The Stooges are phone repairmen who are mistaken for the psychiatrists in whose office they are working, Drs. Z. Ziller (Curly), X. Zeller (Larry), and Y. Zoller (Moe). Wealthy J. Rumsford Rumford (Don Beddoe), upon the recommendation of a doctor friend of his, hires them to treat his impetuous, free-spirited young wife, Sherry Rumford (Lorna Gray). The Stooges ruin their clients' dinner party in their usual style, leading into a food fight, but because their antics so amuse his wife, her husband believes that she is cured and the Stooges are paid handsomely for their efforts. However, when the husband presents a birthday cake to his wife, he purposely drops the cake on the top of her head, ending her joyous frenzy.

Production notes
Three Sappy People was filmed on April 6–10, 1939.[2] The film's title is a parody of the song title "Two Sleepy People." The short is also the sixth of sixteen Stooge shorts with the word "three" in the title.[1]

Folklore says that during the pastry fight, 22-year-old Lorna Gray had to be treated on the set after a cream puff became lodged in her throat. However, in an interview later in her life, Gray actually stated that she was not in any danger and that it was instead director Jules White who was so concerned that he nearly ruined the take.[1]

Directed by Jules White
Produced by Jules White
Written by Clyde Bruckman
Starring Moe Howard
Larry Fine
Curly Howard
Lorna Gray
Don Beddoe
Bud Jamison
Ann Doran
Richard Fiske
Cinematography George Meehan
Edited by Charles Nelson
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release date
December 1, 1939 (U.S.)