The Boxing or 'Fight' Film has long been a favourite as a subject of the movies of just about all eras. It seems that we think that there will be no more, a new title or even a Series(the ultra long 'Rocky' series)comes along. We've heard two possible explanations for this "17 Year Cicada-Type Behaviour." First off, there is the notion that, "Boxing is a Metaphor for Life Itself." This explanation has been oft stated, and surely not a very new or original idea at this juncture. This does not make it any less valid.
The other one is a little less traveled, but may well have been almost too obvious that it gets overlooked, consciously, any-who. The hypothesis is that the female of the species enjoys looking at healthy, young male flesh, a point that would not have been talked about 50-60 years ago. Only a woman of ill repute would have had such nasty thoughts, or at least to express such vial thoughts openly. (We always knew how the male passion for all that feminine pulchritude is high and is surely so much less subtle than hers. We never contended any way else!) So, in addition to the drama, the excitement and the athletic exposition, the Boxing Film has proved to be a sociably acceptable method for the ladies to enjoy viewing 'Beefcake'. So much for this serious dissertation on the subject of the visual stimuli of the male physique on the erotic desires and fantasies of the female of the species 'Homo Sapiens Sapiens'.
Now back to The 3 Stooges and PUNCH DRUNKS(1934).
Any film form that would be at all popular would certainly have their Parodies from the other films themselves. It was a natural theme for any screen Comedian or Comedy team to do their own Boxing send-up. Just about any and every Comic/Comedy Team did so at least once. So, Chaplin,Keaton,Lloyd, Laurel & Hardy, Abbot & Costello, the Bowery Boys, etc., had their film(s) about pugilism.
In our Stooges'PUNCH DRUNKS, the production crew wastes little time in this two-reeler, either in this tight, and free wheeling story line. To begin with, this is one of the really few tomes that the 'Boys' don't know each other, Moe being the Manager of a whole Stable of Fighters,* who we find out are disgruntled about their working conditions. Wholesale rebellion is threatened, as Moe's fighters are not happy! Enter Curley wearing coat and hat, sporting a walking stick. A little shift of costuming and we see that Curley is a waiter at this particular establishment. "Where've you been, 'Beau Brummel'?", inquired Restaurant Proprietor, Mr. McGurn (Casey Colombo). "Out to Lunch!", replies Curley as he receives a nice, loud S-L-A-P!!! for his troubles.
Enter Larry, an unemployed street musician, enters requesting pay for his playing. Instead of his $200.00 request, Violinist Fine is promised a Bowl of Soup. All of these gags are so obviously Depression Funnies. You know, a Violinist in a Tux enters a restaurant to play for a meal, when a couple of years earlier, who knows, maybe he was with the Philharmonic? A disturbance between Moe, the Boxers and Curley, leads to discovery of a lot of potential in the rotund waiter; so Moe takes him out be ear. He grabs Larry by hair proclaiming them to now being a corporation.
This PUNCH DRUNKS marks the first occasion that a story revolved around Curley's losing control, becoming super tough and uncontrollable over his annoyance by either: a.'Pop Goes the Weasel', b.Wild Hycianth Perfume, c. the Sight of Rodents, d. Tassels. It was obviously a good way to build a Stooges short.
And just what is all this bunk that we've had to put up with from the elite 'intelligensia', 'Educators' and other 'Elite' members of society about the Stooges' Films being TRASH!! Hell man, they always have to bring out some 'Scape Goat'to place the blame on for Juvenile Delinquincy, Poor Reading Scores or loud talking and giggling in school. You know, if it wasn't the saxophone, comic books, Rock 'n' Roll or Television that was to blame, they'd find something or other**.
Well, listen you elitists, even a lowly Comic Book or a Stooge Movie can be uplifting and educational. I mean after all, this is where we learned just what a "Stravivarius" was. Yes it was in the 2 reels of PUNCH DRUNKS. We found out that it is a Fiddle!
* Scientific Jargon:genus Mustela=Weasel.genus Morbus Ruba=American(Red)Mullberry.
** We notice in the IMDb info about PUNCH DRUNKS that among Moe's fighters was former World's Light Heavyweight Champion, Max Rosenbloom in his first screen part(uncredited). "Slapsie Maxie" would later do well as a character actor and even returned to Columbia's Short Subject Department to Star in some 2 Reelers of his own.
*** The Saxophone, Swing/Jitterbug/Be Bop/Rock'n'Roll, Comic Books, Television and others have all shouldered the blame for Jujvenile Delinquincy, Illiteracy and all. They never took time to perhaps put the fault on the individuals & parental control or lack there of!
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