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Soup to Nuts is a 1930 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Benjamin Stoloff and written by the renowned cartoonist, sculptor, and inventor Rube Goldberg. Released on September 28, 1930, by Fox Film Corporation, the movie follows the misadventures surrounding a struggling costume shop owner (Charles Winninger) and incorporates slapstick, musical numbers, and romantic subplots involving firefighters and creditors. It stands out as a lively early talkie that blends farce with Goldberg’s signature whimsical inventions and convoluted contraptions.
This film holds special significance as the screen debut of the act that would become **The Three Stooges**. In *Soup to Nuts*, Ted Healy stars as the lead, with Moe Howard (billed as Harry Howard), Shemp Howard, and Larry Fine appearing as firefighters alongside mute performer Fred Sanborn (making Healy’s group effectively four stooges in this outing). Shemp takes a more prominent, dialogue-heavy role here and even seems to lead the trio’s antics, which include classic physical comedy and an a cappella singing bit. This was the only time the original lineup with Shemp appeared together on film before the Stooges split from Healy and later replaced Shemp with Curly for their iconic Columbia shorts. Trivia includes the use of a long-running Stooges gag that reappeared throughout their career (even in their final film *Kook’s Tour*), and the presence of a young Billy Barty in an uncredited role.
**Credits (principal cast and crew):**
– **Director:Benjamin Stoloff
– **Writer: Rube Goldberg (original screen story and dialogue), with Lou Breslow
– **Producer: A. L. Rocket (Al Rockett)
– **Starring**: Ted Healy (as Ted), Charles Winninger (as Otto Schmidt), Frances McCoy (as Queenie), Stanley Smith (as Richard Carlson), Lucile Browne (as Louise)
– **The Stooges: Shemp Howard (Fireman), Moe Howard / Harry Howard (Fireman), Larry Fine (Fireman), Fred Sanborn (Mute Fireman)
– **Other notable: Hallam Cooley, George Bickel; uncredited: Billy Barty
– **Distributor: Fox Film Corporation
– **Runtime: Approximately 70 minutes (sources vary slightly between 65–71.5 minutes)