scriibe The best way to understand Soup to Nuts is not as a Three Stooges movie, but as a Charles Winninger movie that includes the embryonic Stooges in a secondary role. Winninger plays the proud but struggling owner of a costume shop that has gone into receivership. This is a variation of the old "farmer in danger of losing the farm" plot. He, of course, has an attractive niece whom the young credit manager falls for.But Winninger's portrayal stands out, particularly when discussing matters with his friend Gus, a struggling restaurateur (remember, this was made in 1930, during the Great Depression) and everyone was struggling).The Shemp-led (this is before Curly joined the group) Stooges are close to developing their identities, but aren't there yet. Larry has some of the best lines, particularly the "Elevator Dance", and the "Pick a number" routine. The fact that this movie was made pre-code shows up on a couple occasions. This was made during prohibition, and the use of alcohol could be seen as being on the same level as the use of pot in contemporary movies. Also there's Fred Sanborn whose character is obviously gay. Sanborn's presence is an eccentric one, but his excellent xylophone performance is one of the film's highlights.So if you want classic Stooges, get one of the many collections available. But if you want a pleasant look into early sound motion pictures Soup to Nuts is worth your while.

Cyke 048: Soup to Nuts (1930) - released 9/28/1930; viewed 5/8/06.The National Socialists win 107 seats in the German parliament.BIRTHS: Warren Buffett, Ray Charles, Shel Silverstein.DOUG: And I thought the Marx Brothers' act was rough and unrefined in 1930. Okay, we watched Another Fine Mess with Laurel & Hardy, and I started reading about them and the other comedy teams from the 30s and 40s, like the Three Stooges. I soon found that their first movie, the Rube Goldberg-penned Soup to Nuts was released in 1930, and was out on DVD. Thus, this eleventh-hour addition squeezes its way in just before we close out 1930 for good. I found this movie to be mostly sub-par with the exception of a couple scenes near the end where Moe, Larry (looking a lot like Ringo Starr here), and Shemp really get to cut loose ("It's the Elevator Dance! It has no steps!"). Although it's advertised these days as a Stooges movie, they're just part of an ensemble, and mostly function as a foil for Ted Healy (as they would do for several more movies before ditching Ted and striking out on their own). I found most of the humor to be derivative of the Marx Brothers: Healy is Groucho, the Stooges are all Chico, Fred Sanborn (eyebrows!) is Harpo, and Stan Smith is Zeppo, complete with romantic subplot. It seems in these old slapstick comedies, the two characters who fall in love invariably turn out to be the most boring characters in the movie. I thought most of the gags to be decent at best and predictable most of the time. Much of the supporting cast is lackluster, although Frances McCoy steals the show as the chatterbox phone secretary Queenie.KEVIN: Before we wrap up 1930, we first have this little Rube Goldberg-penned comedy featuring Ted Healy and the Three Stooges. As one would expect, the Stooges were not even close to hitting their stride here in their first full-length feature, back when it was Moe, Larry, and Shemp, who are credited as nameless Firemen. They're not even the main players, as they're primarily a three-man foil for lead Ted Healy. Mostly, it felt as though they were ripping off the Marx brothers, with Ted as Groucho, all the Stooges as Chico, and silent Fred Sanborn as Harpo. There were a few very funny moments, mostly when the story stops and Ted and the Stooges take center stage, and when Otto explains his Rube Goldberg anti-burglar system (the explanation was funnier than the execution). I also enjoyed the scene-stealing loudmouth Frances McCoy, who was a special treat considering we'll never see her again. And Goldberg should stick to his day job (which is cartooning, not inventing. That's his night job).Last film viewed: The Jazz Singer (1927). Last film chronologically: Animal Crackers (1930). Next film viewed: Little Caesar (1931). Next film chronologically: The Big Trail (1930).

pcisom The film is tedious and clunky. (Howard J. Green, credited as continuity director, should never have worked in film again.) But one single scene redeems everything else (on the DVD, No. 18, Three Charming Boys). Here the film's storyline (thankfully) comes to a complete halt. In a stationary, medium shot filmed in one take, Ted Healy, Moe, Larry and Shemp recreate a vaudeville routine that is as close to seeing the Stooges live on stage as exists anywhere (unless there's still a 100-year-old audience member still alive and kicking somewhere). When Healy calls his Stoooges into the shot, he takes an instinctive step to his right, as he undoubtedly had done night after night on the live stage. The routine is more rehearsed than anything else in the film (for obvious reasons), illustrated best when Healy reads a letter Shemp has written and Shemp mouths the contents of the letter along with Healy. Stooge aficionados will be particularly interested to note that Shemp, not Moe functions as the boss Stooge.

Nokkar Sure, there are some things about Soup To Nuts that aren't really great, but the fact that the Stooges are in it...THAT's great. It's not necessarily based on them, but their appearance every now and then is always funny. And it's worth sitting through the rest of the movie to get to the end. Moe, Larry and Shemp put on a classic Stooge performance. They're firefighters trying to save people, put out the fire, and smack each other around all at the same time. It's excellent. All Three Stooges fans should see it. I could care less about Ted Healy and the other cast members. I just want to see the Stooges!