Reviews (25)

You say it's your birthday
Yes it is a John Wayne movie and has many of his standard cast. This is a Christmas movie and a birthday movie. And, And, And. John Wayne gets to say, "Swing your legs...limbs over" in his John Wane manner.

Cesar Romero (Marquis Andre de Lage) is always scheming to go to Hollywood and is the first to bring up the fact that the offspring of Jack Warden (Dr. William Dedham) are half-cast and may not meet Boston standards. This leads to situations that just keep snowballing. "Oh, what tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive."

Everyone gets an appropriate present for Christmas. But I think the best one is the one that Lee Marvin (Thomas Aloysius 'Boats' Gilhooley) receives. And he gets to play King of America at the pageant.

There is not a slow moment in this film and you have to keep up with all the subplots. And the scenery is breathtaking.

Watch this one for the performances!
"Donovan's Reef" is a strange hybrid of a movie. On the one hand, it's a vehicle for John Wayne to show off with the rest of the very talented cast. On the other, it's also a morality play about racism, set on a lush, (and distant) South Pacific island, but very relevant to the United States of the early 1960s. In these days of multiracial awareness, the latter aspect seems a bit dated, and talk about "half caste [non-white] children" is quaint. Cliches and cultural stereotypes abound, but in its time "Donovan's Reef" was a progressive and even (as another reviewer has called it) "subversive" movie. The beautiful exotic setting no doubt made the message of racial equality more palatable to the mainstream American audience of the day.

Today, however, the movie endures primarily because of the strength of the cast and the characters they create. A young Lee Marvin plays the brawling Gilhooley and Cesar Romero the pleasantly oily French governor. The Asian actor who plays the governor's aide is truly splendid. His name should be up in the main credits along with the stars. Although there is not a weak performance among the lot, my favorite moments are the exchanges between Wayne and Elizabeth Allen, his foil and romantic interest. She plays the supposedly straitlaced Bostonian and he the salty ex-pat bar owner. Both are strong characters, and they give each other as good as they get.

On the negative side, the narrative is sometimes disjointed, as if the movie tries to be too much in too little time. It's as if too much film ended up on the cutting room floor. A pity, because if what was edited out is of the same caliber as what was left in, some rare moments have been lost. Too bad John Ford isn't around to do a "director's cut."

"Donovan's Reef" may not be a great movie, but it sure is fun to watch.

GETS BETTER WITH EACH PASSING YEAR
Professional movie reviewers and published guides do not rate Donovan's Reef very high. More than a few seem to look down their noses at this light comedy. But I have always liked it. Nothing about this movie is supposed to be taken seriously with the sole exception of its subtle rejection of racism. (Some may nitpick about certain depictions of the "non-whites"; but only the hard hearted would fail to notice that the "whites" come off as essentially foolish as well.) At the center is the battle of the sexes between Wayne and Elizabeth Allen-each side getting its share of victories and comeuppances. All the characters are likable and the writing is sharp and witty.

Of special enjoyment is the Christmas Pageant in the leaky chapel. I have never been able to think about the "three wise men" of the Christmas story without this scene coming to mind. The Polynesian ceremony at the end of the film is also humorous as well as touching.

The setting is supposed to be French Polynesia but everything about the film from the scenery to the people suggests Hawaii. No matter. This is simply a great "little" comedy. Watch it some lazy Sunday afternoon and it will make your day.

Don't Take This Too Serious
John Wayne does a great job at Playing John Wayne! This movie is not a serious work -- but rather it is a great excuse for the Duke and his posse to kick it in Hawaii.

Navy buds, pretty girls, beautiful tropical scenery and a big bowl of popcorn makes for a great family night at home. It took me a long to find this movie, but fortunately I finally did.

I can't even begin to count how many times my family and I have seen this great Wayne yarn.

A Top Ten JW movie!
I have to give this 5 stars. I love 80% and just fast forward past the 20% I don't like, and walla!! A nice, short, fun, family friendly, non-disney entertainment. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

The Greatest Show on Earth is a heaping helping of flapdoodle served up by one of Hollywood's canniest entertainers:producer-director Cecil B. DeMille. This overripe melodrama purports to be life inside the Ringling Brothers Circus; maybe it's not, but the circus ought to be like this. The actors wrestling with the purple dialogue are:early-career Charlton Heston, as the tough-as-nails circus manager; Cornel Wilde and Betty Hutton as trapeze artistes; and Gloria Grahame (who won an Oscar), dangling from elephants. Best of all, James Stewart plays a clown who--for mysterious reasons--never removes his makeup. (Stewart took the supporting role simply because he'd always wanted to play a clown.) This is a fried-baloney sandwich of a movie:it ain't sophisticated, and probably isn't good for you, but once you start you can't stop. It was the box-office champ of 1952, and it shocked everybody by winning the best picture Oscar. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Amazon.com

What is it about hitchhikers that makes them such a sure-fire bet for horror? This question is addressed in the final segment of Creepshow 2, another Stephen King-George Romero collaboration. "The Hitchhiker" is the simplest and best of the three tales on display here, with Lois Chiles as a cheating wife who just can't seem to get rid of a hitchhiker... no matter how hard she tries. The collection gets off to a slow start with "Old Chief Wood'n Head," a sleepy story of Native American justice. "The Raft" is a passable teens-in-peril number, but it worked better on the page than on screen. Romero adapted the King stories but emphatically did not direct, which accounts for the drop-off from the kicky fun of the first Creepshow. King appears as a dimwitted truck driver--a foreshadowing of Maximum Overdrive? In any case, this one's for diehard fans only. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (59)

"Creepshow 3", anyone?
I liked this movie for many reasons. One, the first one was terrifyingly scary (I was 8 when I first saw it). Two, it was written by horror master Stephen King. The first story, "Old Chief Woodenhead," about a cigar store Indian who avenges the murders of his kindly shop owners, was creepy enough. Only really scary if you are easily creeped out or if you watch it at night with the lights off. The second story, "The Raft," about four college students who go to a secluded lake and unwittingly become sitting ducks to a carnivorous oil slick-like blob was particularly scary. My second favorite out of the three stories in the movie. The last of the three and by far the simplist and most scariest was "The Hitchkiker." About a cheating wife driving home from a rendevous with her lover and runs down some poor guy. She flees the scene only to be haunted by his undead spirit. Makeup effects by master Tom Savini were awesome. The complaints I have about the movie are minor ones. Why were there only three stories instead of five like in the first one? Also, what was up with the animated wraparound story? Yes, the first
"Creepshow" featured animated in-betweens before and after each story, but it did not have any cartoonish interaction between characters in its prologue or epilogue. Also the score wasn't nearly as scary as it was in the first movie. The fillmmakers should have tried to get the same composer to return as well as director George A. Romero. The DVD doesn't have that many special features on it. The trailer and a behind-the-scenes photo gallery montage are about it. I would have liked to at least have a commentary by the director if not a couple of the cast members. Last but not least, when will there be a "Creepshow 3"? It's never too late for another sequel. Hello, Hollywood is sequel-crazy these days. Now is the time to strike. Overall, a decent pick if you're looking for a fright ride.

