Official Synopsis:
Get ready for more outrageous antics as The Three Stooges return in this second collection of chronological masterpieces. These 24 shorts, filmed from 1937-1939, are digitally remastered for the highest quality - every sight, gag and knuckle-cracking sound can be seen and heard with the utmost clarity for maximum effect. This period is considered to be when Larry, Moe and Curly hit their stride and perfected their craft, when all the elements came together perfectly: the writing, directing, pacing and performances. It's no wonder The Stooges made some of their best films during this period, proving laughter really is the best medicine in such classics as Dizzy Doctors, Saved By The Belle and Calling All Curs. And audiences agreed - at least most of them did. By now The Stooges were wildly popular and their personal appearances were mobbed, but there were some who thought they were too violent and who overanalyzed their eye-poking, pie-throwing behavior.

1937
- Grips, Grunts and Groans
- Dizzy Doctors
- Three Dumb Clucks
- Back to the Woods
- Goofs and Saddles
- Cash and Carry
- Playing the Ponies
- The Sitter-Downers

1938
- Termites of 1938
- Wee Wee Monsieur
- Tassels in the Air
- Healthy, Wealthy and Dumb
- Violent is the Word for Curly
- Three Missing Links
- Mutts to You
- Flat Foot Stooges

1939
- Three Little Sew and Sews
- We Want Our Mummy
- A Ducking They Did Go
- Yes, We Have No Bonanza
- Saved By The Belle
- Calling All Curs
- Oily to Bed, Oily to Rise
- Three Sappy People
  
Our Take:
The Three Stooges Collection, Volume 2: 1937-1939 is an excellent follow-up to Volume One of the collection and gives fans what they have been clamoring for since the dawn of DVD: Three Stooges shorts in chronological order.   Sony has remastered these films in high definition and the result is simply stunning.  The Three Stooges have never looked better.  As far as the content of the release, what you get with The Stooges should be no surprise: tons of slapstick, which at this point in their career they had found as their niche as live action Looney Tunes.  Although, for as much as I enjoy watching Three Stooges, their physical comedy routines tend to run together in my mind.  While I am sure that devoted fans (and I know there are tons) will eat up these 24 shorts in one long 415 minutes marathon, The Three Stooges Collection, Volume 2: 1937-1939 will easily last me until Volume 3 is released in late August 2008 as I savor these shorts as one does a small after dinner drink.        

There are no special features in the collection, but the visual presentation and 415 minutes of pure Three Stooges fun more than makes up for this fact.  If fans were wondering if Sony could top their Volume One release, well, they did!

RECOMMENDED!  

Overall Picture:
Movie:  B+
DVD:    B

- Matthew Orlando
Staff Writer