Matri-Phony is a 1942 short subject directed by Harry Edwards starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 63rd entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959. Plot The Stooges live in "Ancient Erysipelas," (parody of Ancient Rome) where they run Ye Olde Pottery shop. The powerful Emperor Octopus Grabus (Vernon Dent) is in search for a new wife again, with his sights set on redheads. Lovely Diana (Marjorie Deanne), who has kindled Grabus' interest, hides out in the Stooges' shop. A palace guard catches onto the scheme and all are brought to Grabus which are condemned to be fed to the lions at the Colosseum. The boys help Diana escape, while Moe and Larry convince Curly to dress up as Octopus's prospective bride. These two then destroy the glasses of the nearly-blind Grabus, who cannot see past his nose. The Stooges make a rapid escape by jumping out a palace windows, but end getting caught, upside-down, on the spears of palace guards and were taken to the Colosseum to be finally fed to the lions as punishment. Cast Credited Curly Howard as Curleycue (as Curly) Larry Fine as Larrycus (as Larry) Moe Howard as Mohicus (as Moe) Marjorie Deanne as Diana Vernon Dent as Emperor Octopus Grabus Uncredited Cy Schindell as Guard Eddy Chandler as Guard Max Wagner as Guard Bobby Barber as Snake charmer Monte Collins as Prime Minister Si Jenks as Wino Christine McIntyre as Beauty contestant (deleted scenes) Gene Roth as Middle guard Production notes Matri-Phony was the first short filmed in 1942, shot over a period of three weeks between March 5 and March 25, 1942. It is the first Stooge film to employ the accordion-based, driving version of "Three Blind Mice" over the opening credits. This faster theme would be used until the end of 1944. The film title is a pun on the word "matrimony. Matri-Phony had a difficult gestation. The three-week shooting schedule was unusual for a Columbia short film, as most were completed over four consecutive days. It is not known how many days it took to film, with six being an estimate. There were material script changes, reshoots and deleted footage, with most of the blame aimed at director Harry Edwards who had developed a reputation