As good as the first one in a bad way
Creepshow 2 isn't so glamorous as its predecessor, but in many ways that works in its favor. Gone is the lightshow and comics-inspired camera work. All that is left are 3 nifty Stephen King stories and some serviceable actors to bring them to life (with the exception of George Kennedy who does a wonderful job as a storekeep who is murdered by thugs and avenged by a wooden Indian). The wooden Indian tale that starts this movie comic book probably sums up all the themes that EC comics tried to beat us over the head with: If you are bad, bad things will happen to you. Hence, thugs kill sweet storekeep, wooden Indian gores thugs. They only got what was coming to them. Story Two, "The Raft" is all-out cool. Kids smoke pot and swim to a raft (in an off-limits lake), and blob of gook on lake eats kids one by one until all that is left is the Camaro the kids drove up in. "The Raft" is giddy fun. Genuinely creepy. But wait, there's "The Hitchhiker." Lois Chiles plays an adulteress driving home from a fling when she kills a hitch hiker and then drives off. Of course, hitch hiker won't let her get away with that and so what follows is the scariest and most off beat segment in the movie. I mean, this guy can't be killed, but Lois Chiles certainly gives it all she's got. In the end, though - good triumphs and Lois gets hers. And it's all great fun. Not so flashy as Creepshow one, but this sequel is worthy.

"Thanks for the ride lady!"
Thanks for a crappy rental blockbuster. This movie blew more then a three dollar hooker. My friend and I were so disapointed in this movie. We both saw the first one and loved it. Every story in that one was awesome and they all had a cool comic book feel and each one was different from the other. Well the sequel had a feeling of "When will this movie end" ok i will be honest the second story was really good and the blob thing was awesome. I know it is just a movie but it did bother me that the car battery never died after the car being on for so long but again it is just a movie. that story is the reason why i gave it two stars instead of one.
The last story was the one that ruined the movie. I mean the first story was neat but not great and the second one was cool but the third one was poop on a stick. All it was, was a black guy in a raincoat screaming "thanks for the ride lady" while getting killed thirty times. The only thing that terrified me was how i laughed during that scene because i was thinking what if Dave Chapelle remade this but with him as the black guy. It would have been hilarious. So just rent the first one and if you do really want to see this just watch the first two stories and skip the last one, you will thank me

A Hoot
I love this sequel to Creepshow, more fun and sillyness. My favorite in this one is "Old Chief Wood'n Head,". I just always liked this one. Too bad they never made a Creepshow 3 and so on. This would have been a good series if more were made by the same crew that did one and two. This is a fun film with plenty of laughs and cheesiness. Check it out if you haven't already.

Good follow up but not as good as the 1st!
Let me start off by saying that I loved creepshow, I was somewhat dissapointed with this one. I bought a box set called 3 from the mind of Stephen King, just for this one. But I figured out that the other two (children of the corn and maximum overdrive) where alot better! anyways, the first story starts of with a wooden indian coming to life and seeking revenge. this story is called Ol' chief woodenhead. then next story is "the raft" this one is probably my favorite one of them all. its about four friends whose vacation to a lake turns into a nightmare! and the last story is about a lady who runs over a hitchiker and he comes back to life and haunts her. and by the way the creep looks nothing like he did in the first! Rated R for horror violence, language, and some nudity. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Beware if you have a widescreen TV...
This is a fine presentation and packaging of the seventh (and weakest) of the Crosby-Hope "Road" series. True fans will want this for their collection, and I agree that Hong Kong is not as bad as it is often portrayed. In the era of Austin Powers, this film actually picks up some points for kitch; it was arguably the first spoof of the '60s spy thriller.

But there is one very unfortunate flaw in this DVD version. Even though this is the first release of this movie in widescreen, this DVD is not optimized for widescreen televisions. So if you have a wdiescreen TV this movie will appear letterboxed on all four sides, the frame of the picture will not fill out your widescreen from left to right. This is an infuriating lapse on the part of MGM.

Watch it for Peter Sellers short but stellar bit!
This isn't nearly as bad as often made out to be. For one thing these guys were ALWAYS to old for these antics, otherwise they would have been making them in the 1930s. By this time their timing was down pat & frankly the writing here seemed a lot sharper than the previous entries. But the real reason to watch this is a terrific hilarious & all too brief turn by Peter Sellers as an Indian doctor that is as funny as anything Sellers or anyone else ever did on screen.

Road to Hong Kong
Definetly not the best of the Road pictures but mildly entertaining and worth having to complete the Road collection.
Both Crosby and Hope are noticably older and really don't have the magic with Joan Collins like they did with Dorothy Lamour and the jokes are trying to be funny instead of just being funny.

