The good news is for movie buffs who aren't necessarily fans of the Three Stooges; Their running time in this film is similar to the length of one of their shorts. The bad news is for Three Stooges fans expecting them to be the stars. They aren't. And for me, it's the first. The good news for both parties is that what they do here is more than tolerable for the non-fans and obviously some of their funniest gags, which is also good news for their fans who might be disappointed by their lack of screen time.

The plot surrounds three partners in a talent agency who disagree about how the business should be run and the interest of agent Richard Lane (in control of the business end) in fickle singer Rosemary Lane. She leaves the business to become the wife of a wealthy man and upon her divorce, aspires to return, making Lane think that they have a future together. This brings conflict because the other partners Rudy Vallee (in control of the artistic end) and Allen Jenkins (the unofficial "silent partner") find her unreliable. They find a genuine talent in Rosemary's perky maid (a very young Ann Miller) and the more reliable singer Joan Merrill (as herself) and try to get Richard to see the truth. But as she continues to play passive/aggressive games with him, Richard gets more caught in her seemingly innocent web and the partners have another falling out which can only be resolved by Vallee and Jenkins putting a big show on in Richard's nightclub where the Stooges, who have been interrupting things periodically throughout the film, finally get their big break, and like Ruby Keeler in "42nd Street", Miller gets to show off her tap dancing skills to an appreciative audience.

In a reverse plot twist similar to "Kiss Me Kate", the Stooges hold Rosemary hostage so she can't go on, much like the gangsters in "Kiss Me Kate" did to ensure that the leading diva would go on. The Stooges are first seen performing a knife throwing act (with Curley practically blind and creating all sorts of havoc as he trips all over a nightclub setting) while the future "Sugar Baby" is first seen, legs only, tapping out on a balcony. Joan Merrill does most of the singing, with Miller providing the dance, including a number with Jenkins. As for Rosemary Lane, her character isn't the bitch of usual such roles (like Bebe Daniels in "42nd Street" and sister Lola Lane's in "Hollywood Hotel"),but quietly selfish and subtly manipulative. Miller is sweet and likable, and while you long for her to confront her former employer towards the end, she remains every inch the lady. Perennial T.V. sitcom guest-star Elvia Allman and Blanche Stewart are hysterically funny as the man-crazy secretaries in the agency.

The songs by Sammy Cahn and Saul Chaplin are enjoyable, if not classics, and are given a bit more rhythm by the presence of Six Hits and a Miss. "The Boogie Woogie Man" has some neat photographic effects (similar to Miller's later "I Gotta Hear That Beat" from "Small Town Girl"). I would have to rank this as the highlight of the Three Stooges Collection released from Millcreek Video, and hope that they continue to release some rarely seen classics that are sleepers seldom seen except by devoted collectors.

I first read of this rare Three Stooges-Moe, Larry, and Curly-feature when reading the book "The Stooges' Lost Episodes" which loved the Stooges' routines here especially the "Maharraja of Vulgaria" one when Curly hadn't yet suffered his stroke as they say was evidenced when he later performed that in the Three Little Pirates short. Anyway, the Stooges aren't the only highlights here, tap dancer Ann Miller is introed by her glamorous legs first before we then see the rest of her in her maid outfit. No wonder Columbia gave her a long-term contract after she performed in this. Character actor Allen Jenkins Is also on hand doing fine comedy takes as well as occasionally doing a musical number as he does with Ms. Miller here. Crooner Rudy Vallee does occasionally sing with one of the numbers being with Joan Merrill who warbles a couple more solo. Besides the Stooges, Blanche Stewart and Elvira Allman also provide comic relief as secretaries Brenda and Cobina. Watch both teams during the rumba number near the end, what laughs! So on that note, I highly recommend Time Out for Rhythm for all the Stooges fans out there.

I finally got a copy of this recently thanks to a fellow Stooge fan online.

Wow, this was a great movie! This has to be one of the best movies they did when Curly was with the group. For being in a supporting role here the Stooges get a lot of great screen time and they make the most of it. All the stuff they do in this movie is freaking hilarious. Seeing a healthy Curly do the "Maharajah" Routine is worth it alone, it makes the one a few years later in "Three Little Pirates" with a sick Curly pale in comparison. But that's just the begging of the fun with their gangster impression, the Telegram messengers bit and they even bring back the Melodrama bit they did back in vaudeville with Ted Healy. Then they hit another home run with their Conga Dance at the end with Brenda and Cobina performing with them. Curly was awesome trying to be like Carmen Miranda! I was laughing out loud several times while watching them. I also enjoyed the main storyline because the actors did a great job. Ann Miller was amazing, now that's how you dance! She was something else.

All in all, a good, fun movie that doesn't deserve its rare and obscure status. This should have been put on DVD ages ago! If you can catch it on cable or get a copy from someone like I did its worth it.