Three Missing Links

Three Missing Links

Year: 1938

Runtime: 18 mins

Language: English

Director: Jules White

Comedy

The stooges are janitors at a studio; after ruining the boss’s office they get hired as extras for an African‑themed picture. Curly plays a gorilla, Moe and Larry primitive natives. On location they clash with a witch doctor, from whom Curly buys “love candy” to win the leading lady. When a female gorilla appears, Curly eats the candy and chases her.

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Timeline & Setting – Three Missing Links (1938)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Three Missing Links (1938). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Hollywood, Africa jungle

The action shifts between a venerable Hollywood studio where the Stooges work as custodians at Super Terrific Productions and a lush African jungle used for a film shoot. The studio backdrop anchors the plot in a showbiz world, while the jungle sequences provide a vibrant, untamed setting for the comedy. This contrast between controlled studio life and wild terrain fuels the misadventures and on-set chaos.

🎬 Studio setting 🐾 Jungle expedition

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:46

Main Characters – Three Missing Links (1938)

Meet the key characters of Three Missing Links (1938), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Larry (Larry Fine)

A member of the Stooges whose presence helps drive the ensemble’s dynamic. He shares in the custodial duties and the escalating mischief that fuels the studio’s comic chaos. Larry’s reactions and camaraderie with Moe and Curly anchor the group’s goofy energy as events unfold.

🎲 Comedian 🧭 Loyal friend

Moe (Moe Howard)

Part of the Stooges, Moe contributes to the crew’s attempts at order while unintentionally fanning the flames of chaos through their improvisations. He participates in the studio misadventures that grab Botswaddle’s attention. His presence provides the leadership and timing that heighten the gags.

🧰 Lead performer 🕵️ Team leader

Curly (Curly Howard)

Central to the plot, Curly delivers the classic physical comedy that defines the film. His chicken-with-head-cut-off impersonation captivates Botswaddle and triggers the journey into the jungle. Curly’s later ingestion of the love candy and pursuit of the gorilla drive the narrative’s quirky romantic turn.

🧿 Primary comic 🐾 Adventurous

Mirabel Mirabel (Jane Hamilton)

The leading lady within the jungle-set production, Mirabel serves as the romantic interest around which Curly’s antics orbit. She becomes part of the film’s emotional core as the Stooges navigate the misadventures to win her affection. Her role anchors the jungle shoot’s dynamics and momentum.

💃 Leading lady 🎯 Object of affection

B.O. Botswaddle (James C. Morton)

The discerning producer within the studio narrative who evaluates scripts for the forthcoming project. His reaction to Curly’s performance elevates the Stooges from custodial assistants to potential stars. He embodies the gatekeeper of showbiz success in this self-referential look at cinematic creation.

📽️ Producer 🕵️ Gatekeeper

The Gorilla (Naba) (Ray Corrigan)

A real jungle gorilla that interrupts the film shoot, creating chaos on the set. The encounter with the beast prompts the crew to retreat and reshuffle plans. Curly’s later affection for the creature adds an offbeat twist to the jungle comedy.

🐵 Wild animal 🛑 Set disruptor

Dr. Sa Lami Baloni (John L. Johnson)

A doctor character listed in the cast (uncredited in the film). The summary does not detail his actions, leaving him as a peripheral figure within the broader chaos and romantic misadventure.

🧪 Supporting character 🕳️ Uncredited role

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:46

Major Themes – Three Missing Links (1938)

Explore the central themes of Three Missing Links (1938), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎭 Slapstick

The plot thrives on physical humor and rapid-fire gags, with Curly’s headlong, cartoonish antics driving the action. The trio’s custodial duties spiral into pandemonium inside the studio’s inner sanctum. Curly’s impersonation moment captures Botswaddle’s attention and sets the path to stardom in motion. The humor relies on pratfalls, exaggerated reactions, and miscommunication to propel the story forward.

🐾 Jungle Adventure

The story moves into Africa’s jungle, where dense foliage and wildlife shape the set pieces. A lion encounter and a real gorilla disrupt the shoot, forcing the crew to improvise on the fly. The jungle backdrop amplifies the chaos and provides opportunities for the Stooges’ physical comedy. The wilderness serves as a playful stage for mishaps and surprising bond-building moments.

📽️ Showbiz

A discerning producer on the project evaluates scripts and performances, illustrating the film’s meta-commentary on cinema. Curly’s breakout moment and the trio’s mischief propel them from incidental workers to potential stars. The narrative threads show how offbeat talent and chaotic energy can disrupt expectations within the studio system. The showbiz lens ties the on-set chaos to a larger dream of cinematic recognition.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:46

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Three Missing Links Summary

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Three Missing Links Summary

Three Missing Links Timeline

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Three Missing Links Timeline

More About Three Missing Links

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