Enjoy the iconic Three Stooges short Disorder in the Court (1936), a public domain slapstick classic packed with laughs, chaos, and courtroom mayhem.
🎭 Disorder in the Court (1936) – Slapstick Chaos in the Courtroom
Disorder in the Court is a fan-favorite short film starring the legendary slapstick trio, The Three Stooges. Released by Columbia Pictures in 1936, this is the 15th short in their long-running series. The Stooges—Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Curly Howard—deliver nonstop laughs as they turn a murder trial upside down with music, mischief, and mayhem. The film is now in the public domain, making it free to watch and enjoy.
⚖️ Summary – Witnesses of Mass Confusion
The Three Stooges play musicians at the Black Bottom Café, called in as key witnesses in a murder trial. Their friend, dancer Gail Tempest, is accused of killing a man named Kirk Robin (a cheeky nod to the nursery rhyme Who Killed Cock Robin?).
The courtroom quickly descends into absurdity as Curly delays his testimony by playing jacks and tic-tac-toe in the hallway. Once on the stand, the Stooges decide to “recreate the night’s events” through music and dance. Gail joins in by shedding her coat to reveal her dance costume, stunning the courtroom.
Things escalate when a toupee is mistaken for a tarantula, prompting Moe to fire a gun, and chaos ensues. Eventually, the real evidence surfaces—literally—from the foot of a parrot, revealing a confession from the true killer, Buck Wing. Just as justice is restored, a water hose explosion drenches everyone, ending the film with a final slapstick splash.
🧑⚖️ Cast
- Moe Howard – Moe
- Larry Fine – Larry
- Curly Howard – Curly
- Suzanne Kaaren – Gail Tempest
- Bud Jamison – Lawyer
- Harry Semels – Prosecuting Attorney
- James C. Morton – Judge
- Sol Horwitz – Courtroom spectator (uncredited, real-life father of Moe, Curly, and Shemp)
🎬 Why This Short Still Gets Laughs
- Public Domain Favorite: One of only four Three Stooges shorts that are free to share and screen legally.
- Classic Gags: From courtroom pratfalls to Curly’s signature spoon-playing, this short contains some of the Stooges’ most iconic moments.
- Historical Fun: First short where “Curly” is spelled without the “e,” and where he appears first in the opening credits.
- Highly Accessible: Because it’s in the public domain, Disorder in the Court is widely available online and included in countless classic comedy compilations.
📺 Watch or Download Disorder in the Court (1936)
🎥 Movie Source: Internet Archive (archive.org)
▶️ Watch Full Movie
⚠️ Disclaimer
Disorder in the Court (1936) is in the public domain in the United States. Please check your local copyright laws before redistributing or republishing the film.
🏷️ Tags
Three Stooges 1936, Disorder in the Court full movie, public domain comedy, courtroom slapstick, Moe Larry Curly, classic short films, Columbia Pictures comedy, Suzanne Kaaren, public domain Three Stooges shorts, vaudeville humor