Hillarious, My Family Constantly Quotes This Film!
most often left out of lists of the popular "road to. . ." movies is road to hong kong. many people don't like it, but it is my favorite, it actually has a plot! (until the very end where it gets kind of odd) the story is about harry turner and chester babcock, con artists who, when the film begins, are on the eve of their newest scheme. they have hundreds of paying investors into an innovation that is supposed to use this rocket space suit thing and cause someone to fly. when the "brave native" that was supposed to demonstrate the suit backs out, turner and babcock have to come up with a plan. turner forces babcock in the suit and chester ends up flying through the roof of the warehouse where the demonstration is being held.

poor chester.

next we see harry visiting babcock in the hospital discovering that chester has lost his memory. he doesn't remember what girls are and what he did with them, what money is and what he did with it, and he can't even remember his own name. The former two seem to be of great concern to him.

harry feels terrible and takes chester to the best doctors he can find. a few of them tell him about a monestary where a memory herb is used. harry and chester find that this story is true and go to the airport. it is at the airport that they meet up with diane, a secret agent for a group called the third eschelon. she thinks that chester is her contact and gives him a secret formula that is needed to send a rocket into space. this third group apparently wants to beat russia and the u.s. to space and threaten to drop bombs on them unless they don't accept rule under their force.

at any rate, i won't reveal too much, but it is a very very funny film -- especially the bannana scene. i laugh so hard each time i see it. to me the chemistry of hope and crosby is at its finest. if you love the other road movies, then maybe you will not like this departure -- but there is so much more of the "real world" woven into this pic, you cannot help but love it. also, peter sellers' cameo is fabulous as an insane doctor, so buy this film or rent it today. (i have it on vhs but am waiting impatiently for a DVD version to come out, I wonder why they haven't released it) oh, and there are of course some sterotypes in the film, but don't let them offend you and enjoy the chemistry of the characters!

I loved it!
I know that many people consider this the worst of the Road movies, but I would consider it my favorite. While dissapointed in not having Dorothy in there more than just a cameo appearance, I think the rest of the movie makes up for it! The banana feeding scene was the best! (Hope and Crosby being tested in place of the monkeys on the spaceship) This movie also had some other good cameo appearances. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Quick Trip...
This is a review of the STERLING/PEARSON DVD "Bob Hope Film Collection" edition (with the green cover!) I hope that helps set this apart from the other editions and reviews...

The film is a good example of the Road movies - it's no Utopia or Morocco, but it's still very entertaining. Lamour is ravishing whilst Hope and Crosby wise-crack and soft-shoe with the best of 'em. All in all a four star movie.

However, this DVD has a rather pathetic amount of extras (ie. none), a fair-to-middling print and a very low audio track. My suggestion is to find another DVD edition. At the end of the day - we all want to upgrade from VHS to DVD, so why settle for an edition that is estentially lower quality?

Good and wholesome family entertainment!!
The "road" series are tremendous fun. Despite having seen these movies many times over we still enjoy them each and every time that we watch them. My wife and I have introduced these classics to our children who have become avid fans of Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour. When you think of Bob Hope you naturally think of the ROAD series. This is comedy that you can share with your family without fear inappropriate content. Enjoy!!

Wonderful movie, their wit shines through tremendously.
Well, the movie is wonderful. It's hilarious and charming, with Hollywood Oomph boy adding a scene. FUNNY!
Always Crosby and Hope share their wity banter.

If you want a taste:
They're insulting each other, of course.
"Swine" - Crosby
"Pig" - Hope
"swine means pig" - Crosby
"fine, ham." - Hope

It's just all around witty and charming.
The only defect of the video is the sound quality, it's muffled and I can scarecly make out what they're saying at times. I was continuously straining to hear they're witty banter.
The movie itself is well worth having. Although I recommend you go with a DVD version, if you want to really hear and crack up at their constant inults.
Otherwise GREAAAAAAAAAAT!

Its Sad to see Bob Hope pass away today...
He lived a very long life and gave tremendously to America and the World. In this we hope people can remember happier times by watching this video.

Best of the Road series, with one small glitch
This has always been my favorite film in my favorite film series. And I agree with the other reviews here that the Brentwood DVD boasts a nice crisp print, courtesy of the UCLA Film Archives. However, there is one inexplicable mistake in the video transfer. Movies such as this that predate widescreen format generally fit neatly into a standard TV picture frame with only minimal clipping on all sides. But "letterboxing" is not just for wide-screen movies. In the better DVD and video versions of pre-widescreen movies the opening credits are often letterboxed on all four sides so that the viewer can see the entire frame without the names being clipped off at the beginning or end (hence the word "letterbox").
Such is the case with this version of Road to Rio. There is a 4-sided letterbox around the opening credits, but the frame of the film is not adjusted to fit inside the letterbox! So instead of allowing us to see the entire frame, the letterboxing here actually masks a large portion of the picture. (This is really unfortunate because the opening credits are quite clever, with the names of the stars literally dancing along a cartoonish painting of the Copacabanna beach to the tune of "Brazil.") As you watch the credits you will notice the clumsy pan-and-scan as the frame is consciously maneuvered within the letterbox to follow the shifting position of names and credits. This of course, defeats the whole purpose of letterboxing, and begs the question, "What were these people thinking?" They obviously knew the picture did not fit the letterbox!
The reason this is so annoying is that Director Norman Z. McLeod (perhaps the most accomplished comedy director of the entire "Road" series) was a cartoonist and drew a series of amusing little stick-figure caricatures of the cast and crew that appear in the lower right hand corner of Road to Rio's opening credits. This was a trademark of McLeod's; he did this in some of his earlier comedies as well. Unfortunately the ham-fisted letterboxing almost completely obscures these drawings. I know this sounds like a minor complaint, but Rio's opening titles are the best in the series and really set the tone for the whole movie. Someone really had to go out of their way to mess up an otherwise excellent presentation of this film. An earlier VHS version of Road to Rio released by Columbia Home Video managed to letterbox the opening credits properly.
It's a shame that Road to Rio and Road to Bali are not owned by Universal (which owns all of Paramount's pre-1948 releases including the first four "Road" films). Universal's "Road" DVDs are technically beautiful. If Rio and Bali could have been part of Universal's DVD set, fans would've been very fortunate. Alas Rio and Bali are owned by Bob Hope Enterprises. As is often the case with older films whose copyrights are not held by major studios with the resources to do them justice, these two great films (as well as several other Hope classics owned by Hope Enterprises) have had a very inconsistent existence on home video.
May 2003 marks not only the 100th birthday of the great Mr. Hope, but Bing Crosby would also have been 100 years old this month! (Bing was 27 days older than Bob). Even with the letterboxing glitch, this DVD of Road to Rio is a wonderful way to celebrate the centennial of one of Hollywood's greatest comedy teams. Happy Birthday, Bob! ... Read more

