Nutty But Nice

Nutty But Nice

Year: 1940

Runtime: 18 mins

Language: English

Director: Jules White

Comedy

The film follows a pair of bumbling stooges who pose as singing waiters after being recruited by two eccentric doctors. Their mission: lift the spirits of a despondent little girl whose banker father has vanished, taking $300,000 in bonds with him. Hijinks and musical numbers ensue as they scramble to locate the missing man and restore cheer.

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Nutty But Nice (1940) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of Nutty But Nice (1940), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

The Stooges—[Moe Howard], [Larry Fine], and [Curly Howard]—perform as singing waiters in a bustling restaurant, where two doctors worry about Betty Williams, a young girl whose health seems shadowed by grief. Betty’s father, Mr. Williams, a bank cashier, has vanished while transporting bonds worth $300,000.

Moved by compassion, the trio pledges to find the missing father, spurred on by a description provided by the doctors: a middle-aged man with a bald spot, an anchor tattoo, and about 5’10” in height. The father and Betty share a love of yodeling, a talent Curly surprisingly demonstrates, infusing the search with warmth and a touch of comic air.

They comb the route of suspects in their characteristic quick-witted, goofy fashion, turning every lead into a chance for mischief and heart. Curly’s impromptu yodeling cuts through the noise and accidentally guides them to the hideout of one kidnapper, Butch, who is holding the captured father. A mistaken radio “yodeling cowboy” moment adds to the chaos as the Stooges close in, subduing [Butch] and freeing [Mr. Williams] from captivity.

The moment intensifies as three more gang members arrive at the scene. The Stooges and the rescued father barricade themselves in a room and improvise a daring escape using a dumbwaiter to descend into a shadowy basement. A tense, rattling contest of wiles unfolds in the dim space, and the Stooges emerge victorious, with Curly the only one left conscious in the aftermath.

Back above ground, Betty’s spirits are revived at the sight of her father’s return. The two doctors—Dr. Walters and Dr. Lyman—join the reunited family in a closing moment of celebration, as the trio’s warmth and teamwork are toasted in a final, heartening serenade. The film closes on a note of gratitude, camaraderie, and the enduring power of kindness and laughter.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 09:29

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