Cult TV (A Viewer's Guide to the Shows America Can't Live Without)
3 OF A KIND (1944)
Film Pick of the Day
Saturday, March 14, 2026
High-wire acrobat Paul Collins, and his specialty act stooges Billy Gilbert and Shemp Howard, are headlining at a local vaudeville theater. When Collins' new wife leaves him, Paul's grief causes him to fall to his death during a trapeze performance. That leaves "uncles" Billy and Shemp to care for Paul's young son Jimmy (by his first wife). Without an act, the boys bounce from one job to another trying to raise money for rent and caring for Jimmy. Trying their luck at a radio quiz show, the comics fail at the money, but wow the audience with laughter. Mistaken for professors at a neighboring studio's science invention broadcast, their harebrained ideas again leave everyone in stitches, and Shemp and Billy pounding the pavement.
They eventually wind up at Maxie Rosenbloom's struggling diner as cooks, and with a little encouragement from a double-talking customer, turn it into a successful dinner club. Meanwhile, Paul's widow Belle (Helen Gilbert) turns up with her shady fiancee, hoping to cash in on the life insurance money due to Jimmy. The two scheme to have the welfare agency declare Billy and Shemp unfit as guardians, and try to convince the boys that Jimmy would be better off with his stepmother.
An unusual film for Shemp Howard, it's odd to see him and Billy Gilbert playing for laughs one moment, and going for sentiment the next as they try to be friends and role models for Jimmy. Although Maxie Rosenbloom costars, he has little to do as part of the trio, and spends most of his screentime with girlfriend Delores (June Lang). Shemp and Billy prove to be an effective comedy team, particularly in the radio station segments.
Produced by Sam Katzman's Banner Productions for Monogram distribution.
Retitled and re-released by Astor Pictures in 1951 as COOKIN' UP TROUBLE.
Details
Average Rating:  [ 6.00/10 ] 2 votes |
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| Featuring | Shemp Howard (Solo) |
|---|---|
| Release Date | Saturday, July 22, 1944 |
| Studio | Monogram |
| Production Type | Feature Film |
| Duration | 67 min. |