Description

They are some of the best-loved film comedies ever created.Now, four of the most popular "Road" pictures, starring the unbeatable screen duo of Bob Hope and Bing Crosby, are here together in this deluxe DVD collection.Join Bing and Bob as they travel the world and experience rollicking, fun-filled misadventures in the company of the alluring Dorothy Lamour in such screen gems as Road to Singapore, Road to Zanzibar, Road to Morocco and Road to Utopia.You'll laugh yourself silly with four of the titles that made Hope and Crosby one of the most successful comedy teams of the 1940s and which continue to charm and entertain audiences of all ages today. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great Collection, But Where Are the Other Three?
This collection of the first four Road pictures is well worth having. The picture quality is excellent and all four films are loaded on one double-sided disc. But where are the remaining three Road pictures? This would have made the ultimate Road collection. Disappointing.

bob and bing are hilarious
bob hope and bing crosby are great together. their antics in these movie are so funny i had to laugh. i have seen these four movies and one other of the "on the road to" movies. they are comical. any classic movie love should love these. it is definately worth the $20.00 i spent on the 4 pack of moives.

Patty-Cake, Patty-Cake, Baker's Man...
Wow! The first four Hope and Crosby road pics on one DVD! What can you say? The first two, ROAD TO SINGAPORE and ROAD TO ZANZIBAR (though still funny) are still trying to flesh out the chemistry of the duo and the two actors adhere to the scripts. Then, they hit their stride of hilarity and break out in ROAD TO MORROCCO and continues in ROAD TO UTOPIA. However, in ROAD TO ZANZIBAR evidence of what is to come in Hope and Crosby's future pairings comes near the end of the film. The two are captured by cannibals in Africa and are tested to see if they are gods (sort of a variation of THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING). Hope's character is forced to wrestle a gorilla in a caged match. This is very funny as Hope shows his ability for physical comedy. Then, the climax is when they are about to be literally cooked for dinner. They use their patented "patty-cake" routine to escape from the cannibals. This is even more hilarious than the gorilla scene. Then, in ROAD TO MOROCCO, the famous ad-libbing and rapid fire delivery of dialogue is apparent and the film is zany from beginning to end as the duo are involved with a Moroccan Princess (Dorothy Lamour) and an angry Shiek (Anthony Quinn). Then, in ROAD TO UTOPIA the two go to Alaska for the gold rush and get involved in a case of mistaken identity. Overall, the four films showcase one of the great pairings in the history of entertainment and some of the funniest and successful film franchises. The DVD package has little extras except for a couple of sing-along features and liner notes, but having the four films on one disc at a price lower than some other collection discs is worth it.

Nothing like it before or since.
Reviewing Bing and Bob's "Road to" pictures is like saying of ice cream, "tastes good." We would no sooner think deeply about Rocky Road than "Road to Singapore." But I'm going to make a few observations anyway.

The spontaneity of Hope and Crosby in these films is legendary-- the way they turn to the camera from time to time and talk to the audience, and how they insert their own lines (each paying his own group of writers on the side to outdo the other in the laugh department).

Another aspect of these first four "Road" pictures (the best of the seven total) is their idealization of adolescent bachelorhood. These boys do their best to get away from their adult responsibilities-- wife, job, ashtrays for cigarettes.

With "patty cake, patty cake" and "pow!" they're off to far away places with strange sounding names, as much a male fantasy as the 007 pictures. Only they're not out to save the world, oh no. They're out to save themselves from a nasty, moustached Anthony Quinn, or a chanting pack of be-boned and painted cannibals.

The only fighting they do is over the beautiful Dorothy Lamour. Try to imagine any other actress in her role, and I'll lay you eight to five you won't find another. She's as essential to these pictures as Bing and Bob-- and she can sing!

Zany and chaotic these adventures may be, but there's a certain class to them too, including the costumes and the sets, and most notably the timeless songs, many by Van Heusen and Burke: the ballads "Too Romantic," "It's Always You," "Moonlight Becomes You" and fun numbers of the I-don't-care-if-I'm-poor variety such as "Ain't Got A Dime to My Name." Hopefully younger audiences won't go "ho hum" to these old-fashioned tunes and press fast forward.

Each successive picture is funnier than the one before, culminating in the hilarious "Utopia" (which could have been "Alaska"). Yet "Morocco" is the best all-around, having a certain magic and polish, and some of the best one-liners. "Singapore" has a unique freshness to it because they still didn't know what they were on to-- maybe not as funny but it captures the essence of the single man who wants to be nothing but a nobody.

To say that the treatment of non-whites is "un-P.C." isn't doing justice to how badly they are portrayed. It seems that anybody with slightly dark skin can pass for the inhabitant of one of these "uncivilized" countries. And the two white dudes feel they are entitled to anything they want among the "savages." Young kids might need to be told that these portrayals are sort of stupid and mean.

Still, let's not get carried away-- the whole thing is *supposed* to be ridiculous and that's one reason it's so funny. Think of Apu in "The Simpsons." The people who are making the movies are laughing at their own ignorance.

It would be impossible to recapture the chemistry of Bing, Bob and Dorothy, to make movies that are so funny yet so musical, with humor that is safe enough for young kids but edgy enough for adults. And here they are-- the top four on *one* DVD. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Bali who?
What a delightful Road DVD. Although the only extra is a Bio on Bob Hope, overall it is well worth the money. The color is great and the sound is acceptable(only ocassional fluctuation in level). The sets and costumes really add to this movie. Undoubtly they made them more colorful since this was the only road movie made in color. What a pity. This certainly follows the tradition of the others and Hope, Crosby, and Lamour look great. From stage performers to deep sea divers they sing and dance their way into your heart. If you only buy one road movie then be sure it is this one since it is great and the color will appeal to a younger audience as well. A movie that the whole family will find amusing jokes or site gags.

A Good Road Movie,A Great DVD
From 1940 to 1962, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope made seven riotous road movies, and "The Road To Bali" is the sixth in the series. Even though Bing and Bob were both 49 years old, and Dorothy Lamour was 38 when the movie was made, for the most part they walk sprightly down this road. This movie also marks the only road movie made in color, and there are guest stars galore in this film like:Bob Crosby,Humphrey Bogart, and Jane Rusell among others. As usual, the story deals with some kinf of treasures and bad guys, and of course Bob does not get the girl. However, the jokes and laughs are almost as funny today as they were almost fifty years ago.

