The Three Stooges In Orbit was the fourth feature film to star the Three Stooges after their 1959 resurgence in popularity. By this time, the trio consisted of Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Curly Joe DeRita. Released by Columbia Pictures, The Three Stooges In Orbit was directed by long-time Stooge director Edward Bernds. Over the years, Moe would cite Bernds as the team's finest director.

Plot

The Stooges are down and out actors who are trying to sell ideas for their animated TV show The Three Stooges Scrapbook. Unfortunately, their producer does not like any of them. He gives them ten days to come up with a gimmick, or their show will be cancelled.

A Professor Danforth (Emil Sitka), who is convinced that the Martians will soon invade Earth, persuades the boys to help him with his new military invention—a land, air and sea capable vehicle (tank cum helicopter cum submarine). In return, Danforth will create a new "electronic animation" machine for the Stooges to use in their TV show.

The Martians, meanwhile send two malevolent alien spies named Ogg and Zogg to Earth to prepare for the invasion. When Moe accidentally sends a television transmission through the Martian's communication device, they are offended and call off the invasion, opting instead to destroy Earth.

Meanwhile, the vehicle is given a test run by the Stooges. In one scene, they enter a nuclear test area, and it so happens that the engine malfunctions. They are in the vicinity of a test rig where a nuclear depth bomb is undergoing a test. The Stooges grab the bomb, thinking it is a carburetor, and fasten it to the engine. Water comes out of the rig, which would have detonated the bomb, and splashes onto Curley. The testers were bewildered by the non-explosion, but the vehicle performs beyond exceptions, even going into space.

However, the Martians steal the vehicle, mount a ray gun on it, and begin destroying selected targets (including Disneyland). The boys sneak onto the craft to stop them, with also the whole US Navy and Air Force determined to stop them with force as well. The Stooges are able to use one of the Martians' ray guns to separate the conning tower from the body of the vehicle. The body, with Ogg and Zogg in it, goes down, and they are killed in the nuclear explosion that followed as the charge detonates when it hits the ocean. Clinging to the auto-rotating helicopter section, the Stooges survive, crashing straight through the roof into the television studio where they work.

Notes

• The Three Stooges In Orbit was featured in the 2004 documentary The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made.
• Much of the footage in this film was reused from a 1960 Three Stooges television pilot The Three Stooges Scrapbook
• Many of the props had previously been used in the film Forbidden Planet.
• The heads of all the Martians partially resembled the Boris Karloff version of the Frankenstein Monster.

Primary Cast

• Moe Howard: Moe
• Larry Fine: Larry
• Joe DeRita: Curly-Joe
• Emil Sitka: Professor Danforth
• Carol Christensen: Carol Danforth
• Edson Stroll: Captain Tom Andrews
• George N. Neise: Ogg/Airline Pilot
• Rayford Barnes: Zogg/Airline Co-Pilot
• Norman Leavitt: Williams, the Butler
• Nestor Paiva: Chairman
• Don Lamond: Colonel Smithers
• Peter Dawson: General Bixby
• Peter Brocco: Doctor Appleby

Further reading

• Moe Howard and the Three Stooges; by Moe Howard , (Citadel Press, 1977).
• The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion; by Jon Solomon , (Comedy III Productions, Inc., 2002).
• The Three Stooges Scrapbook; by Jeff Lenburg, Joan Howard Maurer, Greg Lenburg (Citadel Press, 1994).
• The Three Stooges: An Illustrated History, From Amalgamated Morons to American Icons; by Michael Fleming (Broadway Publishing, 2002).
• One Fine Stooge: A Frizzy Life in Pictures; by Steve Cox and Jim Terry , (Cumberland House Publishing, 2006).