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IMDbPro

Punch Drunks

  • 1934
  • G
  • 17m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
Moe Howard, Dorothy Granger, and Curly Howard in Punch Drunks (1934)
BoxingFarceSlapstickComedyShortSport

The stooges discover Curly's hidden talent for boxing, which appears only when he hears the tune "Pop Goes the Weasel". With the help of Larry's violin, Moe attempts to turn him into a champ... Read allThe stooges discover Curly's hidden talent for boxing, which appears only when he hears the tune "Pop Goes the Weasel". With the help of Larry's violin, Moe attempts to turn him into a champion.The stooges discover Curly's hidden talent for boxing, which appears only when he hears the tune "Pop Goes the Weasel". With the help of Larry's violin, Moe attempts to turn him into a champion.

  • Director
    • Lou Breslow
  • Writers
    • Jack Cluett
    • Curly Howard
    • Larry Fine
  • Stars
    • Moe Howard
    • Larry Fine
    • Curly Howard
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.7/10
    1.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Lou Breslow
    • Writers
      • Jack Cluett
      • Curly Howard
      • Larry Fine
    • Stars
      • Moe Howard
      • Larry Fine
      • Curly Howard
    • 29User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win total

    Photos17

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    Top cast21

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    Moe Howard
    Moe Howard
    • Moe
    • (as Moe)
    Larry Fine
    Larry Fine
    • Larry
    • (as Larry)
    Curly Howard
    Curly Howard
    • Curley, aka K.O. Stradivarius
    • (as Curley)
    Dorothy Granger
    Dorothy Granger
    • Girl
    Billy Bletcher
    Billy Bletcher
    • Fight Announcer
    • (uncredited)
    Chet Brandenburg
    Chet Brandenburg
    • Kilduff Cornerman
    • (uncredited)
    Chuck Callahan
    • Mr. McGurn
    • (uncredited)
    Oscar 'Dutch' Hendrian
    • Plug-Ugly #1 in Restaurant
    • (uncredited)
    Al Hill
    Al Hill
    • Killer Kilduff
    • (uncredited)
    Arthur Housman
    Arthur Housman
    • Fight Timekeeper
    • (uncredited)
    William Irving
    William Irving
    • Kilduff's Manager
    • (uncredited)
    Ray Jones
    Ray Jones
    • K.O. Cornerman
    • (uncredited)
    Harry Keaton
    Harry Keaton
    • K.O. Cornerman
    • (uncredited)
    Jack Kenney
    Jack Kenney
    • K.O. Cornerman
    • (uncredited)
    Charles King
    Charles King
    • Man on Truck
    • (uncredited)
    Jack 'Tiny' Lipson
    • Fat Ringsider
    • (uncredited)
    Larry McGrath
    • Referee
    • (uncredited)
    Frank Moran
    Frank Moran
    • Plug-Ugly #3 in Restaurant
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Lou Breslow
    • Writers
      • Jack Cluett
      • Curly Howard
      • Larry Fine
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews29

    7.71.6K
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    Featured reviews

    Tresix

    Stooges at their best

    This, the 3 Stooges' second short for Columbia, is my all-time favorite. Perhaps it's because it's the only one that they themselves wrote. This was the first film to have the Stooges' famous "cure" for a tapeworm ("Four pieces of burnt toast and a rotten egg."). It also truly showcases Larry's violin-playing ability. The sight of Larry running down the streets looking for something playing "Pop Goes the Weasel" are hilarious. However, there were a bit of dangerous bits that came from this short: The actor playing Killer Kilduff actually bloodied Curley's lip and nose. The man on the truck that Larry takes to play "Weasel" broke his arm when he fell off the truck. Also, I think the ending has been cut, at least in the prints that I've seen. The ones I've seen show at least three or four other men stretched out in the ring with Kilduff at the end of the fight. Yet, no explanation of how they all got there. I'm thinking that PUNCH DRUNKS had a similar ending to the later GRIPS, GRUNTS AND GROANS, but is now cut for some reason. Has anyone ever seen the uncut version of this short? I'd really love to see it that way.
    10mhettler

