"The Knife of the Party" is a painfully unfunny short film with almost nothing to recommend it. The only thing worth seeing, perhaps, is to see Shemp Howard with his own versions of the Three Stooges. This is fascinating because Shemp was one of the original Stooges but quit and was replaced by his brother, Curly, when the team went to Hollywood. Then, on stage, Shemp created a new Stooge act--and this film is apparently the only appearance of these faux Stooges. It's odd because Shemp acts in the Moe role and there are FIVE not three of the Stooges. But they also aren't the least bit funny and do some of the usual Stooge antics (such as slapping) but in an unfunny way.
As for the rest of the film, it's an unfunny comedy set in a hotel. It's full of singing (one of the songs is actually enjoyable, the rest aren't). Overall, it's not the least bit entertaining nor funny--as this Van Buren offering is terribly written and just bad.