Pardon My Backfire

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.

Pardon My Backfire
Directed by	Jules White
Written by	Felix Adler
Produced by	Jules White
Starring	Moe Howard Larry Fine Shemp Howard Benny Rubin Frank Sully Phil Arnold Fred Kelsey Barbara Bartay Diana Darrin Angela Stevens Ruth Godfrey Blackie Whiteford Leonard Kening Jules White
Cinematography	Henry Freulich
Edited by	Edwin H. Bryant
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date	August 15, 1953 (1953-08-15) (U.S.)
Running time	15:52
Country	United States
Language	English

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^[1] 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 capturing 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 being completed in a single day.^[2]

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.^[1]