8/10
Senior Film Conservator

A definitive 8/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Disorder in the Court remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, if you have twenty minutes and need to forget about your bills, watch this immediately. It’s perfect for anyone who likes fast slapstick, but if you’re the type of person who gets annoyed by loud noises or people being intentionally stupid, you'll hate it.
This is probably the most 'Stooge' the Stooges ever got. It’s just pure, unfiltred energy from start to finish.
The setup is simple. Their friend Gail is on trial for a murder she didn't do, and the boys are musicians who were there that night.
They walk into a very serious, very stuffy courtroom. The contrast is what makes it work.
The judge looks like he hasn't smiled since the late 1800s. Then you have Curly trying to swear on a Bible, but he keeps getting his hat stuck.
That hat bit goes on for a long time. A long time.
In any other movie, you’d be checking your watch. Here, you're just waiting to see how much more frustrated Moe can get before he pokes someone in the eyes.
The way they use the space is interesting. The witness stand becomes a little stage for their nonsense.
There is a moment with a bass fiddle that is just... loud. Larry is dragging this huge instrument around and it’s hitting everything.
It reminds me a bit of the physical comedy in The Tailor, but much more aggressive. These guys don't just do comedy; they do impact.
I noticed the court reporter is actually trying to type what they say. His face is a masterpiece of confusion.
The whole thing feels like it was filmed in a weekend, which it probably was. There are some weird edits where you can tell they just cut to the next gag because the previous one was getting too messy.
"I'm a victim of soycumstance!"
Curly is at his peak here. His voice is doing things that shouldn't be humanly possible.
There’s this one part where they start playing music to prove they are musicians. The whole courtroom just turns into a dance hall for a second.
It’s so stupid. I love it so much.
If you want something serious like Gentleman's Agreement, you are in the wrong place. This is the opposite of that.
The parrot at the end feels like a bit of a weird pivot. But then again, a parrot holding a gun is exactly how a Stooges short should end, I guess.
Specific things I liked:
It's not a deep movie. It's not trying to tell you anything about the law or justice.
It’s just about three guys who are too loud for a quiet room. 🤡
One reaction shot of the jury is particularly funny because half of them look like they’re actually scared. They aren't acting; they're just worried about getting hit by a flying mallet.
The pacing is high burstiness. It's slow for three seconds, then ten things happen at once.
You don't need a brain to enjoy this. You just need to appreciate a well-timed bonk on the head.

IMDb 5.8
1935
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