THREE-SHEET POSTER
It is fairly well known among Stooges fans that Snow White and the Three Stooges was not well received when it was originally released in theatres. However...
FAB FIVE
It immediately found new fans (including this author) after numerous broadcasts nationally in the late 1970's (KTLA in Los Angeles) and in the early 1980's (TBS/WTBS in Atlanta). It would be aired during any given Holiday in which a local TV station decided to broadcast it. In my neighborhood, it was almost always telecast on KTLA Channel 5's "Family Film Festival" program. Along with the "FFF" original host Tom Hatten, the film's star Carol Heiss also appeared as a 'guest host' during a telecast in late 1978 or 1979. I saw that broadcast as a youngster. Heiss stayed and talked with Hatten throughout the length of the film in 2-3 minute segments after each station break.
A popular theory about the film's theatrical failure was that the Stooges had been toned down and their brand of slapstick was almost nowhere to be found...so as to focus more on the fairytale story of Snow White. However, even as some viewers were disappointed in the result, others were charmed with the fairytale it was meant to be.
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There is a brief pie-throwing scene in the film, where the boys infiltrate the Wicked Queen's castle and take over the palace kitchen to rescue Prince Charming (much like the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion infiltrating the Wicked Witch's castle in The Wizard of Oz to rescue Dorothy). A small pie scene erupts to keep the palace cook from realizing who they are, but he does, and they pie him to block his vision and keep him from making mincemeat out of them.
PIE SCENE FROM FILM
In one of the TV trailers from 1961, this scene went on for a little longer. It shows Curly Joe getting pied in the face by Larry. This part ended up on the cutting room floor, never making it into the final film, yet it did remain in the trailer...
TV TRAILER SCREEN CAPTURE: CURLY JOE PIED
The trailer...
During the film's promotional blitz, another TV ad appeared which showed the 'Stooges Three' on set talking about their appearance in the film. It too included scenes and alternate shots that were not used in the final movie.
TV PROMO SCREEN CAPTURE: STOOGES INTRODUCE TRAILER
The alternate trailer introduced by the Stooges...
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Up until the late 1990s/early 2000s, actress Patricia Medina (Wicked Queen/Witch) was still signing autographs at movie and TV collectible shows. She passed away just recently on April 28, 2012 at age 92. Although she appears countless times throughout the film, she never once shared the same frame with the Stooges (though production photos exist that show otherwise). According to production memos housed at the Margaret Herrick Library at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Medina's climactic broomstick scene with the Stooges was shot alone on blue screen.
Edson Stroll (Prince Charming) passed away July 18, 2011, leaving Carol Heiss as the sole remaining major cast member still living. Michael David who played the smaller role of Rolf, Snow White's loyal palace guard, is also still with us.
THE PRINCE (EDSON STROLL) RALLIES THE CROWD AS ROLF (MICHAEL DAVID) LOOKS ON.
Article written by guest contributor Kurt Raymond.
