The Three Stooges Collection – Volume Two: 1937 -
1939 (Sony DVD)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: D Shorts: B-
It is
hard to believe, especially for fans, that anyone could talk about The Three
Stooges as art that needs to be preserved and presented correctly, but after
dozens of home video releases, that is a valid idea. When you eliminate low-budget releases from
other companies and the way Sony has issued some single DVDs with alternate
colorized versions of each short, the classic trio is not being treated with
the regard they deserve.
The Three Stooges Collection –
Volume Two: 1937 - 1939 shows fine black and white copies (at their original 1.33 X 1 ratio)
of 24 classic shorts that have aged surprisingly well. Is it because the world has become cruder,
more open and or that the world is finally catching up with their comedy? Maybe all of the above, but along with the
shorter, previous release, this is the only way to own their shorts outside of
a film print and until Blu-ray arrives.
The
sticker calls this “Fan Requested” but any top rate treatment of these Comedy
genre classics goes beyond that. It is
the only way to really see them, Stooges and films, without bells, whistles and
once the sense of cheapness is noticeably gone from this set versus previous
releases, you see their genius in a whole new way.
The Dolby
Digital 2.0 Mono is as good as the picture can be for its age, pretty clean and
clear for the time, with credit for then-smaller studio Columbia doing what
they can to make these look and sound top rate.
There are no extras, but for the playback performance, it just might be
worth the sacrifice. I just hope when
Sony finished issuing the shorts like this, they might be able to release the
animated 1960s TV series if they have it.
- Nicholas Sheffo
