Laurence Coy Movies
- 2000
The comedy team that made the phrase "nyuk nyuk nyuk" part of the American vocabulary gets the full biographical treatment in this made-for-TV feature. The Three Stooges opens in 1959, as a TV executive tries to persuade Moe Howard (Paul Ben-Victor) to reunite with his former onscreen partners to publicize the television premiere of a package of Three Stooges classic comedy shorts. Howard then flashes back on his long and remarkable career, as vaudeville star Ted Healy (Marton Csokas) assembles Moe Howard, sibling Shemp Howard (John Kassir), and Larry Fine (Evan Handler) as "stooges" for his stage act. As Moe, Shemp, and Larry gain popularity, a jealous Healy forces them to strike out on their own, but after many grueling years on the road, Columbia Pictures head Harry Cohn (Linal Haft) offers them a chance to star in their own series of two-reel comedies. But Shemp, always stage-shy, backs out of the group, and his brother Jerome (Michael Chiklis) -- aka "Curly" -- takes over, and the Three Stooges become a sensation. However, success proves to be a bumpy road for the group, as a bad deal with Columbia prevents them from reaping the full benefits of their success, and a serious illness forces Curly to quit, bringing Shemp back into the act. Mel Gibson was an executive producer for this biopic, which first aired on ABC on April 24, 2000. Incidentally, this wasn't Michael Chiklis' first time playing an icon of American comedy; he portrayed John Belushi in the 1989 drama Wired. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Ben-Victor, Rachael Blake, (more)
The talented teenage son of outback farmers, Ralph dreams of becoming an American country music star. When his supportive, hard working parents hand him tickets to Nashville, he is elated and eager to embark upon the highway to stardom, but before he can, the callow Ralph must learn a few life lessons on the road to Sydney. Paying tribute to country music, this sprightly comedy follows the his adventures after he is picked up by charming crook Boyd and his moll, a stunning red head who can sing as well as her namesake Patsy Cline. Ralph's education begins after the police stop Boyd, who is carrying illegal drugs and driving a stolen Jaguar. During the struggle, Patsy escapes and Ralph ends up accused of possessing the drugs and stealing the car. Both he and Boyd end up in a local hoosegow. While in jail, Ralph is befriend by the three musically inclined Brothers Grimm. A young cop also becomes a fan of Ralph's and plays a key role in the young man's musical career in Tennessee's Music City. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Roxburgh, Miranda Otto, (more)
