Pardon My Backfire is a 1953 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Shemp Howard). It is the 149th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.
Plot
The Stooges are auto mechanics who need money in order to marry their sweethearts. While working in their auto garage, some escaped convicts pull in with a damaged fender. While the trio are working on the vehicle, they hear a news flash over the radio about some escaped convicts. They put the pieces together and realize that the baddies are right in their garage. The boys capture the crooks, collect the reward, and marry their sweethearts.
Cast
Credited
Moe Howard as Moe
Larry Fine as Larry
Shemp Howard as Shemp
Benny Rubin as Charles
Frank Sully as Algernon
Phil Arnold as Shiv
Uncredited
Fred Kelsey as Father
Barbara Bartay as Gun moll
Diana Darrin as Bettie
Angela Stevens as Hettie
Ruth Godfrey as Nettie
Blackie Whiteford as first Policeman
Leonard Kening as second Policeman
Jules White as Radio announcer
Production notes
Pardon My Backfire was the second and last short made by Columbia with the Stooges in 3D, the previous being Spooks! (released June 15). Pardon My Backfire premiered on August 15, 1953 with the 3D Columbia western The Stranger Wore a Gun starring Randolph Scott and featuring Lee Marvin and Ernest Borgnine.
Like its predecessor, Pardon My Backfire took five full days to complete filming due to the complexity of shots and angles required for 3D viewing. New Stooge films produced at the time generally took no more than three days to complete, with remakes usually being completed in a single day.
This is the third and final Stooge short with the words "pardon my" in the title.
This was also the last Stooge short featuring longtime supporting actor Fred Kelsey.
During the dinner scene, the song heard on the record is Oh! Susanna.