The Three Stooges Meet Hercules

by Elwood Ullman, directed by Edward Bernds

Release: 26 January 1962
Format: Feature Film
Genre: Comedy
Audience: Adults
Content: Definite Time Travel
Original Language: English

Before George Pal’s version of The Time Machine hit the silver screen, actual time machines were a rarity in film. But afterwards, even Moe, Larry, and Curly could throw one together in an afternoon to take them, their pal Schuyler, and their Lady friend Diane back to ancient Greece where, among other things, they restore Ulysses to the crown, kill a pair of conjoined Cyclopes, impersonate Hercules, and attract the wrath of the real Hercules.

Side note: The trio of stooges are also the first time travelers we’ve seen in film who fret over changing the course of history. Who woulda thunk?

— Michael Main

We helped the wrong army. We put a skunk on the throne of Ithaca.

DEBUT

The Three Stooges Meet Hercules (premiered at an unknown movie theater, New York City, 26 January 1962).

VARIANTS

1 English variant

TAGS(SPOILERS!)

Time Periods

Time Travel Methods

Wellsian Time Machines

Themes

Never Change the Past!
Time Montages: While traveling back and returning from ancient Greece.

Real-World Tags

Fictional Tags

TIME TRAVEL ITINERARY (SPOILERS!)

From Dismal’s Drug Store in Ithaca, NY, circa 1962 ⋙ to Ithaca in ancient Greece, circa 800 BC.
From ancient Greece, circa 800 BC ⋙ to the Crusades, middle ages. Note: briefly.
From the Crusades, middle ages ⋙ to Battle of Trafalgar, 21 October 1805. Note: briefly.
From Battle of Trafalgar, 21 October 1805 ⋙ to the Old West, 19th century. Note: briefly.
From the Old West, 19th century ⋙ to World War I, 1914. Note: briefly.
From World War I, 1914 ⋙ to World War II, 1940s. Note: briefly.
From Dismal’s Drug Store, circa 1962 ⋙ to unknown place, unknown time. Round trip. Note: the Drug store owner disappears on his own for a while.

INDEXER NOTES (SPOILERS!)

The initial release was in New York City, according to <i>The Three Stooges Scrapbook</i> by Jeff Lenburg, Joan Howard Maurer, and Greg Lenburg, updated edition (2012), p. 103.