Emil Sitka ~

The Fourth Stooge
        "The most important actor in most Stooges films, besides the Stooges themselves, was the sharp-nosed, wide-eyed Emil Sitka... His presence was such a mainstay of the operation that many thought of him as an undeclared 'fourth Stooge.'"

                                       -Moe Feinberg, Larry Fine's brother

                                         Larry The Stooge In the Middle
 

EMIL SITKA FAN CLUB MISSION STATEMENT:

To communicate with friends and fans of Emil Sitka, share information about his life and career, preserve the cultural heritage of the Hollywood productions in which he participated, and promote his legacy as The Fourth Stooge.


EmilSitka.com is an on-line informational resource serving the mission of the Emil Sitka Fan Club.

EMIL'S FILM #8

PARDON MY TERROR

Released Sept. 12, 1946

Producer - Hugh McCollum
Director - Edward Bernds

Cast
Gus Schilling
Richard Lane
Christine McIntyre
Lynne Lyons
Kenneth MacDonald
Dick Wessel
Phil Van Zandt
Vernon Dent
Emil Sitka
Dudley Dickerson

Listed below are some related items available on Amazon
PARDON MY TERROR was "remade" several years later with The Three Stooges and called WHO DONE IT?
(#7) <-- | --> (#9)

EmilSitka.com / Films / #8

PARDON MY TERROR
(1946)


Emil Sitka's List of Movies
NO.:
DATE:
PICTURE:
STUDIO:
DAILY SALARY:
STAR:
DIRECTOR:
ROLE:
TYPE:
PROD. NO.:
8
May 14, 1946
PARDON MY TERROR
Columbia
$ 35.00
Gus Schilling and Richard Lane
Ed Bernds
landlord
explosive
4068
Emil,left, misunderstands when Richard Lane and Gus Schilling offer their pistols as "collateral" for the overdue rent.

Films of Emil Sitka: PARDON MY TERROR (1946)
by Saxon E. Sitka

          Emil's role in PARDON MY TERROR is small, but he does an excellent and convincing bit of humorous acting as an angry landlord demanding payment of the rent for their offices from two detectives, played by Richard Lane and Gus Schilling. Emil's commitment to his craft of acting was particularly remarkable when you consider, as you'll read below, he was suffering from a bad case of flu, and he was scheduled for another role in a different film the very next day.
          Emil's diary entry for Tuesday, May 14, 1946:

          Movie bit - #8
          "Pardon My Terror"
          I thought I'd die.
          Early this morning, I became feverish and ill. For hours during the night I tossed & sweated until I couldn't sleep anymore. The bed was wet from cold perspiration.
          At the wheel of the car I almost passed out. At a cafe I vomited & couldn't eat - but I pulled into Columbia's studio.
          Immediately I was told to be in front of the camera. I was to be in the first shot this morning. It was a scene with Gus Schilling & Dick Lane, wherein I enter (with high-collar, derby & cigar) as the landlord to collect my rent from these two phony detectives.
          Even my friend Norman Hapgood (of "Trial of Mary Dugan") didn't recognize me when I took on the mental mad-cap of this "explosive landlord" and really felt I did a very funny bit of acting. Gus Schilling told me I was very good & chidingly urged Ed Bernds, the director, to make a trio out of us.
          I was sent home after lunch & was indeed thankful - to prepare for tomorrow.

The End

Copyright, Saxon Emil Sitka. All rights reserved.
Reproduction of any portion of this article in any form is prohibited.



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PARDON MY TERROR (1946)
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The YouTube video below of the first half of PARDON MY TERROR (1946) includes Emil's entire scene as an "explosive landlord."
The book shown below is a wonderful source of rare information about the “comedy factory’ that brought the world so many laughs with The Three Stooges and other comedians of the day, including Schilling and Lane. Highly recommended reading!

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