Punch Drunks

19341934
GG
17m

Moe Howard, Dorothy Granger, and Curly Howard in Punch Drunks (1934)

Short Comedy Sport

Curly is a waiter at a diner where Larry has a job playing music. Moe is a fight manager enjoying a lunch break with his boys. The manager of the diner starts shoving Curly around. Larry sta... Read allCurly is a waiter at a diner where Larry has a job playing music. Moe is a fight manager enjoying a lunch break with his boys. The manager of the diner starts shoving Curly around. Larry starts playing "Pop goes the Weasel" and Curly KO's everyone in the diner, resulting in his b... Read allCurly is a waiter at a diner where Larry has a job playing music. Moe is a fight manager enjoying a lunch break with his boys. The manager of the diner starts shoving Curly around. Larry starts playing "Pop goes the Weasel" and Curly KO's everyone in the diner, resulting in his boss up on a ceiling fan.

Director
- Lou Breslow
Writers
- Jack Cluett(screenplay)
- Curly Howard(story)
- Larry Fine(story)
Stars

See production, box office & company info

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 nomination

Larry Fine and Curly Howard in Punch Drunks (1934)

Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Curly Howard in Punch Drunks (1934)

Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Curly Howard in Men in Black (1934)

Men in Black (1934)

Punch Drunks (1934)

Punch Drunks (1934)

Punch Drunks (1934)

Punch Drunks (1934)

Larry Fine in Punch Drunks (1934)

Moe Howard and Curly Howard in Punch Drunks (1934)

Larry Fine in Punch Drunks (1934)

Curly Howard in Punch Drunks (1934)

Moeas Moe

Larryas Larry

Curley, aka K.O. Stradivariusas Curley, aka K.O. Stradivarius

Dorothy Granger

Girlas Girl

Fight Announceras Fight Announcer
(uncredited)

Chet Brandenburg

Kilduff Cornermanas Kilduff Cornerman
(uncredited)

Mr. McGurnas Mr. McGurn
(uncredited)

Oscar 'Dutch' Hendrian

Plug-Ugly #1 in Restaurantas Plug-Ugly #1 in Restaurant
(uncredited)

Killer Kilduffas Killer Kilduff
(uncredited)

Fight Timekeeperas Fight Timekeeper
(uncredited)

Kilduff's Manageras Kilduff's Manager
(uncredited)

K.O. Cornermanas K.O. Cornerman
(uncredited)

K.O. Cornermanas K.O. Cornerman
(uncredited)

K.O. Cornermanas K.O. Cornerman
(uncredited)

Man on Truckas Man on Truck
(uncredited)

Jack 'Tiny' Lipson

Fat Ringsideras Fat Ringsider
(uncredited)

Refereeas Referee
(uncredited)

Plug-Ugly #3 in Restaurantas Plug-Ugly #3 in Restaurant
(uncredited)

Director
- Lou Breslow
Writers
- Jack Cluett(screenplay)
- Curly Howard(story)
- Larry Fine(story)
All cast & crew
See more cast details at IMDbPro

Curly is a waiter at a diner where Larry has a job playing music. Moe is a fight manager enjoying a lunch break with his boys. The manager of the diner starts shoving Curly around. Larry starts playing "Pop goes the Weasel" and Curly KO's everyone in the diner, resulting in his boss up on a ceiling fan. —wyldeone2

homosexual subtext bare chested male national film registry two word title saved by the bell 5 more

Taglines
- A Columbia 2 Reel Broadway Comedy
Genres
Certificate
- G
Parents guide

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
It's obvious that the audience in KO Stradivarius' fight is stock footage from the 1920s, judging by the film speed, fashions, and orthochromatic film stock used, being shown in a continuous loop. Take a look at the guy in the middle of the footage who keeps shaking his friend's neck.

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]

Top review

9/10

'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.

helpful•14

1

ccthemovieman-1
Dec 4, 2006

List: Wacky boxing

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

Runtime
17 minutes
Color
- Black and White
Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1

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