Punch Drunks


Punch Drunks is a 1934 short subject directed by Lou Breslow starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges. It is the second entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 short subjects for the studio between 1934 and 1959.
In 2002, Punch Drunks became the first and only Stooge film to be selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

Plot

Moe, a struggling boxing manager, has a lunchtime confrontation with three of his fighters, who are angry that he has not paid them and threaten to abandon him. The disgruntled fighters begin physically bullying their timid waiter, Curly. A serendipitous turn of events unfolds when strolling violinist Larry plays the melody of "Pop Goes the Weasel". The tune triggers a violent outburst from Curly, who becomes hyperanimated and effortlessly knocks out all three fighters. When Curly recovers his composure, he explains to Moe that "every time I hear that 'weasel' tune, something pops inside of me." Moe recruits Curly as a boxer and hires Larry to play the tune ringside so Curly can easily defeat his opponents and win them prize money.
As Curly undergoes rigorous training under Moe's guidance, a chance encounter with a stranded female motorist interrupts their routine. Despite Moe's admonition against entanglements with women, Curly aids the young lady by lifting her car from a ditch, propelled by the musical accompaniment provided by Larry.
Adopting the moniker "K.O. Stradivarius," Curly ascends to prominence in the boxing arena, positioning himself as the leading contender for the heavyweight championship. However, on the eve of the title match, Moe discovers Curly in the company of the lady, prompting a stern reprimand and a directive to focus solely on the impending bout.
The championship showdown ensues, with reigning titleholder Killer Kilduff asserting his dominance by swiftly knocking Curly out of the ring, so that he falls on Larry's violin and breaks it. Desperate to revive Curly's fighting spirit, Larry runs from the arena onto the street on a frantic quest to procure an alternative means of playing the tune. While Kilduff mercilessly pummels Curly, Larry finds a radio broadcasting the tune and hurries back to the arena with it.
Though the music revitalizes Curly, his momentum is lost when the radio abruptly shifts its broadcast, interrupting the crucial musical accompaniment and tilting the scales in Kilduff's favor once more. An infuriated Moe smashes the radio over Larry's head and sends him out to find another means to provide the desired melody. Ultimately, Larry commandeers a politician's campaign truck that is playing the tune, drives back to the arena, and crashes in through the wall just as Curly has been knocked down and is about to be counted out. Curly is energized once again and easily knocks Kilduff out to win the championship, then accidentally knocks out Moe and Larry as the music keeps playing.

Cast

Credited

The script for Punch Drunks was written by the Stooges, credited as "Jerry Howard, Larry Fine, and Moe Howard". According to Moe, the initial treatment of the script was originated by him; on its strength, the studio decided to produce the Stooges' next film sooner than scheduled. Filming was completed May 2–5, 1934.
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.