What Is Termites of 1938 About?
The premise of Termites of 1938 in 261 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the glittering world of 1938 high society, an elegant dinner at a sprawling mansion promises a night of polished conversation, refined attire, and the subtle maneuvering of the elite. Muriel longs to make a graceful entrance at this coveted affair, but her husband Arthur has chosen a solitary fishing excursion, leaving her to navigate the evening alone. Determined to secure suitable companionship that will enhance her standing, she enlists the help of her trusted maid.
A simple clerical error redirects her request from the fashionable Acme Escort Service to the equally reputable Acme Exterminator Co. The mix‑up delivers an unlikely trio in tuxedos: Larry Fine, Moe Howard, and Curly. Expecting to rid the manor of pests, the three slap‑stick specialists arrive ready for a very different kind of “service,” their brand of chaotic humor colliding head‑first with the mansion’s immaculate décor and the guests’ expectations of poise.
Guided by Mandy, the diligent maid who orchestrates the night’s details, the Stooges instinctively treat the soirée as both a mission and a stage. Their exuberant physical comedy—complete with pratfalls, exaggerated gestures, and a penchant for turning ordinary objects into comedic props—creates a vivid contrast to the stiff upper‑class atmosphere. The tension between Muriel’s desire for dignified sophistication and the trio’s unbridled energy hints at a night where decorum and disorder will tussle for dominance.
The stage is set for an evening where aristocratic elegance meets unrestrained slapstick, promising a uniquely unpredictable blend of style and mayhem that will test the limits of propriety and leave the distinguished guest of honor delightfully perplexed.
What Happens in Termites of 1938?
The complete story of Termites of 1938, from the first scene to the last, in 535 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 3 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Muriel, a high-society woman, longs to attend an esteemed dinner hosted by a well-connected acquaintance. Her husband, Arthur, opts for a fishing trip, leaving her to navigate the evening solo. To secure suitable companionship, she instructs her maid to hire escorts through the Acme Escort Service, presenting them as educated, collegiate guests. A simple miscommunication, however, results in the order being redirected to the Acme Exterminator Co., staffed by the Stooges.
The Stooges, Larry Fine and Moe Howard (with Curly in the mix), arrive at the opulent residence in formal dress, believing they have come to exterminate vermin rather than entertain a dinner party. They step into a room filled with glittering chandeliers and a carefully choreographed social ritual, and their presence instantly unsettles the guests who expect grace, not slapstick. Muriel’s plan to present herself with a touch of scholarly charm to the gathering begins to unravel as the trio misunderstands every cue and treats the evening as a public stage for their routines.
Mandy, the maid, Etta McDaniel, oversees the orchestrations of the evening and finds herself swept along by a chain of comic misunderstandings. The Stooges, unaware of their misassignment, assume their role is to keep the party free of pests while also participating in the revelry. They wander through the rooms, sampling hors d’oeuvres, and in the process, disrupt the formalities that the guests hold sacred. The guests watch in growing disbelief as the trio’s antics clash with etiquette, turning a refined affair into a comedy of errors.
After the meal, when the band plays a lively number, the Stooges seize the opportunity to perform, thinking they are just adding a little entertainment to the occasion. Instead, their improvised show goes awry, and a dangerous moment involving a saw unfolds. The tool triggers chaos, releasing rodents and sending the house into a frenzy. The guests recoil as the intruding vermin scatter, and the once-polished room becomes a playground of chaos under their unintended supervision.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the Stooges struggle to “do their job” and quiet the commotion, but their efforts lead to further calamities. Furniture shudders, walls creak, and Muriel is injured in the commotion that spirals out of control. The dinner party, which began as a display of upper-crust civility, devolves into a slapstick siege of mishaps, lack of restraint, and reckless improvisation, all while Muriel contemplates the social price of such chaos.
Just as the scene reaches a peak, Arthur returns wielding a gopher bomb, drawn back by the riotous ruckus. The Stooges scramble to escape in their car, misjudging the moment to depart. In a final twist of misfortune, the gopher bomb ends up in the vehicle just as they step inside, triggering a chaotic and disorderly dispersal that caps the evening in explosive, disordered fashion.
In the end, what begins as a calculated attempt to secure a dignified evening for Muriel morphs into a farce where miscommunication, unintentional mischief, and a cascade of comic disasters collide. The gathering that should have celebrated elegance instead becomes a showcase for the Stooges’ hijinks, the guests’ astonishment, and a lasting reminder that good intentions can veer spectacularly off course in the hands of improvisation and error.
