Punch Drunks (1934)

Director:

Lou Breslow

Writers:

Jack Cluett (writer)
Larry Fine (story)

Release Date:

13 July 1934 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Short

Plot:

Moe discovers Curly's unknown boxing talent when he knocks out the Champ at a restaurant when Larry plays "Pop Goes the Weasal" on the violin...

Plot Keywords:

Boxing | The Three Stooges | Slapstick

Awards:

1 win

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Moe Howard	...	Moe (as Moe)
Larry Fine	...	Larry (as Larry)
Curly Howard	...	Himself / K.O. Stradivarius (as Curley)
Dorothy Granger	...	Girl

Also Known As:

Symphony of Punches (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

17 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Certification:

Australia:G

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

In the original script, it was "Stars and Stripes Forever" that drove Curly Howard crazy, but it was changed when it was decided that Larry Fine would play the tune on the violin. Larry himself chose "Pop-Goes-the-Weasel" because the other song didn't sound right when played on the violin.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Curly gets back from lunch in the beginning, he has nothing in his hands as he has just come from outside yet in the very next shot, he has a small pad and pencil in his hands.

Quotes:

Curley: What'll ya have?
Moe: I'll have four pieces of burnt toast and a rotten egg.
Curley: Why do you want that?
Moe: I gotta tapeworm and it's good enough for him.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Saps at Sea (1940)

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!)