Punch Drunks

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!