    Their single best performance

    In this early effort, rather than just watching the threesome run around and bash each other, there is genuine plot and character development. Instead of three barely distinguishable buffoons, we have three distinct characters interacting in an actual story line. They have a plausible initial meeting at a restaurant where Curly works as a waiter, Moe is a customer who discovers Curly's hidden boxing talent, and Larry the down-and-out musician who inadvertently plays the tune that sets Curly off. The plot device of having some stimulus turn Curly into an invincible destruction machine is reused in later efforts, most notably the mouse in the later "Moe, Larry, the cheese" routine, but they never really improve upon the use of "Pop Goes the Weasel" here. Larry is always at his best when he is able to play the violin in a way that fits plausibly into the plot, and Moe is actually sympathetic as the tough guy who takes the distraught Curly under his wing and makes him a success. The story is a real story, not just a loose string of slapstick antics; we actually feel tension and anticipation at the end as we watch Curly being beaten up by his opponent and wonder if and how Larry will find another way to play "Pop Goes the Weasel." Grade: A+.
    The Peacemaker

    I Love This Short!

    I'm not a stooge fan, but this is funny! Curly is pretty much insane when he does that, the way he dances around like he's chasing his tail. What I like is that Larry, being a violinist before a stooge, plays the violin! (That's how I guessed what his instrument was on a quiz.) A real must-see for stooge fans (and I'm not even one of them!)
    9ccthemovieman-1

    'Pop" Goes Curly!

    This very early Three Stooges effort starts off differently than almost all their others in that the three don't know each other. Moe is a fight manager looking for boxer; Curly is a waiter and Larry a violinist. They all meet at this restaurant and when Larry starts playing "Pop Goes The Weasel," Curly goes nuts and punches everyone's lights out. Moe hires the two so he can get back into the fight game.

    One day during some roadside training, they meet up with a pretty dame whose car is stuck in the mud. By playing the "Weasel" song, Curly lifts the car and solves the problem. She drives off as he jumps in the back seat!

    The next scenes show newspaper headlines as "K.O. Stradivarius" (our hero Curly) beats all opponents and is now scheduled to fight for the championship.

    The last bout is something to see: probably the goofiest fight scenes I've ever seen on film, which includes the great silent comics. Larry Howard ("Curly") was an underrated comic genius and shows it here early on in his career. It's the subtle things he does in this fight that had me laughing out loud.
    Michael_Elliott

    Stooges' Best Short

    Punch Drunks (1934)

    **** (out of 4)

    Three Stooges short has the wimpy Curley turning into a mean fighting machine each time he hears Pop Goes the Weasel. This is certainly the best short I've seen from the Stooges and i doubt they made one that was better. The laughs are non-stop from start to finish the violent humor is great throughout as well. The site gags are also pretty good including Larry walking into the bar, pulling his hat off and a part of it remaining on. The boxing match at the end also contains plenty of laughs.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In 2002, "Punch Drunks" was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant", the only Stooge film to achieve such an honor.
    • Goofs
      Fight fans are seen milling outside the arena at night before the big fight. But when Larry Fine runs outside after breaking his violin, it is clearly broad daylight.
    • Quotes

      Larry: Pardon me, stranger.

      Mr. McGurn: What do you want?

      Larry: I'm a musician!

      Mr. McGurn: So?

      Larry: So, if you had some music playing around here, you might increase business.

      Mr. McGurn: How much dough do you generally take?

      Larry: About 250, but for you, I'll take 200.

      Mr. McGurn: I'll give you a bowl of soup.

      Larry: I'll take it!

      Mr. McGurn: ...if you're good!

      Larry: Okay.

      [under his breath]

      Larry: Gee, hope the soup's good.

    • Connections
      Edited into A Hit with a Miss (1945)
    • Soundtracks
      I Thought I Wanted You
      (uncredited)

      Music by Archie Gottler

      [Played during the opening credits]

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    FAQ1

    • List: Wacky boxing

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 13, 1934 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • YouTube - Video
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • (A) Symphony of Punches
    • Production company
      • Columbia Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 17m
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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