Termites of 1938 Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Muriel plans to attend the dinner” to “Chaotic dispersal and aftermath”. 12 events name a place, across 10 locations.
- 1
Muriel plans to attend the dinner
A high-society woman named Muriel faces the prospect of attending an elite dinner alone after her husband Arthur leaves for a fishing trip. She recognizes that she needs a companion to fit in with the host's circle. Her plan is to hire help from the Acme Escort Service, setting the evening's arrangements in motion.
When:Before dinner (evening) Where:Muriel's home
- 2
Miscommunication to Acme services
Muriel's maid mistakenly contacts Acme Exterminator Co. instead of the intended escort service, creating a comic mix-up. The wrong company believes they are taking on a pest-control gig and is pulled into the plan. The tension rises as the real dinner party looms.
When:Before dinner Where:Muriel's home
- 3
Stooges accept the odd assignment
The Stooges, absorbed in new methods for rodent eradication, accidentally accept the commission, unaware of its true nature. Dressed in formal attire, they assume their role is to purge vermin from the premises. They prepare to present themselves at the host's residence.
When:Evening Where:Acme Exterminator Co.
- 4
Stooges arrive at the mansion
The Stooges arrive at the opulent house amid a gathering of distinguished guests, still convinced they are there to perform pest control. They misinterpret the scene as a routine service call. The host and guests exchange confused glances as the outsiders enter in formal dress.
When:Evening, upon arrival Where:Opulent residence
- 5
Guests confront the odd cleaners
Muriel and the guests are startled when the Stooges begin their so-called cleaning duties, misreading etiquette and decorum. The atmosphere shifts from polished to uneasy as the situation unfolds. Muriel worries about the impression she will leave.
When:At seating / dinner starting Where:Dining room
- 6
Banquet turns into a spectacle
After the meal, as musical accompaniment fills the room, the Stooges decide to perform. They treat the dinner like a stage, improvising antics that clash with the formal occasion. The guests' amusement or exasperation grows as the performance continues.
When:After the main course, during the musical interlude Where:Dining hall
- 7
Saw incident and rodent release
During their antics, the Stooges wield a saw, accidentally triggering chaos and releasing rodents into the room. The guests recoil as vermin scatter and structural elements tremble beneath the commotion. What began as a farce spirals into a crisis.
When:Mid-performance Where:Dining hall
- 8
Misguided pest-control escalates damage
Realizing they are supposed to be cleaning up pests, the Stooges persist in their misguided mission, causing further damage to the mansion. Their bumbling efforts collide with chandeliers, furniture, and walls, worsening the situation. Muriel is injured in the upheaval.
When:During attempt to fix the mess Where:Interior of mansion
- 9
Arthur returns with a gopher bomb
Arthur returns home to confront the chaos, wielding a gopher bomb, and steps into the scene to restore order. He confronts the intruders as the party farce threatens to explode into scandal. The tension in the room mounts as accusations fly.
When:Right after the meal Where:Muriel's residence / foyer
- 10
Stooges flee by car
The Stooges hurry to flee in their automobile, scrambling to escape before anyone can stop them. They move frantically along the driveway, trying to get away from the mounting chaos. The guests watch in astonishment as the situation spirals outward.
When:Immediately as they attempt to depart Where:Driveway
- 11
Gopher bomb enters the vehicle
A gopher bomb, carried by Arthur, ends up finding its way into the Stooge's vehicle just as they are about to board. The device ignites, triggering a chaotic dispersion as the car becomes a stage for pratfalls. The escape turns into a wild exit full of misfires and panic.
When:Moment of boarding the car Where:Driveway / outside car
- 12
Chaotic dispersal and aftermath
The blast of chaos leaves the party in turmoil, with Muriel and the guests reeling from the havoc. The Stooges, now scattered, manage a disheveled retreat as the host contends with the damage and fallout. The dinner party ends not with elegance, but with embarrassment and uproar.
When:End of sequence Where:Front of the house / yard
Who Are the Main Characters in Termites of 1938?
6 characters, among them Larry (Larry Fine), Moe (Moe Howard) and Curly (Curly Howard): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- L(
Larry (Larry Fine)
Played by Larry Fine
A quick-witted yet bumbling Stooge, Larry embodies eager energy that amplifies the misadventures around him. He hops into action with misplaced confidence, often misreading situations and sparking further chaos. His resilient optimism keeps the trio moving even as plans derail.
