The Stooges, Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Curly Howard, stumble into police work after a chaotic door-installation mishap and are pulled into duty by Commissioner I. Doolittle, played by Bud Jamison. Their mission is clear but comically perilous: catch the infamous Ape Man, a thief who hides behind a gorilla disguise and threatens the city with his audacious heists.
Following a tip about the Ape Man’s whereabouts, the trio stages a tense stakeout outside an antique shop, hoping to corner the culprit without tipping him off. The plan spirals into chaos when Curly’s attempt to test a rocking chair ends with a startled cat’s dramatic misadventure, turning a routine surveillance into a whirlwind of pratfalls and scatterbrained antics. When the moment arrives and the Ape Man steps into view, the Stooges discover they’re up against a real gorilla—Bonzo—who can shrug off their pistols with ease. Bonzo, portrayed by Ray Corrigan, looms large over the scene and shows no fear, bending the Stooges’ tools and turning their plan completely on its head.
The caper soon widens beyond a single thief. The Stooges uncover a broader plot spearheaded by Mr. Dill, head of a citizen’s league, who has his own schemes to oust the police chief for personal gain. The conspiracy links the Ape Man to a broader network of crooks, and the Stooges find themselves embroiled in a street‑level skirmish with the gangsters behind the gorilla ruse. Swinging between punches, kicks, and a cascade of comic mishaps, they fight their way through a series of escalating brawls that only their unique brand of slapstick can sustain.
As the showdown builds, Curly squares off against Bonzo in a moment that blends humor with danger. In a decisive headbutt, Curly delivers a blow that unintentionally unleashes a larger disaster: the gorilla’s demise is triggered by nitroglycerin, turning the tense finale into a spectacular if chaotic burst of comic mayhem. The Stooges’ resilience—and their relentless appetite for misadventure—paves the path to a chaotic, unforgettable finish, where good intentions meet ridiculous circumstances, and the city narrowly escapes another bizarre threat.
Throughout, the trio’s teamwork—and their signature banter—keeps the action lively and fast, weaving together slapstick skirmishes, near-misses, and moments of outright silliness that remind audiences why these iconic characters have endured. The story blends light mystery with physical comedy, delivering a layered, enduring portrait of the Stooges navigating crime-solving with more nerve than sense, and leaving viewers with a sense of the era’s playful, exuberant humor.
