer camp either. I love this film! Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review Audience Member The 3 Stooges aren't the stars in this movie and are very rarely on screen but even so Meet the Baron is an enjoyable 30s comedy. The plot is nothing special, two bumbleheads lost in the jungle with a Baron are rescued by the Barons soldiers (while the Baron had left the two too die) One pretends to be the Baron and havoc ensues. Really a pleasing family show that even after all these years bring a chuckle and a smile to your face. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Meet the Baron

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