Classic Shorts From the Dream Factory: Volume 3 (DVD), Warner Archives, Music & Performance

On their way from the boards of vaudeville to becoming bona fide comedy legends, the men who would be Stooges did a spell as second bananas for Ted Healy on the soundstages of MGM. Along the way they had to sub one sibling for another, with younger brother Jerry (Curly) coming in to replace brother Shemp, who was on his way to a successful solo career in Vitaphone movies comedies. Ted Healy may have been the nominal headliner, but it's Howard, Fine and Howard's comedic antics that captivate across these frothy MGM musical comedy shorts that combine slapstick and show-stoppers, and even some snazzy two-strip Technicolor.