YES, WE HAVE NO BONANZA (1939) -- ThreeStooges.net

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Released May 19, 1939
Featuring Moe, Larry and Curly

Columbia
16.2 min. (Short Subject)

The Stooges are singing waiters who find out their girlfriends' father will be jailed if their debts are not paid off. This makes the boys become prospectors. What they find is buried money stolen by their boss. Their boss discovers his stolen loot and the chase is on.

Costar Suzanne Kaaren was a guest of the 1991 Three Stooges Convention, and costar Lola Jensen was greeted at the 1992 Convention, both events in Philadelphia. See The Three Stooges Journal # 63 (Fall 1992) & # 59 (Fall 1991).

It's often said that Curly ad libbed the closing dialogue gag, "Yes, we have no bonanza." That is not true, completely. That specific line indeed appears in the final draft continuity script dated Nov. 10, 1938 (filming occurred Nov. 28 - Dec. 1). The film's working title from the beginning was YES, WE HAVE NO BONANZAS (plural), changed to BONANZA (singular) for the final title, and essentially "announcing" that final verbal gag provided by screenwriters Searle Kramer and Elwood Ullman. What apparently was ad libbed was Curly's 2nd declaration of "Bonanza!"

Avg. Rating:

[8.98/10]

Cast List

Jerry Howard
Curly

Moe Howard
Moe

Larry Fine
Larry

Suzanne Kaaren
Saloon singer

Jean Carmen
Saloon singer

Lola Jensen
Saloon singer

Victor Travers
Man sitting outside saloon

Stanley Mack
Saloon patron

Chuck Callahan
Saloon patron

Dick Curtis
Jack Maxey

Lynton Brent
Pete

Vernon Dent
Sheriff

Unidentified YES, WE HAVE NO BONANZA 1
2nd man outside saloon

Unidentified YES, WE HAVE NO BONANZA 2
Piano player

Unidentified YES, WE HAVE NO BONANZA 3
Saloon patrons

Production Crew

Jules White
Producer

Del Lord
Director

Elwood Ullman
Story and Screenplay

Searle Kramer
Story and Screenplay

Lucien Ballard
Photography

Charles Nelson
Film Editor

Victor Schertzinger
Music

Stooge Businesses (0)

Stooge Goofs (12)

Ad-Libbing?
When Curly sprays seltzer in Moe's face, the remainder of that scene seems like it was improvised or Curly and Moe forgot their lines: After Moe gets sprayed, he looks at Curly and is about to say something, but then he and Curly pause for a short while, then Moe says "You know what you did? Then after hitting Curly a few times, there's another strange pause and Moe says to Curly (pointing to Larry) "Grab Ëœim! and the scene ends.

Boom Mike in the Shot
When Curly first enters the saloon, you can see the shadow of the boom mike following him in the upper left of the screen.

Changing Glass
When Curly tosses a beer over to Larry, it's in a see-through glass. But after Larry mistakenly spills the beer in Moe's face, the glass is now different.

Disappearing Cigar
When Curly turns to Maxey and asks him for one beer, Maxey has a cigar in his mouth, but it's suddenlygone in the next shot.

Disappearing Match
When Curly throws a rock at Moe's head, Moe is holding a unlit stick of dynamite in one hand and a lit match in the other, but in the next shot, the dynamite stick is already lit and the match is gone.

Hand on/off counter
After Curly says, "I whistle for the dog, and my wife comes out," he puts his hand down on the counter, but it's back off the counter at the beginning of the next shot.

Identifiable stunt double
When the boys are on the cigar store horse being towed by the car during the chase scene and Curly almost slides off the back, as Moe and Larry are pulling him back on the stunt double's rubber Curly 'wig' is pretty wrinkled.

Missing Slap
When Larry asks "What happened? and Moe responds "Nothin', yet!, he extends his arm to slap Larry and before we can see it happen, it suddenly cuts to the explosion.

On-the-Set Fighting? / Late Cue
When the Stooges are dancing together during the "She'll Be Comin' Around the Mountain musical, there's one part where Moe and Curly bump into each other and afterwards, they stare at each other in a way that makes it look like they were angry in real life. Then they're both late on their cue for when all three of the Stooges are supposed to clap their hands on their knees to the music.

Right Back At Ya
When Larry is chopping the firewood you can see the shadow of the piece of wood in the trees in the upper left of the screen as it flies up. Then it appears you can see the shadow of a stage hand's arm as he catches it and throws it back at Larry.

Studio Lights
When Curly gets a pot stuck on his head, we are supposed to believe that the Stooges are outside, but you can see a reflection of studio lights on the pot.

