Crime on Their Hands

Crime on Their Hands


Release date: December 9, 1948 (U.S.)

Crime on Their Hands is a 1948 short subject directed by Edward Bernds starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Shemp Howard). It is the 112th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

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Production notes

Crime on Their Hands was filmed on September 9–12, 1947. The title Crime on Their Hands is a parody of the expression "time on their hands."[The press room scene was recycled in 1956's Commotion on the Ocean, while the remaining portion of Crime on Their Hands was utilized in 1955's Hot Ice. It is a partial remake of the 1942 Andy Clyde short All Work and No Pay.

Crime on Their Hands marked the final appearance of longtime Stooge supporting actor Cy Schindell. Drafted into the Marines during World War II, Cy Schindell developed a severe case of jungle rot while on Guadalcanal, which eventually developed into terminal cancer. Knowing he was dying, Schindell worked constantly during his illness to assure his family would be financially secure after his death. Excessive makeup was used during the filming of Crime on Their Hands to mask Schindell's cancer-ridden face.

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Cy Schindell


Cy Schindell

Schindell in The Three Stooges film Sing a Song of Six Pants (1947)

Born: Seymour Schindel; March 4, 1907; Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Died: August 24, 1948 (aged 41); Hollywood, California, U.S.
Resting place: Los Angeles National Cemetery
Occupation: Actor
Years active: 1933–1948

Seymour "Cy" Schindell (March 4, 1907 – August 24, 1948) was an American actor. He appeared in 37 Three Stooges short subjects, mostly as a heavy, though he was never credited in any Stooge shorts.

Career

Brooklyn-born Schindell was born Seymour Schindel in 1907. He was a former middleweight boxer with 19 fights from 1926 to 1928. Schindell also memorably played Chizzilini, a parody of Benito Mussolini, in the short I'll Never Heil Again.

In addition to his work in Three Stooges shorts, Schindell also appeared briefly in It's a Wonderful Life as the bouncer at Nick's, and made numerous film appearances playing mainly blue collar roles such as a truck driver, a butcher and a policeman.[3]

Military service and illness

Schindell enlisted in the United States Marine Corps during the 1920s and returned to active service for World War II.

Schindell died on August 24, 1948, at age 41, and was buried at Los Angeles National Cemetery, Los Angeles County, California. His final film appearance was in 1948's Three Stooges film Crime on Their Hands; heavy makeup was used to mask Schindell's cancer-ridden face.

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