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.

Having taped this movie from AMC's Third Annual Film Preservation Festival when the subject was comedy, I was very anxious to see the film debut of The Three Stooges with Ted Healy as their original leader and Shemp Howard in the original group before quitting, allowing younger brother Curly to take his place. Written by cartoonist Rube Goldberg, who makes a cameo here, the story-about an elderly costume store owner (Charles Winninger) about to lose his place-is nothing special but has some amusing visual humor when we see some of Winninger's inventions like the complicated ways to wake up and stop a robber involving a cat and a giant boot. This and other weird gadgets are what Goldberg is famous for drawing. As for the Stooges, they play firemen who Ted hangs around with when he's not constantly arguing with his girlfriend (Frances McCoy). Legend has it that Fox studio head Winfred Sheehan wanted the Stooges without Ted, who was angered and stormed off taking the boys with him, signed to a long-term contract and that's why Shemp went out on his own after a brief split soon afterwards. So this is the only time on film he's with Healy who performs along with his brother Moe (credited as Harry) and Larry Fine, none of whom have the wild hair they became known for. The reason Sheehan may have only wanted Howard, Fine, and Howard might have been the scene where they order such bizarre things like a "ham and corn beef sandwich on white on rye" or a "baloney with whipped cream"! That and a later routine with Ted in which the boys perform "The Elevator Dance" (in which Larry stands still while Moe hand pops his mouth and Shemp rubs sandpaper together) which has "no steps to it" are the funniest parts of the movie. Nearly everything else is "eh" though there's also some entertaining xylophone playing by another comic foil named Fred Sanborn and a little kid named Billy Barty amusingly attempts to pop a balloon as he keeps somersaulting. Worth a look for Three Stooges fans and anyone interested in the early talkies.

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!

As an avid fan of silent and early talking films, I saw no harm in wanting to watch this film. I had enjoyed the Three Stooges growing up, and the opportunity to watch a film from 1930 was always welcoming to me.Never before have I been so disappointed in a film from this era. It was absolutely atrocious, and a waste of seventy minutes' time. As for what happened to the actors, I couldn't care less, not that they were doing anything anyway. Somebody should have given some care to this film. The film was not even enjoyably stupid- it was just plain foolish. To think that this 'masterpiece' was preserved makes me question whether someone really didn't just throw money away. To return to the film- do you want to be sickened, made uneasy? Then watch this awful thing! Also, Fred Sanborn- ha! what can one say save that he turns the stomach! To be somewhat fair, there was one good five minute sequence with Healy and the Stooges at a party. As for the rest, it should have rotted away.