This DVD edition is of pretty good quality even though it is a bargain issue. The added enjoyment is the short "The Road To Hollywood" which features shorts from Bing Crosby's early days with Mack Sennett (around the 1929 to 1931 period). Even though these shorts are prehistoric, the quality is as good as I have seen them. It is also great to see the young Bing Crosby emerge as a young superstar. So, I do recommend this DVD issue, because with Bing Crosby and Bob Hope they will have you on the road to laughter...

Good but not the best of the road series.
I really love Bob Hope but this was not one of his best. Funny yes but look at the younger Hope movies and you will agree that he has better timeing and hummor in the thirties and fourties. I loved son of Pale face not a road move but a real funny one and lemon drop kid also. I'm not convinced that just because this movie was in color that it appeals to a younger crowd. My kids liked the BW ones much better.

Not the Best Introduction to the "Road" Movies
I have never seen one of the Hope/Crosby road movies so I picked up this DVD when I saw it on sale. I was not very impressed. I could see the format that I had heard of; the Crosby/Hope act, the songs, Dorothy Lamour, various hijinks, the patty-cake game, someone gets the girl, etc. However, the humor seemed weak in this movie. The songs were bland, the suggestion that we were in Bali was really stretching the mind's capacity. I was, to put it bluntly, disappointed with "The Road to Bali". I have seen Hope in other movies where I could appreciate his gift for smart aleck humor. His style is there in this movie as well. He just wasn't given much to work with. I'll check out some other road pictures. I assume that this one was the exception.

Not the Best of the Roads, but Full of Engagingly Silly Fun
Bali was a good thematic backdrop for the first color Road movie, and there are a number of special effects to enjoy (actually one of 'em is kind of creepy, but everyone was laughing between the gasps and groans).

If you think you're going to see anything in this film about another actual culture, you're mistaken. Like all the Roads, this one gives a bizarre Hollywood version of some exotic destination or two. From Edith Head's oulandish costumes to Australians talking like Kansas farmers, Road to Bali is no National Geographic special.

Lamour gets to sing a cute song twice, (and she is shown singing and swimming in one memorable scene) but otherwise her role seems shorter than ever, which is kind of a shame. But there are many other pretty girls to ogle at, and some wacked-out dance numbers. Actually, it has all the ingredients of a cult hit! (So, actually, if you like weird movies, this is the best Road movie to include in your collection).

Not the best comedic writing of the Road movies, but still full of nuttiness & fun. Plenty of laughs over dumb gags, wiseacre bantering, and dimwit jokes. Good physical comedy, mugging at camera, silliness. Definitely displays American culture most of all!! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

An all time Classic for Posterity
The Big Broadcast of 1938 is a blast! Bob Hope's first film in which he plays a cruise ships' entertainment director with W.C. Fields as a ship's Captain. The first ever premier of Bob Hope's theme song "Thanks for the Memory".

There were some parts of this DVD I liked a lot....
College Swing is a wacky zany Gracie Allen film. It has some cute musical numbers (including one where Gracie sings to Edward Everett Horton and a classic duet with Martha Raye and Bob Hope). The story doesn't matter. It's just fun to see all these big stars--Hope, Burns and Allen, Horton, Martha Raye, and Betty Grable, together. The dance scene with Ben Blue and Martha Raye is a riot too.

I was a little disappoined with The Big Broadcast of 1938. The only really funny bits in the film are the W.C. Fields scenes. Ben Blue comes off as annoying in this film and Hope just doesn't seem to have a chance to show off his talents. There are some musical numbers that seem to make things drag. Overall, it looks like a very hastily put-together mish-mash of unrelated scenes.

The W.C. Fields golf scene is one of the funniest I've ever seen.

Great Double Feature and Lots of Fun!
This DVD contains two typically wild 1930's Paramount comedies showcasing the studios best contract comedians -- W.C. Fields, Burns and Allen, Martha Raye, and, of course, Bob Hope. "Big Broadcast of 1938" is his film debut, and when he sings "Thanks for the Memories" with Shirley Ross, you have to remind yourself this is the first time that song was ever performed! Unfortunately, some of the specialty acts in this film really drag things down and make you wonder who could ever have considered this sort of thing entertainment. But W. C. Fields and Martha Raye provide lots of laughs when they're on screen, so all in all, it's a nice presentation. "College Swing" is more of a Gracie Allen vehicle, with Bob in only a few scenes, though he does a nice duet with Martha Raye at one point. It's all very silly, but the character actors and comedians make it enjoyable. Transfer is superb on both films. There's a trailer for College Swing, but not for Broadsast -- maybe it's lost. Now, if Universal would release some of Jack Benny's films or Bing Crosby's early work on DVD -- I'd really be happy! ... Read more

Reviews (59)

"Creepshow 3", anyone?
I liked this movie for many reasons. One, the first one was terrifyingly scary (I was 8 when I first saw it). Two, it was written by horror master Stephen King. The first story, "Old Chief Woodenhead," about a cigar store Indian who avenges the murders of his kindly shop owners, was creepy enough. Only really scary if you are easily creeped out or if you watch it at night with the lights off. The second story, "The Raft," about four college students who go to a secluded lake and unwittingly become sitting ducks to a carnivorous oil slick-like blob was particularly scary. My second favorite out of the three stories in the movie. The last of the three and by far the simplist and most scariest was "The Hitchkiker." About a cheating wife driving home from a rendevous with her lover and runs down some poor guy. She flees the scene only to be haunted by his undead spirit. Makeup effects by master Tom Savini were awesome. The complaints I have about the movie are minor ones. Why were there only three stories instead of five like in the first one? Also, what was up with the animated wraparound story? Yes, the first
"Creepshow" featured animated in-betweens before and after each story, but it did not have any cartoonish interaction between characters in its prologue or epilogue. Also the score wasn't nearly as scary as it was in the first movie. The fillmmakers should have tried to get the same composer to return as well as director George A. Romero. The DVD doesn't have that many special features on it. The trailer and a behind-the-scenes photo gallery montage are about it. I would have liked to at least have a commentary by the director if not a couple of the cast members. Last but not least, when will there be a "Creepshow 3"? It's never too late for another sequel. Hello, Hollywood is sequel-crazy these days. Now is the time to strike. Overall, a decent pick if you're looking for a fright ride.

