Punch Drunks

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+.

In the early 1930s, the Three Stooges and their leader, Ted Healy, were signed to contracts with MGM. Unfortunately, this prestige studio had no idea what to do with them and their careers floundered. When you watch these films it's obvious why--they acted nothing like the Stooges! Sometimes they acted separately (such as in "Dancing Lady") and other times they were odd...but not the usual violent but lovable mugs. In their first short for Columbia, the formula still was missing--and the film was a musical! However, here in their second Columbia film, "Punch Drunks", the trio hit their stride and the film is pretty typical of their films from then on...at least while Curly played the third Stooge.

The film begins with Moe having a trio of angry boxers who hate him as their manager. But before they can pulverize him, Larry happens to be playing the violin and it just happens that the song he's playing turns Curly into a boxing maniac! So, after knocking out the three guys, Moe astutely signs Curly as his latest boxing prospect. See the film to see what's next.

Whether you think this film is good depends on you. If you hate the Stooges, it probably won't change your mind. If you are willing to watch them instead of screaming and running from the room (like my wife often does), then I think you'll enjoy their cerebral humor-- especially since it has a lot more energy than the usual short the team made. This is especially true for Larry. Even though he isn't boxing, in this one he ends up doing most of the work! And, a lot of it is genuinely funny--something that is NOT the case with many of their later efforts.

By the way, like almost every Stooge short, this one ended up getting remade. However, "A Hit with a Miss" stars Shemp Howard BEFORE he became a film Stooge!

Have seen this episode over and over for more than 40 years and still remains my favorite Stooges short. Seems however, that some editing has been done in the end of the film where a bunch of guys are knocked out in the ring with no apparent reason. Curly knocked them all out but this footage seems to have been lost over the years. Anyone with a copy showing this action has a real treasure! Funniest parts are when Larry is serenading girl and Moe pours a bucket of water over his head. Moe crashes big wooden radio over Larry's head. Larry drives truck away with guy standing in back. Guy falls out onto street an actually breaks his arm in real life. Larry catches fish while standing on his head in a swamp.

The amazing thing to me is that Larry finds a man on a Truck with a record player playing Pop Goes The Weasel.The Record never ends and even when Larry crashes the truck through a brick wall the song is still playing at exactly the right spot. And Al Hill was a professional fighter albeit with a career than ended about ten years before this comedy. And Curly was the Butterbean of his generation,on a smaller scale. Look for Maxie Rosenbloom as one of the Fighters that Curly knocks out in the Cafe. And when we watch we love how the little shove that Moe gives Larry ends up with him being about ten feet away,head first in the stream. One of my Favorite Stooge Comedies!

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.