Violent Is the Word for Curly 1938

At Mildew College, a school exclusively for female students, the administration pursues a way to fund an athletic program by appealing to Mrs. Catsby, the principal benefactor. She remains wary of promoting sports for girls and instead chooses to allocate funds toward the salaries of three incoming Teutonic professors. Meanwhile, the Stooges—[Moe Howard], [Larry Fine], and [Curly Howard]—are on the payroll as attendants at the Acme Service Station [Bud Jamison], where their famously inept service soon spirals into a cascade of mishaps. Their bungling culminates in the destruction of a chauffeur-driven Packard owned by three elderly German passengers, forcing the trio to flee with the passengers’ luggage in an ice cream truck, kicking off a chaotic, cross-country escapade.

After hours of wandering, Moe and Larry discover Curly frozen solid inside the truck, and their improvised thawing plan goes awry, leaving Curly singed in the process. As if that weren’t enough, Curly dives into a nearby lake to cool off and drags his companions along. While rummaging through the abandoned suitcases for dry clothes, the Stooges unwittingly slip into the garb of the three newly arrived professors destined for Mildew College, including Beatrice Blinn as the Brainy Astronomy Student.

Upon reaching the campus, the trio are mistaken for the new instructors and are quickly presented to the student body. The moment builds with Moe leading a performance of Swingin’ the Alphabet, joined by Larry and Curly, the routine starting with a confident air but soon evolving into a lively, jazzy rendition that showcases their comic timing and unexpected rhythm.

The real professors arrive during the lunch hour, exposing the disguise and prompting Mrs. Catsby to demand their departure. Desperate to salvage their position, the Stooges propose a showcase of athletic prowess to win her approval. Their plan is sabotaged by the scheming professors, who tamper with a basketball, triggering an explosive finale. In the end, the Stooges manage to secure Mrs. Catsby’s support for the athletic fund by outwitting and capturing the professors and turning the situation to their advantage.