As good as the first one in a bad way
Creepshow 2 isn't so glamorous as its predecessor, but in many ways that works in its favor. Gone is the lightshow and comics-inspired camera work. All that is left are 3 nifty Stephen King stories and some serviceable actors to bring them to life (with the exception of George Kennedy who does a wonderful job as a storekeep who is murdered by thugs and avenged by a wooden Indian). The wooden Indian tale that starts this movie comic book probably sums up all the themes that EC comics tried to beat us over the head with: If you are bad, bad things will happen to you. Hence, thugs kill sweet storekeep, wooden Indian gores thugs. They only got what was coming to them. Story Two, "The Raft" is all-out cool. Kids smoke pot and swim to a raft (in an off-limits lake), and blob of gook on lake eats kids one by one until all that is left is the Camaro the kids drove up in. "The Raft" is giddy fun. Genuinely creepy. But wait, there's "The Hitchhiker." Lois Chiles plays an adulteress driving home from a fling when she kills a hitch hiker and then drives off. Of course, hitch hiker won't let her get away with that and so what follows is the scariest and most off beat segment in the movie. I mean, this guy can't be killed, but Lois Chiles certainly gives it all she's got. In the end, though - good triumphs and Lois gets hers. And it's all great fun. Not so flashy as Creepshow one, but this sequel is worthy.

"Thanks for the ride lady!"
Thanks for a crappy rental blockbuster. This movie blew more then a three dollar hooker. My friend and I were so disapointed in this movie. We both saw the first one and loved it. Every story in that one was awesome and they all had a cool comic book feel and each one was different from the other. Well the sequel had a feeling of "When will this movie end" ok i will be honest the second story was really good and the blob thing was awesome. I know it is just a movie but it did bother me that the car battery never died after the car being on for so long but again it is just a movie. that story is the reason why i gave it two stars instead of one.
The last story was the one that ruined the movie. I mean the first story was neat but not great and the second one was cool but the third one was poop on a stick. All it was, was a black guy in a raincoat screaming "thanks for the ride lady" while getting killed thirty times. The only thing that terrified me was how i laughed during that scene because i was thinking what if Dave Chapelle remade this but with him as the black guy. It would have been hilarious. So just rent the first one and if you do really want to see this just watch the first two stories and skip the last one, you will thank me

A Hoot
I love this sequel to Creepshow, more fun and sillyness. My favorite in this one is "Old Chief Wood'n Head,". I just always liked this one. Too bad they never made a Creepshow 3 and so on. This would have been a good series if more were made by the same crew that did one and two. This is a fun film with plenty of laughs and cheesiness. Check it out if you haven't already.

Good follow up but not as good as the 1st!
Let me start off by saying that I loved creepshow, I was somewhat dissapointed with this one. I bought a box set called 3 from the mind of Stephen King, just for this one. But I figured out that the other two (children of the corn and maximum overdrive) where alot better! anyways, the first story starts of with a wooden indian coming to life and seeking revenge. this story is called Ol' chief woodenhead. then next story is "the raft" this one is probably my favorite one of them all. its about four friends whose vacation to a lake turns into a nightmare! and the last story is about a lady who runs over a hitchiker and he comes back to life and haunts her. and by the way the creep looks nothing like he did in the first! Rated R for horror violence, language, and some nudity. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Hopefully O. Henry Got Some Royalties Off of This One
Known for being the only film Jimmy Stewart and Henry Fonda starred in together, I thought I'd check out "On Our Merry Way" for its historical significance. Unfortunately, it's not very good.

The film is split into three seperate stories tied together by a rather odd framing device. Burgess Meredith and Paulette Goddard play a married couple having monetary problems, with Meredith conning his way into a reporting job to earn extra cash. He then proceeds to interview three seperate sets of people, with the angle being the way in which a child has affected each of their lives. Jimmy Stewart and Henry Fonda are musicians that lose their band to a "babe", Dorothy Lamour is an actress contending with a spoiled child star (echos of Shirley Temple) and finally Fred McMurray fights a battle of wits with a 10 year-old holy terror.

The first segment is pretty dull, and Jimmy and Henry are not given much to do. The second story is a little better, with Lamour doing a nice musical number sending up her exotic image called "Queen of the Hollywood Isles". The last section is a blatant [take] of O. Henry's classic short story, "The Ransom of Red Chief", only stressful instead of funny. The framing device with Goddard and Meredith is the best part of the movie, due to the strong chemistry between them.

I recommend "On Our Merry Way" as a rental for hard-core Stewart or Goddard fans, otherwise it's not really worth your time. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The great John Ford directed this rousing 1937 adventure with such invigorating physicality that the movie is never compromised by its cornball plot. It's an island adventure from the old school of tall tales, and the title says it all--the tropical romance between native girl Dorothy Lamour and suntanned hunk Jon Hall is established simply so it can be tested by a meddlesome island governor (Raymond Massey) and a tropical storm that provides one of the most physically impressive climaxes ever filmed. The storm remains as awesome as ever simply because it triumphantly captures the power of nature in the throes of a raging tempest. Massive waves, driving wind, and expert use of miniatures make The Hurricane a marvel of late-1930s special effects, but the sheer spectacle is more than matched by Ford's efficient economy of story. The romance is lush and primitive, in keeping with the sun-drenched setting on the fictional island of Manikoora, and as Hall's heroic character must endure wrongful imprisonment and the rigors of escape, Ford maintains a constant atmosphere of foreboding. The director's masterful use of sound and picture is best captured in the lonely peal of a church bell--it's both a reaffirming sign of life and, when the bell finally goes silent, a dreaded signal that the hurricane has taken its ultimate toll. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Your jaw will drop
Wow. Incredible special effects close out the last half hour of this film, in which a small Pacific island near Tahiti is obliterated by a collossal hurricane. The action scenes are amazing, as buildings, boats, people and trees are swept away by unstoppable nature. The plot revolves around the noble seafaring Terangi, a native who runs afoul of an unbending legal system, and has to go to great lengths to return to his family, and to prove his valor and nobility. Played by athlete-turned-actor John Hall, Terangi has a major "me Tarzan" quality to him, but is compelling nonetheless. Dorothy Lamour, in her trademark sarong, also plays a Polynesian. If you can get past the silliness of these white folks playing "ethnic" roles, this is a superior, and quite stunning film. As ever, a tightly crafted movie by director John Ford.

