"Gents in a Jam" is the last Three Stooges short directed by the dependable Edward Bernds (before his and producer Hugh McCollum's falling-out with producer/director Jules White), and the title is very appropriate for all the trouble the Stooges endure.
Without revealing every single gag in the short, let me just state a few highlights (if you have not yet seen "Gents in a Jam," don't read this commentary). Moe, Larry, and Shemp go through plenty of great gags in trying to spruce up their apartment as a clever way of paying their rent, but, as expected, they foul up and make a gigantic mess of things; perhaps the funniest gag of all is that of Shemp making a cake, with an appropriate sound effect as the cake batter flies in the air and lands on Moe's head. Additionally, "Gents in a Jam" offers Stooge fans a special treat: Beloved character actor Emil Sitka portrays arguably his best physical role in this short as Shemp's rich, aging Uncle Phineas (Sitka was only in his late thirties at the time, yet he had played old men numerous times on stage and with the Stooges). When Phineas pays the Stooges a visit, he gets shoved, pushed, kicked, trampled, and knocked silly, when all he wanted was a quiet, peaceful visit.
In conclusion, Three Stooges fans will surely get a big bang out of this wonderfully funny short. The directing style of Edward Bernds has taught us to never overlook the supporting actors, as they receive a share of the spotlight as well.
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