"Hot Stuff" is an American black-and-white short film from 1956, so this one is already over 60 years old. The names of director White and writer Adler make obvious that here we have another Three Stooges short film. But is is really? Due to Shemp's tragically unexpected death at this point, it feels more like a Two Stooges short with Moe and Larry. Nice to see Larry get some more attention in here, but it's sure difficult to appreciate given the circumstances. Anyway, this one runs for 16 minutes approximately and it is another remake of an older Stooges work and this one has more politics references than you would expect I guess as most other Stooges films after the end of WWII are relatively unpolitical. As always, it is all about the comedy in here. But it is never as funny as you could hope for unfortunately and the beginning with the female bossd/instructor is just downright embarrassing at times with the kissing and jokes she is playing on Moe. Of course, they once again make up a bit thanks to their likable loser routine, but it simply isn't enough. It is probably not among the worst Stooges shorts I have seen, but then again I am not a great fan at all of the gang I guess, so maybe you'll like it if you love them in general. Even at this age of over 60 years old, it is far from their earliest works. All in all, I give this one a thumbs-down. It is not only mediocrity, but recycled mediocrity, which makes it even worse. Don't watch.

Here's one man's ego getting in the way yet again of an otherwise fantastic comedy team. Jules White tacks on some really non-related "new" footage of the boys as some kind of CIA type sleuths to the original footage of "Fueulin Around" thereby proving yet again his ineptness as a serious comedy director. He apparently had connections at Columbia who simply allowed him free reign to create any kind of "hashed" up film that he wanted. Less anyone forgets, this guy used to direct one reel films of dogs in costume back in the early 1930's and have actors speak the words for them. Quite a qualification for directing top notch comedians like The Stooges or Buster Keaton, whom he "directed" toward the latter's end of his career. This short is just a bunch of clips added on to an already perfect short so don't waste your time with this one. As usual, watch the original first.

This is another Stooge short in which some new footage with Moe and Larry (Shemp had died) was inserted into a previous Stooge short that featured Shemp. The man who doubles as Shemp is badly cast, and the shorts probably should have ended after Shemp's death. However, the new scene in which Moe and Larry try to romance two stunningly beautiful Uranian female officers is very funny, and worth the recycling. The original short kicks off with a lot of great laughs, but the laughs dwindle towards the end, though it is still fun.

HOT STUFF is the second of four shorts shot after Shemp's death in 1955. Joe Palma, with his back to the camera, doubled for Shemp in a few scenes. HOT STUFF is a remake of FUELIN' AROUND, and nowhere near as good. Starting in 1953, director Jules White took footage from old shorts and added in new footage of the stooges, with a minor new story line. The doubles of Shemp are too obvious in this film. For one thing, Joe Palma turns around for a minute and you can see his face.The new scenes were shot in early 1956. I think the Three Stooges should have quit after Shemp died. None of the later Joe Besser shorts are very funny. They should have let FOR CRIMIN' OUT LOUD be their last film. It's the last one Shemp's alive in.If you really want to see anything funny from HOT STUFF, watch FUELIN' AROUND instead. The funniest part of the new footage is a woman in the office biting Larry on the nose.**1/2 out of 5 stars!