A special effects storm that has never been surpassed
The main reason to watch this 1937 film directed by John Ford is for the special effects as the title storm wrecks the fictional island of Manikoora. Certainly the cornball romance between the native girl Marama (Dorothy Lamour) and the sailor Terangi (Jon Hall) is not particularly captivating. Terangi is unjustly imprisoned for a murder he did not commit and escapes just as a hurricane strikes the island and makes it difficult for him to return to his wife. The hurricane sequence is what justifies five stars for this film as giant waves and battering winds destroy the sets and miniatures. Let me put it this way: the special effects in this 1937 film are at least as impressive as anything you see in "The Perfect Storm." The supporting cast features Raymond Massey as the heartless Governor De Laage, Mary Astor as his more sympathetic wife, John Carradine as the warden, C. Aubrey Smith as Father Paul and Thomas Mitchell as Dr. Kersaint in an Oscar nominated role for Supporting Actor. If you can track down a copy of "Hurricane" check it out, but do not do so on a dark and stormy night.

Hurricane
Don't watch this dvd if you are afraid of hurricanes! The last time I saw this marvelous John Ford film was on the morning of August 23, 1992-AMC Movie Channel, as bad coincidence would have it, was broadcasting The Hurricane, as Hurricane Andrew was tear- ing into Miami. I don't know which was more terrifying, the winds outside, smashing trees to the ground-or seeing the priest playing the organ as the walls came caving in, and the churchbell silenced........it is, for it's time, THE most realistic depict- ion of a hurricane as you are likely to get. And very advanced social commentary, that the imposition of rigidly-observed col- onial rules damaged those whom it was imposed on, that it drained the life out of them. Not to mention rigidity on a personal lev- el wrecked relationships, ruining love. Rather a parable of para dise lost and destroyed-to great effect. What could have been a humdrum boring sermon became an electrifying tale under the sure hand of John Ford. John Hall and Dorothy Lamour really never had such a workout of their craft again!

Doesn't spare any puches. There's a terrifying scene of an is- lander mother giving birth in a canoe, surrounded by her family and the doctor, being jounced around and battered by the storm in all it's fury-you have to buy this. You won't regret it. It has not lost any of it's punch, it is as applicable today as then.

Category 5 Hurricane
Bliss of islanders Terangi (Hall) and Marama (Lamour) is threatened by overzealous, rigid (yet tenderly devoted to wife Germaine) colonial governor De Laage (Massey), obsessed with the letter of the law--until nature intervenes to settle the conflict and soften De Laage's heart. Enduring a lengthy period of false incarceration, Terangi is reunited with beloved Marama and young daughter Tita--on the eve of the hurricane that will overwhelm their tiny island, yet ironically, despite great human toll, reconcile persecutor and persecuted. Awesome, riveting hurricane sequence still is unsurpassed after more than sixty years. Ever intensifying gale force winds tear away the tattered tricolor, signalling the end of colonial government's vain attempt to impose bureaucratic order on the island. Storm surge violently and indiscriminately carries away trappings of church and state, as nature asserts its primacy over man. Top notch cast, especially Mary Astor as De Laage's gracious wife Germaine, more than hold their own with the hurricane--the real star of the film.

Hurricane is Rare Event
This film is very exciting and has good production. It the head of its time in the seventh art for its high quality effects. The message of the film is about destructive natural hurricane with its similar hurricane of human life represented in black side of man. I.e. hatred injustice and conspiracy. These bad things are the true hurricane that travels inside man which would get ride of what it meets like natural hurricane. This is quite clear in the film the ruler(Raymond Massey ) and the young man(Jon Hall ). The similarity between the two films is the destruction of every thing that the hurricane meets. It among lines message which the film seeks to convey. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour reunite in entertaining comedy
Bob Hope made many movies for Paramount during the 1940's when he was at the peak of his career. "My Favorite Brunette" is one of the best and is well written with some very funny comic situations. Hope is reunited with his co-star from the "Road" series - Dorothy Lamour - and they work well together. "Brunette" has an impressive supporting cast including Peter Lorre, Lon Chaney Jr, John Hoyt, Ann Doran, Reginald Denny, Ray Teal, Jack la Rue, and features a couple of surprise star cameos.

Hope plays baby photographer Ronnie Jackson but his heart is set on becoming a private detective ("All my life I've wanted to be a hard boiled detective like Humphrey Bogart, or Dick Powell, or even Alan Ladd!"). Dorothy Lamour is Carlotta Montay and she mistakes Hope for Sam McCloud who is a qualified private detective and has the office next door to Hope. Lamour hires Hope to look for her missing uncle who has been kidnapped but after various misadventures she realises just how inexperienced he is! After being exposed to great danger and becoming a target for the villains Hope begins to regret his deception. ("I don't know how much more of this I can take - you've had me in hot water so long I feel like a tea bag").

Some favourite lines from the film:

Bob Hope (to Peter Lorre): "Nice cheerful place - what time do they bring the mummies out?".

Bob Hope: "It always looked so easy in those Tarzan pictures!".

Hope was best known for his series of "Road" comedies with Crosby and Lamour but in "Brunette" proved he could handle a leading role on his own. Around this time he also made "My Favorite Blonde" with Madeleine Carroll and "My Favorite Spy" with Hedy Lamarr but played different characters in each film. The Bob Hope films of the forties were popular light hearted entertainment and can be viewed with increasing pleasure over and over again. Clive Roberts.

"My Favorite Brunette" with my favorite Bob Hope!
Baby photographer Ronnie Jackson (Bob Hope) would more than anything love to become a private eye. But while while taking calls for the detective agency next door, who should walk in but drop dead gorgeous Carlotta Montay (Dorothy Lamour). Mistaken for the destective himself, Ronnie cannot refuse helping out the lovely lady. It's not long before our favorite comedian, (who can't even handle a gun!), is caught up into dangerous plot with dangerous bad guys (Lon Chaney Jr. and Peter Lorre). Will Ronnie and Carlotta be able to sort everything out before they're 'silenced' forever?