- 🎭 Slapstick
- 🧭 Misadventure
- M(
Moe (Moe Howard)
Played by Moe Howard
Moe is the de facto ringleader, obsessed with control but prone to blast through decorum with sharp, improvisational bits. He catalyzes most of the chaos, balancing cunning plans with short-sighted schemes. His authority is constantly challenged by his partners’ antics.
- 💥 Physicality
- 🧠 Schemes
- C(
Curly (Curly Howard)
Played by Curly Howard
Curly provides exuberant luck and clumsy charm, often turning ordinary tasks into spectacle. His reactions drive many of the visual gags, offering a bright counterpoint to the others' plans. He embodies the quintessential Stooges chaos that fuels the comedy.
- 😂 Lively
- 🧩 Clumsiness
- LW
Lord Wafflebottom (Bud Jamison)
Played by Bud Jamison
A guest figure representing aristocratic folly, Lord Wafflebottom appears as part of the party’s social world. His presence amplifies the stakes of propriety and status, against which the Stooges’ antics clash.
- 🏰 Aristocracy
- 🍷 Etiquette
- MM
Mrs. Muriel Van Twitchell (Bess Flowers)
Played by Bess Flowers
A high-society hostess with aspirations of attending the esteemed dinner, Muriel embodies elegance and social standing. Her role anchors the event’s formality and the expectations of the guests.
- 🎩 Society
- 🧵 Manners
- M-
Mandy - The Maid (Etta McDaniel)
Played by Etta McDaniel
The maid who arranges escort services, her presence reveals the logistical side of high-society events and the gap between appearances and reality. Her character serves as the catalyst for the mistaken arrangement that kicks off the misadventure.
- 🧹 Servitude
- 🗝️ Servant role
Where and When Is Termites of 1938 Set?
Termites of 1938 is set in Opulent high-society mansion (1938). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1938
The action takes place in 1938, placing it in the late-Depression era when lavish social events were a visible escape for some. The period's fashion and manners frame the contrast between exclusive guests and the uncouth-but-alluring antics of the Stooges. The film uses this setting to heighten the satire of class and propriety during that era. The lightweight plot relies on audience familiarity with vaudeville-style humor that flourished in the 1930s.
Where
Opulent high-society mansion
A grand residence hosts a prestigious dinner for society's elite, with chandeliers and formal rooms that highlight wealth and status. The foyer and dining salon are lushly appointed, setting a backdrop for social etiquette and elegance. The Stooges arrive in formal attire, mistakenly thinking they're there to clean up vermin rather than entertain, triggering the farce at the heart of the gathering. Their intrusion turns the party into a series of mishaps that disrupt the decorum expected of such an occasion.
- 🏰 Mansion
- 🎩 Upper-class
- 🍽️ Dinner party
What Are the Themes of Termites of 1938?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Mistaken Identity, Etiquette & Class and Chaos of Insects & Rodents.
-
01
Mistaken Identity
A central driver of the chaos is the misperception of the Stooges' roles. They mistake their assignment as cleaners, while the guests assume they are professional entertainers or courtiers. This mix-up fuels a cascade of slapstick gags, from improvised performances to dangerous misunderstandings. The consequences underscore how appearances can mislead and escalate tension within a formal event.
-
02
Etiquette & Class
The dinner party setting emphasizes strict manners and social codes. The Stooges' irreverent behavior clashes with refined expectations, revealing cracks in the pretensions of high society. The chaos exposes the fragility of appearances when confronted with unorthodox humor. The piece satirizes the divide between wealth, civility, and silliness.
-
03
Chaos of Insects & Rodents
Rodents are released amid the meal, turning a formal affair into pandemonium. A saw becomes a reckless instrument of slapstick, and the ensuing chaos threatens the guests and the house itself. The Stooges scramble to address the supposed vermin problem, only to worsen the situation. The final twist arrives with Arthur returning and a gopher bomb accelerating the disaster.
What Kind of Film Is Termites of 1938?
Light in tone, with fast pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Light
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Happy
A fast-paced, zany slapstick comedy where a simple mix-up sends the Three Stooges' chaotic brand of humor crashing through a high-society dinner party, creating relentless, lighthearted mayhem.
- slapstick
- chaotic
- comical
- lighthearted
- zany
- farcical
- miscommunication
- social satire
- slapstick comedy
- high society
Quiz
How well do you remember Termites of 1938? Test yourself on the story.
