"Cuckoo on a Choo Choo" is the 143rd short film released by Columbia Pictures starring The Three Stooges, released on December 4th 1952
Larry and Shemp are hiding out in a stolen railroad car called "Schmow." Larry, playing a very different Marlon Brando-esque character rather than his usual on-screen persona, wants to marry his girlfriend Lenore (Patricia Wright), but she refuses to consent until Shemp marries her sister Roberta (Victoria Horne). Lenore wants to honor her family's tradition of the oldest daughter marrying first, and Shemp is very wealthy. The problem is that Shemp is rarely sober, and madly in love with an imaginary giant canary named Carrie who he only sees in his drunken hallucinations.
A private investigator from the railroad (Moe) finds the missing train, and is trying to get a sense of how the car was stolen from a moving train. As fate would have it, Moe had a previous relationship with Roberta, and has not seen her for years. He is ecstatic to find her after many years of disconnect, and tries his best to rekindle the long dormant love affair. Larry tries to pit Moe and Shemp against each other over Roberta, but Shemp still prefers Carrie. Moe then decides to abandon his responsibilities and stay with the group, trying to marry Roberta.
Fans and critics alike tend to regard it as the worst Stooge short, but some, such as Larry Fine himself who viewed it as one of his favorites, appreciate its unique set-up.
Tropes:
- Cloudcuckoolander: Shemp, perhaps even more than usual.
- Gargle Blaster: Shemp's favorite drink (which has such an intoxicating effect it may well be laced with LSD or something).
- Grievous Bottley Harm: Moe accidentally smashes a bottle over Shemp's head trying to get a skunk that had jumped on top of it.
- Imaginary Friend: Carrie the canary
- Literal-Minded: Larry tells Moe that if he wants a chance with Roberta he'd better "play ball" with him. Moe takes a ball out of his pocket and they toss it back and forth.
- Love Triangle: Albeit with one of the parties (Shemp) not being interested in it.
- Later on though Shemp suddenly becomes enamored with both Roberta and Lenore after an electric razor falls down the back of his shirt, kissing them both, and they then fight over him until he drinks again and sees his true love, the canary. And yes, it makes just as much sense in context.
- Pink Elephants: Shemp's alcoholic hallucinations.
- Smelly Skunk: A skunk wanders into the train car, making the stooges think their Limburger cheese sandwiches are stinky.
