A Plumbing We Will Go 1940

Comedy

Runtime

18 mins

Language

English

Directed by

Del Lord

Made by

Columbia Pictures

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A Plumbing We Will Go Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for A Plumbing We Will Go (1940). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

The three troublemakers, Larry Fine, Moe Howard, and Curly Howard, are destitute vagrants who drift through life on petty schemes and small-time larcenies. Their day in court arrives when they’re accused of chicken theft, and they are brought to trial. After a tense hearing, they receive an acquittal, leaving them free but far from out of trouble or restraint.

Fresh from the courtroom, the trio schemes to snatch a live fish from a pet shop aquarium, an idea that quickly collides with the law in the form of Officer Kelly. A lively chase erupts, pushing the Stooges to improvise once again, this time by slipping into the guise of plumbers to dodge any chance of imprisonment.

With their new identity, the Stooges land a job in a lavish residence, where wealth and opulence meet their brand of chaos. Their incompetence escalates into catastrophe as the entire plumbing system of the house falls into disarray. [Curly] becomes fixated on a supposed bathroom leak and winds up constructing an elaborate, labyrinthine network of pipes that ensnares him in his own handiwork. Meanwhile, [Larry] digs up the front lawn in a misguided quest for the water shutoff, and [Moe] along with Curly accidentally connects a water pipe to a conduit that carries electrical wires. The resulting flood soaks every electrical appliance in the mansion, turning the house into a splashy maze of equipment and frustration for the bewildered cook and the household staff.

The hostess suggests watching Niagara Falls on a newly acquired television, and the moment the scene appears on screen, a torrent erupts in the room, drenching everyone present. The homeowner returns to inspect the wreckage, unintentionally undoing much of the makeshift repair work the Stooges have labored to perform.

The plot twist lands when the homeowner is revealed to be Judge Hadley, the judge who had previously acquitted them. Realizing they’ve been trapped, the Stooges sprint to escape, pursued by the judge, his Butler, and a police force on motorcycles led by the man they tried to dodge, Officer Kelly.

What follows is a frenetic, slapstick chase that keeps the trio scrambling through rooms and streets, each attempt at a quick exit turning into another comic catastrophe. The pursuit culminates in a dizzying sequence of near-captures, narrow escapes, and a final flurry of pratfalls that leave the Stooges forever entangled in their own misadventures. Amidst the chaos, the presence of Professor Bilbo and his whimsical, magical box threads a last-note of surreal humor into the mayhem, echoing the film’s signature blend of cheeky wit and physical comedy.

A Plumbing We Will Go Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of A Plumbing We Will Go (1940) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Destitute Stooges on the edge of the law

The Stooges are depicted as destitute vagrants who survive by begging and petty theft. They skulk through the city, engaging in minor larcenous schemes to keep themselves afloat.

Brought to trial for chicken theft

The trio is arrested and taken to court on charges of chicken theft. The courtroom scenes set up their criminal misadventures and foreshadow their dubious future.

Trial day Courtroom

Acquitted by the judge

The judge clears them of the charges, sparing them from jail. They walk out with a mix of relief and mischief, ready for their next caper.

After trial Courtroom

Attempt to steal a live fish

Fresh from the acquittal, they set their sights on a live fish from a pet store aquarium. They hatch a plan to pilfer the showcase specimen, only to be interrupted by Officer Kelly.

Pet store

Officer Kelly initiates a pursuit

Officer Kelly intervenes, triggering a chase that drives the Stooges to flee through the streets. The pursuit showcases their bumbling improvisation and comic timing.

City streets

Disguises as plumbers to dodge jail

To avoid incarceration, the Stooges adopt plumber disguises and blend into the world of household repairs. The ruse buys them time, but exposes them to new hazards.

Various locations

Take a job in a wealthy home

They secure a position as plumbers in a luxurious residence, hoping for an easy grift and a clean escape from the law. Their incompetence foreshadows the chaos to come.

