JohnHowardReid Curly Howard (Curly), Moe Howard (Moe), Larry Fine (Larry), Stanley Blystone (Sergeant MacGillicuddy), Vernon Dent (portly diner), Harry Semels (Captain Burke), John Kascier (soldier), Eddie Laughton, Lew Davis, Bert Young, Heinie Conklin, Lynton Brent.Director: JACK WHITE. Screenplay: Clyde Bruckman. Photography: Benjamin Kline. Film editor: Charles Hochberg. Producer: Jules White. Copyright 27 April 1936 by Columbia Pictures of California. U.S. release: 30 April 1936. 2 reels. 19 minutes.COMMENT: This extremely dark comedy ranks as a most unusual entry from the Stooges. For once, the violence seems real, not play- acting. The sergeant here is not just your typical gruff disciplinarian, he is a really sadistic, cot case; while the Stooges are not well-meaning, likable bunglers, they have been brutalized into becoming uncaring killers. "I hope that shot didn't hit the pool room," Moe casually remarks after accidentally firing off a cannon into the army camp.Also, most untypically, the movie makes a political statement. These three men, like tens of thousands of other veterans, have been literally left to starve by both an uncaring government and hostile fellow citizens. Earlier, our "heroes" clearly identify themselves as Jewish which, although totally accurate, is to say the least, quite extraordinary."Half Shot Shooters" is certainly a product of its time. The movie's implications did not escape the Australian censor who not only removed the ending completely but made at least three or four significant cuts that reduced the running time to less than 16 minutes.

Stebaer4 Yes this is The worst Three stooges movie serial that was ever made.It's depressing both for how because they're poor and hungry they do accidentally rejoin the Army after 17 years as another reviewer pointed out and because they as you'll see why they do so as well as because they end up with the same horrible Superior Soldier in charge of them again.Without giving too much away this ends just as sadly as it starts off,stays this way in the middle,and ends this way too.Any time I see the title of the feature when it's on with the other Three Stooges Features on my Local Station of mytv-38(as it's currently addressed and as it's always been whether as TV-38 or UPN- 38 was always the #1 watching Stooge station in all of the Nation.)I just turn off the TV for 20 minutes and do something else.(10/12/2015)Now just to add to this today and since 2 months ago my Mom,Mary and I were watching this and the other 3 Stooges Features on mytv-38.The only funny used over dialogue is when Larry said "You know I've been thinking" Then Moe said to him "Every time you think you weaken the Nation."But I wasn't going to turn it off while she was watching it but this still doesn't change my opinions as to how it's depressing all the way through and is still the worst one.In a Latter Feature it's Shemp who said What Larry said above and then Moe said that same ending quote.Truthfully,Stephen "Steve" G. Baer a.k.a. "Ste" of Framingham,Ma USA

Michael_Elliott Half Shot Shooters (1936) ** 1/2 (out of 4) Seventeen years after the end of WW1, the Three stooges find themselves poor and hungry so they accidentally sign up for the Army to cause more trouble. There are a few gags here that work but most of them miss. One of the best gags has Curley pulling his shoe up and another has the three firing off a canon, which hits their Admirel's boat.Now available on Columbia's 2-disc set, which features over 20 shorts, all digitally remastered and looking better than since they were originally released.

crusefamily Actually, when deciding which short is the worst, you have to choose between HALF-SHOT SHOOTERS and THREE PESTS IN A MESS. It's not fair to see the stooges get killed by a cannon at the end of the film. Not one bit of this short is funny. Don't waste your time.Grade: F--