Nutty but Nice

Nutty but Nice is a 1940 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 47th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the comedians, who released 190 shorts for the studio between 1934 and 1959.

Plot
The Stooges are singing waiters in a restaurant where they encounter two physicians concerned about the well-being of Betty Williams, a young girl grappling with illness induced by grief. Betty's father, a bank cashier, has been abducted while transporting bonds valued at $300,000. Motivated by compassion, the Stooges undertake the task of locating the missing father, prompted by a description provided by the doctors: a middle-aged man with a bald spot, sporting an anchor tattoo, and standing at 5'10" in stature. Notably, the father and Betty share a penchant for yodeling, a skill Curly surprisingly demonstrates proficiency in.

The trio embarks on their mission with zeal, interrogating every potential suspect encountered along their path in their signature Stooge manner. Amid their efforts, Curly's impromptu yodeling inadvertently leads them to the hideout of one of the kidnappers, Butch, who is monitoring the captive father. Mistakenly identifying a yodeling cowboy on the radio as the cashier, the Stooges confront Butch, subdue him, and liberate Betty's father from captivity.

Their heroic intervention is soon met with confrontation as three additional members of the gang arrive at the scene. Employing resourcefulness, the Stooges and the rescued father barricade themselves in a room, utilizing a dumbwaiter to descend to the basement. A skirmish ensues in the dimly lit basement, ultimately culminating in victory for the Stooges, albeit leaving Curly as the sole conscious individual amidst the aftermath.

In the denouement, the father is joyously reunited with Betty, whose spirits are revived from their previous despondency. The heartwarming conclusion unfolds as the Stooges, along with the two doctors, serenade the reunited family in a triumphant display of camaraderie and compassion.

Production notes
Nutty but Nice was filmed from April 27 to May 2, 1940. The film title is a play on the expression, "naughty but nice".