Wealthy mansion

Destruction of the plumbing system

The trio's clumsy work breaks the mansion's entire plumbing infrastructure. Pipes burst, leaks flood rooms, and the house becomes a maze of chaos.

Mansion

Curly's pipe maze traps him

Curly, trying to fix a supposed bathroom leak, constructs an elaborate network of pipes that entangles him. He becomes ensnared in his own overcomplicated repairs as water streams everywhere.

Mansion bathroom

Larry digs for the water shut-off valve

Larry frantically digs up the front lawn in a misguided search for the water shut-off valve, disturbing the grounds and adding to the homeowner's woes.

Front lawn

Electrical-water catastrophe

Moe and Curly connect a water pipe with an electrical conduit, causing water to flood every appliance in the mansion. The chef and other residents struggle to cope with the shock and chaos.

Mansion wiring/utility area

Niagara Falls on TV triggers deluge

The hostess suggests watching Niagara Falls on her new television, and a deluge erupts as the falls are shown onscreen, soaking everyone in the room. The gag blends spectacle with the ongoing plumbing fiasco.

Mansion living room

The homeowner is the acquitting judge

The homeowner returns to reveal he is the judge who acquitted them, turning the Stooges' home improvement expedition into a sticking point with serious consequences. They realize their luck has run out.

Mansion interior

The escape begins

Realizing the jig is up, the Stooges hurry to flee, trying to leave the scene before angry witnesses and the law close in. They panic, ignoring the chaos they've caused in their wake.

Mansion and grounds

Chase ends with the Professor Marvel box in sight

The pursuit escalates as the judge, his butler, Officer Kelly, and the entire police force on motorcycles close in. The Stooges improvise a last-ditch escape, with a nod to the Professor Marvel magic box as a prop in their antics.

City streets

A Plumbing We Will Go Characters

Explore all characters from A Plumbing We Will Go (1940). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Larry (Larry Fine)

Larry is the quick-witted yet impulsive member of the trio, always ready with a scheme that backfires in comic fashion. He often misreads a situation but stays loyal to Moe and Curly, pulling the group deeper into chaos. His blend of luck and misadventure keeps the caper moving with a hopeful, goofy energy.

🎯 Resourceful 🤝 Loyal 🌀 Impulsive

Moe (Moe Howard)

Moe leads the trio with sharp timing and a tendency to boss the others around, aiming to stay one step ahead of trouble. His impatience and quick temper drive many of the chase sequences and attempted fixes. He often orchestrates their schemes, even as they spirally into bigger messes.

🔥 Bossy 🧭 Determined 🗝️ Schemer

Curly (Curly Howard)

Curly provides the physical comedy that defines the routine, blundering through repairs and getting entangled in his own improvised plumbing. His wide-eyed optimism and literal interpretations of ‘leaks’ fuel the film’s visual gags. He often becomes the focal point of the chaotic spectacle.

💥 Physical Comedy 🎯 Optimistic 🌀 Oblivious

Officer Kelly (Bud Jamison)

Officer Kelly embodies persistent law enforcement, chasing the Stooges through multiple settings and contributing to the constant sense of pursuit. His dogged determination keeps the trio on the run and heightens the sense of a cat-and-mouse caper. He represents the order the trio constantly undermines with their antics.

🚓 Persistent 🧭 Relentless

Judge Hadley (John Tyrrell)

Judge Hadley is the stern, principled figure who acquitted the trio, only to become their subsequent pursuer. His authority contrasts with the chaos around him, and his pursuit brings a final reckoning to the caper. He embodies the formal justice system that the Stooges repeatedly test with their slapstick schemes.

⚖️ Stern 🧠 Calculated

Professor Bilbo (Monte Collins)

Professor Bilbo appears as the magician’s figure whose gadgetry adds a layer of fantastical complication to the escape. His magic box concept introduces a symbolic contrast to the Stooges’ practical—yet impractical—repairs. The character embodies the lure of quick, flashy fixes that fail in spectacular fashion.

