Men in Black (1934 film)

Men in Black is a comedy short film released in 1934, starring the Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Curly Howard). Produced by Jules White for Columbia Pictures, it is considered one of the Stooges' most iconic and popular shorts.

The film satirizes the inefficiencies and absurdities of the medical profession, casting the Stooges as newly graduated doctors (identified only by numbers) working at the "Los Arms Hospital." Their primary duty seems to be racing through the hospital's many corridors, responding to an endless stream of buzzers and nonsensical demands.

The humor derives from slapstick, physical comedy, and wordplay. The Stooges engage in chaotic behavior, causing mishaps, arguing amongst themselves, and generally disrupting the hospital's operations. Recurring gags include their high-speed dashes through the halls, constantly colliding with other staff and patients, and their nonsensical diagnoses and treatments.

The title, "Men in Black," is a reference to the Stooges' all-black doctor's attire, a visual element that contrasts sharply with their comedic antics. The film's popularity contributed to the phrase "Men in Black" gaining cultural recognition, though not initially in its later, more common association with extraterrestrial phenomena.