Cash and Carry

Cash and Carry

Year: 1937

Runtime: 18 mins

Language: English

Director: Del Lord

Comedy

The Stooges discover a crippled boy and his sister living in a dumpyard shack. To fund the boy’s operation they buy a bogus treasure map from a con man. Believing the loot is buried under an old house, they dig and end up in a U.S. Treasury vault, where they are arrested. President Franklin D. Roosevelt gives them amnesty and arranges the boy’s surgery.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Cash and Carry yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Cash and Carry (1937)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Cash and Carry (1937). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1930s

The film unfolds in the 1930s, a period dominated by the Great Depression and widespread unemployment. Money and survival drive the plot, with the trio seeking funds for Jimmy's operation. Their slapstick capers unfold against a backdrop of hardship and resilience.

Location

City dump, United States Treasury, Bank, White House

Set against a poverty-stricken backdrop, the Stooges' home sits in a city dump. The action moves from their makeshift shack to a bank, the Treasury, and finally the White House as misadventures escalate. The locations highlight the clash between desperate everyday life and national institutions during the era.

🗽 Urban setting 🏚️ Slum dwelling 🏦 Bank 🏛️ United States Treasury 🏛️ White House

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:28

Main Characters – Cash and Carry (1937)

Meet the key characters of Cash and Carry (1937), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Moe (Moe Howard)

Moe acts as the de facto leader of the Stooges, steering actions with blunt pragmatism and a quick temper. He shows a tough exterior but grows protective and generous when Jimmy's need becomes clear. He orchestrates plans to raise the funds for surgery and keeps the group focused amidst chaos. His loyalty to friends anchors the comedy with a warm, human core.

🧭 Leader 🛡️ Protective 🗝️ Pragmatic

Larry (Larry Fine)

Larry provides a steady, level-headed presence, often mediating conflicts and offering practical ideas. He supports the group's schemes with calm determination and helps carry the emotional weight of Jimmy's plight. His measured vibe balances Moe's intensity and Curly's energy.

🧭 Calm 🧩 Problem-solver 🤝 Supportive

Curly (Curly Howard)

Curly brings buoyant energy and childlike optimism that fuels the trio's misadventures. He discovers the 'canned coin' with enthusiasm and spurs the treasure hunt. His generosity toward Jimmy and his sister shows a soft side beneath the slapstick, making him the emotional heart at moments of tenderness.

🎉 Energetic 🫶 Generous 🔎 Curious

Jimmie (Sonny Bupp)

Jimmie is a young, physically challenged boy whose need for a life-saving operation motivates the Stooges to help. His vulnerability and determination to get better drive the trio to act, framing their misadventures as a quest with real stakes.

🧒 Hopeful 🩺 Illness 🫶 Dependency

Jimmie's Sister (Harley Wood)

Jimmie's Sister is a steadfast figure seeking help for her brother and representing hope amid hardship. Her plea deepens the Stooges' resolve and highlights the human cost of poverty, adding emotional weight to the comedy.

👩 Guardian 💔 Vulnerability 🫶 Hope

Con-Man (Lew Davis)

Lew Davis embodies the schemer archetype, tricking the Stooges and seizing their savings and car through deceit. His presence kicks off a chain of misadventures that heighten the stakes and comic tension.

🕴️ Deceptive ❗ Trickster 💰 Crook

Con-Man (Nick Copeland)

Nick Copeland pairs with Lew Davis in the con, complicating the trio's plans with another layer of deception. His role accelerates the chase and amplifies the slapstick chaos.

🕴️ Deceptive ❗ Trickster 💼 Grifter

President Roosevelt (Al Richardson)

The President appears as a figure of authority who ultimately pardons the Stooges and offers to cover Jimmy's surgery. His intervention reframes the misadventure into a resolution that underscores empathy and national support.

🏛️ Authority 🤝 Compassion ✨ Hope

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:28

Major Themes – Cash and Carry (1937)

Explore the central themes of Cash and Carry (1937), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🤝 Compassion

Compassion drives the core of the story. The Stooges initially accept an orphaned girl and her brother, recognizing their need despite poverty. Their willingness to help Jimmy's operation reveals a softer side beneath the trio's chaotic antics. The film uses humor to highlight generosity in hard times.

💸 Poverty

Depression-era scarcity frames the pursuit of money and the lengths the characters go to secure it. The 'canned coin' moment embodies a quick windfall contrasted with the reality of slow aid through banks. The plot uses financial stress to fuel both comedy and genuine goodwill.

🧭 Adventure

The treasure-hunt vibe propels the trio into a caper-filled chase through misdirections and mishaps. Their search for funds leads them from mundane poverty to antics that brush against national institutions. The journey balances danger with lighthearted bravado.

🌟 Redemption

Redemption arrives when a higher authority intervenes. The Stooges’ good deeds, despite their bumbling, are acknowledged by others. The President’s pardon reframes their misadventures into a moment of humanitarian intervention, ending on a hopeful note.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:28

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Hilarious Misadventures with Heart like in Cash and Carry

Bumbling heroes cause chaos while trying to do the right thing.Explore more movies like Cash and Carry where bumbling heroes create delightful chaos. If you enjoyed the Stooges' good intentions and comic blunders, you'll love these similar stories of slapstick misadventures fueled by genuine heart and an optimistic spirit.

slapstickchaoticlightheartedoptimisticenergeticcompassionatemisadventure

Narrative Summary

These stories typically follow a simple arc: characters are motivated by a noble goal (often helping someone) but are utterly inept. Their attempts to solve the problem lead directly to a series of escalating, comedic failures, usually involving physical humor and misunderstandings, before culminating in an unexpectedly happy resolution.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread are grouped by their shared blend of relentless, fast-paced physical comedy and a fundamentally optimistic, good-hearted core. The focus is on the joy of the chaotic journey rather than complex plots, making them perfect for lighthearted viewing.

Found Family Comedies with Chaos like in Cash and Carry

Misfits band together through hilarious mishaps to form an unlikely family.Find more films similar to Cash and Carry that feature found families formed through comedy. These movies share the theme of unlikely groups coming together amid hilarious misadventures, perfect for fans of lighthearted stories about connection and helping others.

found familycompassionatelightheartedoptimisticmisadventurehelping otherseccentric characters

Narrative Summary

The narrative centers on an improvised family unit—often a trio or group of misfits—who take on a project or come to the aid of someone more vulnerable. Their collective incompetence or bizarre methods creates the comedy, but their loyalty and shared purpose are what ultimately define the story and lead to a positive outcome.

Why These Movies?

This thread groups films based on the specific dynamic of a found family whose primary interactions are comedic. The focus is on the lighthearted, chaotic process of bonding rather than heavy emotional drama, emphasizing optimism and the joy of unlikely friendships.

Unlock the Full Story of Cash and Carry

Don't stop at just watching — explore Cash and Carry in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Cash and Carry is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Cash and Carry Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Cash and Carry, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Cash and Carry Summary

Cash and Carry Timeline

Track the full timeline of Cash and Carry with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Cash and Carry Timeline

Cash and Carry Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Cash and Carry that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Cash and Carry Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Cash and Carry

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Cash and Carry: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Cash and Carry

Similar Movies to Cash and Carry

Discover movies like Cash and Carry that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.