🪄 Magician 🧩 Trickster

Mrs. Hadley (Bess Flowers)

Mrs. Hadley hosts the opulent residence and becomes an unwitting arena for the trio’s misadventure. She represents the refined world the Stooges intrude upon with their improvised plumbing chaos. Her presence anchors the mansion’s social veneer amid the bedlam.

🏠 Hostess 👩‍💼 Polished

The Cook (Dudley Dickerson)

The Cook contributes to the household routine that the Stooges disrupt with bumbling efficiency. His presence adds to the busy, servant-driven dynamics of the mansion, providing another obstacle for the trio’s questionable repairs. He embodies the everyday personnel caught in the crossfire of their caper.

👨‍🍳 Busybody 🧼 Overwhelmed

A Plumbing We Will Go Settings

Learn where and when A Plumbing We Will Go (1940) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Location

Pet store, Courthouse, Opulent mansion

The film shifts through a bustling pet store with a bright aquarium, a grand opulent mansion with elaborate plumbing, and a formal courthouse where the Stooges face trial. The pet store setting contrasts with the mansion’s luxury and the rigidity of the courtroom, highlighting how far the trio will go to stay out of trouble. These locations—commerce, law, and luxury residence—become stages for slapstick chaos, disguises, and escalating mishaps.

🏛️ Court 🏡 Mansion 🐟 Pet Store

A Plumbing We Will Go Themes

Discover the main themes in A Plumbing We Will Go (1940). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

🎭

Slapstick Chaos

Physical comedy drives the narrative as Moe, Larry, and Curly continually mishandle tools and instructions. Their bungled attempts to fix a bathroom leak spiral into larger messes that ripple through the mansion. The humor rests on innocent intent colliding with ignorance and bad luck, crafting a lively pace of perpetual misadventure.

⚖️

Legal Farce

Even after an acquittal, the trio remains pursued by law enforcement and the very judge who freed them, turning the courtroom and surrounding spaces into a playground for escapes and misunderstandings. The depiction of justice leans toward melodrama and misdirection, where clever ruses outpace the formal process. The pursuit across the residence and beyond emphasizes the thin line between crime and chaos.

🧰

Incompetent Ingenuity

The Stooges attempt to operate as plumbers, using improvised methods that backfire spectacularly. A tangled network of pipes and a risky electrical mix-up transform a luxury home into a watery obstacle course. Their stubborn persistence, despite constant failures, fuels the film’s inventive, if reckless, problem-solving energy.

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A Plumbing We Will Go Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of A Plumbing We Will Go (1940). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In a bustling city where mishap seems to follow every step, three perpetual schemers find themselves once again on the run from the law. Larry Fine, Moe Howard, and Curly Howard—a trio whose very presence turns ordinary moments into a cascade of pratfalls—flee an impatient police force by donning the unlikely disguise of plumbers. Their hasty impersonation becomes a ticket out of trouble, propelling them into a new, absurdly upscale arena.

The destination of their latest ruse is an elegant mansion, a stately home whose polished corridors and gleaming fixtures stand in stark contrast to the Stooges’ chaotic energy. Within its marble hallways and lavish drawing rooms, the promise of a simple repair job quickly mutates into a playground for slapstick mayhem. The very act of “fixing a leak” offers fertile ground for their brand of comedy, as pipes and wires inevitably become tangled in a symphony of splashing water and sparking circuits, hinting at the kind of over‑the‑top destruction that defines the film’s tone.

Each member of the trio brings a distinct flavor to the pandemonium: the scheming leader whose ideas rarely survive a single step, the quick‑tempered enforcer whose blows are as much verbal as physical, and the wide‑eyed, enthusiastic fool whose antics spiral into absurdity. Their interplay fuels a rhythm of escalating gags, where every attempt at competence only deepens the disorder. Set against the backdrop of high society’s veneer, their slapstick escapades promise a relentless barrage of visual jokes, a whirlwind of water‑logged mishaps, and the ever‑present thrill of a chase that looms just beyond the next doorway.

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