Welcome to Public Domain Theater, your home for the wonderful world of films that have (in the United States, at least) fallen into the public domain, and are free for everyone to see!
We have a very special film for you this go around. The 1930 film Soup to Nuts might not be one you’ve ever heard of, but it introduced three lovable numskulls that I’m certain you have. For you see, this film is the screen debut of three actors who would soon after become known as “The Three Stooges”: Larry, Moe … and Shemp.
(Yes, Shemp actually predated Curly.)
The Stooges are only supporting players in this picture, but they make good use of their screentime – and the rest of the film’s no slouch either. It was written by famed cartoonist Rube Goldberg, who also makes a small cameo in the film. If you’re familiar with the phrase “Rube Goldberg Machine”, it shouldn’t surprise you that the plot features a lot of wacky, improbable, and over-complicated gadgets that add loads of sight gags and physical comedy to the proceedings.
This all builds to a massive, go-for-broke climax full of madcap pandemonium, and is well worth checking out.
And in choosing a short film to go with Soup to Nuts … well, how could I do otherwise than pick another Three Stooges picture. “Malice in the Palace” is a Shemp era short with the Stooges at their loony best, full of zany schemes, farcical misunderstandings, and (of course) many, many, many blows to the head.
So, if head trauma is a triggering event for you … maybe skip this one. But for everyone else, come enjoy some wacky slapstick greats straight from the Public Domain!
Opening Short:
Feature Presentation:
