Strong and Moving!

The acting in this movie is really good.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

"Back from the Front" is an American black-and-white short film from almost 75 years ago. It features the Stooges in the formation that most consider their best: Moe, Curly and Larry. This one came out in 1943 and if you know a bit about history, you will know that World War II was in full gear at the time and as a consequence the Stooges make mostly fun of German politic(ian)s from start to finish. The film runs for slightly under 20 minutes as they usually do. Unfortunately, I cannot agree with people who think this is among the most popular and best the comedy trio had to offer. A couple German words cannot really make up for the lack of convincing slapstick humor in here and I don't think this is anywhere near the best what the Stooges have to offer. I would even say that this one is the best watch for historians and not for comedy fans as it is an interesting combination of film and politics and you could certainly call it a propaganda movie. But it's not a particularly witty or funny one. Thumbs down.

Back from the Front (1943) *** (out of 4) Moe, Larry and Curly are on an American ship when they are struck by a torpedo. They end up in the waters but spot a ship far ahead. Once on the ship they realize it's a German one so they must try and destroy everyone on it.As was the case with many of the Stooges shorts during this period, making fun of Hitler and Germany runs throughout. There are some pretty funny moments throughout this short with several highlights including Moe once again playing Hitler who sneezes at the wrong time. Another funny gag deals with a large gun and some beans. With that said, the best moment comes when Moe and Larry are taking turns knocking out bad guys and carrying them away until Larry gets the wrong one. If you're a fan of the boys this here is certainly a good one.

"Back from the Front" is my favorite Nazi-themed Three Stooges short. Moe, Larry, and Curly serve their country on the S.S. Dotty until it is torpedoed; they end up as stowaways on the S.S. Schickelgruber! The most fun part of this short is watching the boys, disguised as Nazi sailors, using their quick wits to wipe out every crew member on the Nazi ship. Adding to the fun is Moe's great Hitler impersonation, complete with stereotypical German double-talk, before the threesome literally overthrows the ship's commanding officers.And please, let us not overlook the talents of a few supporting actors who portray Nazi sailors in this film. Stanley Blystone as the captain and Vernon Dent as Lt. Dungen are perfect foils for the Stooges. And Bud Jamison as the petty officer is probably the best dialect actor the Stooges ever worked with ("Mutts to You" [1938], "Termites of 1938" [1938], and "Whoops, I'm an Indian!" [1936] are other Stooge shorts that showcase Jamison's capability with accents).

I find most of the Three Stooges shorts very funny and this one is no exception. It starts a little boring but the final parts make up for that. Moe's Hitler imitation is great. The way Moe, Larry and Curly can repeat the same joke and still keep it funny is great. Another funny Three Stooges movie.