Walter Catlett (1934-1940)
Walter Catlett worked for a variety of studios throughout the 1930's and 40's, appearing in countless features and short-subjects.
In 1934, Columbia signed Catlett to a series, which he would appear in until 1940, mainly as work in between feature film assignments. Some shorts have a few years gap between them, to which the end result was only 6 two-reelers for the department.
The Catlett series gets the credit for introducing many of those zany sound effects associated with the Columbia shorts, which are easily recognized in the comedies of The 3 Stooges.
The Catlett shorts were syndicated by Screen Gems Television in 1959.
ELMER STEPS OUT (2/28/1934)
Status-Unavailable. Print exists in private collection.
Director-Jules White
Producer-Jules White
Cast
Anita Garvin
Arthur Housman
Greta Meyer
Gloria Warner
Betty Grable
James P. Burtis
Marion Lord
Jack Hill
Bert Young
Robert "Bobby" Burns
To avoid getting a speeding ticket Walter poses as an expectant father rushing to see his wife; when the cop follows him, he's forced to come up with a wife and child.
The working title was PLAYFUL HUSBANDS
Remade with Alan Mowbray as THREE BLONDE MICE (1942)
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GET ALONG LITTLE HUBBY (6/15/1934)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Production Number 114
Director-Raymond McCarey
Producer-Jules White
Story and Screenplay-Jack Cluett
Photography-Henry Fruelich
Editor-Robert Carlisle
Cast
Vivien Oakland
Monte Collins
Billy Gilbert
Charles "Heine" Conkin
Harrison Greene
Al Thompson
Leo White
When Walter's wife receives a telegram notifying her that she's inherited $50,000, Walter quits his job and assumes he can now take a life easy, but his wife makes him do all the housework.
Many of the sound effects that are heard in the Columbia shorts, especially those now associated with the comedies of The Three Stooges, were first introduced in this short
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FIBBING FIBBERS (10/19/1936)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Production Number 4070
Director-Preston Black
Producer-Jules White
Story-Charles Webb
Screenplay-Richard Smith and Darrell Ware
Photography-Benjamin Kline
Editors-Charles Hochberg and William Lyons
Music-Louis Silvers
Cast
Clarence Muse
Billie Bellport
Bud Jamison
William Gould
Walter pretends to have been in an auto accident in order to get out of two conflicting engagements.
Remade with Vera Vague as CALLING ALL FIBBERS (1945)
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STATIC IN THE ATTIC (9/22/1939)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Production Number 453
Director-Charley Chase
Producers-Hugh McCollum and Charley Chase
Story and Screenplay-Searle Kramer and Elwood Ullman
Photography-George Meehan
Editor-Art Seid
Cast
Ann Doran
Charles Williams
Tommy Bond
Eddie Laughton
Bud Jamison
Beatrice Blinn
Ben Taggart
Mrs. Catlett is planning a surprise birthday dinner for Walter, who, while on the way home,demonstrates his hatred of radios in various mishap ways. Walter's boss and his wife are among the party guests, at which Walter receives a short-wave radio set as a present, but his boss has to leave early to take a sailing trip on his new boat, but not before Walter's obnoxious brother-in-law Chester sells him an insurance policy on the boat against Walter's wishes. Later, Walter becomes intrigued with the radio set, especially when he thinks he picks up Australia but it is only Chester playing a joke. But Walter does pick up a distress call from his boss's boat, and manages to summon help.
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YOU'RE NEXT! (5/30/1940)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Production Number 471
Director-Del Lord
Producers-Hugh McCollum and Del Lord
Story-John Grey
Screenplay-Elwood Ullman and Harry Edwards
Photography-George Meehan
Editor-Art Seid
Cast
Monty Collins
Dudley Dickerson
Roscoe Ates
John T. Murray
Chester Conklin
Monty and Walter, as Pruitt and Slocum of the Eagle Eye Detective Agency, go to the aid of a millionaire who has been abducted by a mad scientist.
Partially reworked with Schilling and Lane as PARDON MY TERROR (1946), and with the Three Stooges (Moe, Larry and Shemp) as WHO DONE IT? (1949) and FOR CRIMIN' OUT LOUD (1956)
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BLONDES AND BLUNDERS (11/29/1940)
Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.
Director-Del Lord
Cast
Ann Doran
Marion Martin
Matt McHugh
Richard Fiske
Bud Jamison
Vernon Dent
Eddie Laughton
Stanley Brown
John Tyrrell
A beautiful blonde plants a stolen diamond necklace on an unsuspecting Walter.
Remade with Hugh Herbert as A PINCH IN TIME (1948).