Visible Band-Aid
You can see a band-aid on Curly's left hand throughout this short.

Stooge Mayhem (Avg. 4.50)

Re: YES, WE HAVE NO BONANZA
Posted 2010-04-30 18:54:08 by Shemp_Diesel
Edited 2014-12-24 10:39:42 by Shemp_Diesel

One of the better westerns the boys ever did.

"I whistle for the dog & my wife comes out."

8 pokes

Reviewer's Rating:

(8)

Re: YES, WE HAVE NO BONANZA
Posted 2010-10-20 23:56:23 by Final Shemp

Yes, We Have No Bonanza seems like a short that should be one of their best, what with the promising idea of the boys' gold digging in focus, but ultimately fails to rise above average. The plot barely exists, and just seems to be there to put a pickax in Moe's hands. Moe makes decent use out of it, but nothing spectacular results.There are good gags sprinkled here and there, Curly's touchdown passes with beer glasses being a standout, but the short seems to be running on fumes for inspiration. Even a hilarious concept such as a donkey supposedly eating dynamite turns into a long, dry sequence where I couldn't help but feel I should have been laughing harder than I was.As far as treasure hunting goes, Three Stooges fans are better off seeking out Cash and Carry, which features more bang for your buck. Yes, We Have No Bonanza seems like fool's gold by comparison.Final Shemp's Final Word: 2 1/2 Pokes

Reviewer's Rating:

(6)

Re: YES, WE HAVE NO BONANZA
Posted 2009-03-02 21:17:28 by Hassan bin Sober

Great episode! The action is fast and furious throughout. Lots of great gags, from the beer-throwing in the saloon, to the 'Alas, poor Yorick' line from Hamlet. Dynamite, car chases, lovely love-interests and Stooges quoting Hamlet. . .what more could one want in one episode?

Reviewer's Rating:

(9)

Re: YES, WE HAVE NO BONANZA
Posted 2003-07-18 14:21:00 by tburnell

Love this one. Here's a goof to be posted. When Larry calls to Curly, who is behind the bar, to "draw one," Curly throws him a beer that appears to be see-through glass. After Larry accidentally tosses the beer in Moe's face, Moe takes the beer glass, which you can clearly see is made from a different non see-through material. Moe then hits Larry in the head, breaking the glass, after of course making one of his all too famous "oh it's ok" cracks.

Reviewer's Rating:

(10)

Re: YES, WE HAVE NO BONANZA
Posted 2002-06-18 03:49:00 by black banana

Very good short that features Moe at his cranky best and Curly as the highly animated star. Personal favorite moments include the mule with the dynamite and the mixing of the non-alcoholic "Western Surprise" drink. Curly hits Moe on top of the head with a rock from about 15 feet...amazing!The title of this short supposedly came from an ad-lib by Curly at the end. Ranks with HORSES COLLARS, CACTUS MAKES PERFECT and OUT WEST as the best Stooge western.

Reviewer's Rating:

(9)

Re: YES, WE HAVE NO BONANZA
Posted 2001-04-08 00:00:00 by [Deleted Member]

The ending to this short cracks me up! After realizing there is no fortune, Curly's "Yes, we have no bonanza" remark earns him a punch which knocks him out. This prompts concern from Moe and Larry until he says, "Bonanza" again and once again is knocked out! Okay, maybe it doesn't sound that funny when I describe it, but it sure was a riot to view!

Re: YES, WE HAVE NO BONANZA
Posted 2001-03-05 15:26:00 by Uncle Mortimer

For some reason (probably because I haven't watched this one enough), my most memorable part is when Curly exclaims:"BONANZA!" at the end. It's almost like a "wink-wink, here's your title" thing, in the middle of script dialouge. It comes off a little 'adlibbed'; which appeals to me because I like adlibbing in humor. I'll have to re-watch this one for a more detailed and accurate review. For now here's three pokes; ONE, TWO, THREE!!

Re: YES, WE HAVE NO BONANZA
Posted 2001-01-06 21:23:00 by sickdrjoe

Seriously underrated. How I wish Columbia could have maintained this budget level throughout the 40s. A Western where the villains drive a car!....far more importantly, a Stooge short with pickaxes, dynamite - all the vital paraphernilia of pain. Classic!

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Working Title(s):	YES, WE HAVE NO BONANZAS
Title Origin:	Song "Yes, We Have No Bananas" (1923) written by Frank Silver and Irving Cohn.
Prod. No.:	438
Shooting Days:	4 days From: 1938-11-28 To: 1938-12-01

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