Punch Drunks (1934)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

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

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:

[KO Stradivarius tries to leave the boxing ring but gets caught in the ropes]
KO Stradivarius: Time out! Time out!
Moe: I suppose you'll want the afternoon off.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Saps at Sea (1940)

'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.