January 19, 1940: For the 1st time, an American film makes fun of the Nazi Party, rulers of Germany since 1933, under Chancellor Adolf Hitler. It is titled You Nazty Spy! A combination of "Nazi" and "nasty," which was certainly appropriate.
It is a short film, only 18 minutes long. "Shorts" were less scrutinized by the Hays Code, so there was less oversight over its political overtones.
The stars are Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Moe's brother, Jerry Howard, a.k.a. Curly. Together, they were known as The Three Stooges. Who, of course, were Jewish in real life.
Three munitions manufacturers, discontent with reduced profits due to King Herman the 6 7/8ths' pacifist policies, conspire to overthrow him and institute a dictatorship. The trio selects the unwitting Stooges, acting as wallpaper hangers, as figureheads for their regime. Moe assumes the role of the leader, directly spoofing Hitler; Curly, bald and chubby, is a composite of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and Nazi official Hermann Göring; and Larry spoofs Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels.
Moe's imitation of Hitler preceded Charlie Chaplin's performance in The Great Dictator by 9 months.
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January 19, 1940 was a Friday. Baseball and football were out of season. The NBA hadn't been founded yet. And no games were scheduled for the NHL. So there were no scores on this historic day.
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