Three Pests in a Mess 1945

A chaotic, good-natured caper follows the Stooges as they chase a patent for a new fly-catching device. The trio, Larry Fine, Moe Howard, and Curly Howard, devise a plan to secure a patent and bring their invention to life. Across the hall, a nefarious group overhears their discussion about catching 100,000 flies to lock in the patent, and among them is I. Cheatham Brian O’Hara. They quickly jump to a dangerous conclusion: they believe Curly is in possession of a vast fortune. A flirtatious crook attempts to coax Curly into handing over the supposed money, but a sharp realization follows—the 100,000 figure refers to flies, not cash, and the crooks abruptly flip sides, turning their pursuit toward the Stooges.

The Stooges, desperate to lay low, take shelter in a sporting goods store, where a string of mishaps escalates into farce. The tension peaks when Curly, in a moment of panic, unintentionally shoots a mannequin, mistaking it for a real person. Believing they have committed a grave error, the trio decides to bury the mannequin in a nearby pet cemetery, entirely unaware of its true nature. The night takes a further turn when the cemetery’s night watchman, Harry ‘Snub’ Pollard, spots their suspicious activity and alarms the cemetery owner, Philip Black.

Philip Black, arriving in a chilling disguise at a masquerade party, confronts the Stooges in the cemetery. The owner comes with his associates, and chaos erupts as the Stooges attempt to hide their supposed crime. To the surprise of everyone, the cemetery’s inhabitants begin to emerge from their resting places, turning the scene into a surreal confrontation. Frightened and overwhelmed, the Stooges flee in terror, their ridiculous efforts spiraling into a crescendo of clumsy, comic mayhem.