I can't help but love the old screwbal comedies from the golden black&white age where movies were tons of fun. And with such an all-star cast, what could go wrong with this film? Nothing!

Bob Hope of course stands out in the movie with the most comedic power. He has such talent and seems to effortlessly pull off gags, give out hysterically funny one-liners, and make us laugh with his slapstick comic routines. Dorothy Lamour is a great actress but seems to be stuck in the sidelines under the light of Bob Hope. But that's ok because it's fun just to see her in fabulous costumes and pull Ronnie into the dangerous plot. But besides Bob Hope, Peter Lorre is the bad guy everyone can't help but love. It's great to see him give his innocent puppy dog face which he's so famous for!

Also, don't forget to check out Alan Ladd and Bing Crosby in their cameo appearances (Alan Ladd as the detective, Sam McCloud, and Bing Crosby as an attendant.)

My advice to you is that if you love Bob Hope, watch "My Favorite Brunette", which I've nicknamed, "Our Favorite Bob Hope"! Also check out these other Bob Hope classics; "My Favorite Spy", "The Lemon-Drop Kid", "The Ghostbreakers", and all the "Road To..." Series.

Above Average Bob Hope Movie - LOUSY DVD!
This review refers to the Alpha (Gotham Distribution, as listed on Amazon) version of this movie on DVD. The print used for this DVD is absolutely horrible. The opening credits are barely readable, and the movie itself looks murky and has tons of scratches and dust. It's a shame that Alpha couldn't find a better print, but from some of the reviews I've read it seems that some other companies have had the same problem. It would be better not to release it at all than to use such a bad print. This is a really fun movie, and it deserves a lot better than this. Wait for a cleaner copy to surface - one will eventually.

It sucks!
What is this? The whole idea with DVD sucks with this title! The picture and sound quality is worse than a heavily used standard 8 mm film!
The movie ...and of course Dorothy Lamour, is worth something better than this. Take it out of your stock and replace it with an appropriate copy.
No recommendations what so ever!

A private eye that does not get the picture of the situation
A photographer turned private eye by accident and becoming involved in a very important plot to eliminate a couple of people in order to appropriate a uranium mine. Every single detail is hilarious, upside down, wrong. This poor photographer does everything the wrong way and misses all the details or fails all the possibilities, and yet he succeeds because of his great luck. Nothing much more can be said without reducing the fun of the film. So go and rush to it. Its worth a good laugh.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Classic Hollywood
No one dose it better then Bob Hope and Bing Crosby! I love this movie.If you like classic hollywood you will love this one.

WONDERFUL MOVIE, AWFUL BOX
ROAD TO ZANZIBAR has always been one of my two or three favorite Road movies, in part because it's more of a comedy and less of a musical than many entries as well as having the bonus of having that great comedienne Una Merkel along for the ride. And the great Dorothy Lamour is incredibly sexy here (wasn't she always!!)

Now for the "awful packaging" why on earth has MCA Universal Video failed to picture Ms. Lamour on the box as well as the boxes of nearly ALL of the other Road movies. She was an EQUAL star to Hope and Crosby - one of the biggest women stars of the era. She has a lot of fans even today who are probably passing on the prerecorded tapes to this series because of this slight. Wake up Universal and reissue this series picturing the third STAR of these movies on the boxes! (Ms. Lamour is pictured on the DVD box to this ROAD movie but not on several of the other films.)

Not quite a classic, but darn fun
This is not the best of the "Road" pictures, but it's still a lot of fun to watch the chemistry between Hope and Crosby. The plot is a bit preposterous, and just how dumb can Hope's character be to be anything but Fearless? However, the hijinks are first rate scams, and there are nice turns by Dorothy Lamour and Una Merkel. The tunes are not the best of the "Road" series, although Bing's voice always seems stronger in films than in comparably dated records. Get this one not because it's a classic (not quite), but just because it's fun.

Great "Road" Picture!
I personally think that this movie is better than "Road to Morocco", the movie some claim to be the best of the "Road" pictures. It managed to get an Oscar nomination for it's screenplay! Crosby plays Chuck Reardon and Hope is "Fearless" Frazier, that right there is funny. Hope? Fearless! You must be joking lol. They are a couple of con men who perform varies "stunts" at a circus. Hope has to wrestle snakes and bears, and finds himself as the "human bullet". He gets shot out of a cannon. And, that's when all their trouble starts. They burn down the circus lol. And are on the run from the police. I love old-fashion comedies like these. Then again, my opinion may be a bit bias, since I grew up watching these type of movies. I just wish Hollywood could make more films like them. Once Hope and Crosby are on the run, guess who they run into? Dorothy Lamour! Legend has it Lamour had to literally fight to say her lines. Hope and Crosby we're ad-libing so much, sometimes the director had no idea what was going to happen! This is such a great silly, amusing film. You can tell everyone had a good time making this. Hope and Crosby started to play "in jokes" on us. By making several references that THEY ARE IN A MOVIE! All the way through the "Road to Zanzibar" I had a hugh smile on my face. And, how could one not enjoy this film. We have Crosby here to sing a few songs. Hope is here for the laughs, and boy can he provide them! And Lamour is here to keep me up at nights lol. It's just a winning combination. There are a lot of funny moments in this film, but, I don't want to spoil them by giving them away. Buy or rent this film if you're ever a bit down. Or you just want a good laugh. Una Merkel co-stars and Eric Blore has a small bit part (as usual).

a great insight to foreign kings
I watched this when I was a kid and I loved it. My girlfriend is from a foreign country so she doesn't get the movie very well, but I love ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Wonderful start for the "Road" pictures.
"Road to Singapore" is the first of the "Road" pictures starring Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour. They are all wonderful, crazy, silly and just plain fun films as Bing and Bob wreak havoc along everything they encounter. In this first film, plenty of that is done, probably more likely in any other 'Road" picture as they head for Singapore and rescue the fair Mima from a bullwhipper. Some of my favorite sequences are the "patty-cake, patty-cake" scenes in which it becomes a running gag in every "Road" film, especially this. Filled with crazy antics, hilarious crack-ups, exotic dance numbers and s omuch more to enjoy even though the film is quite underrated and a bit quirky.

The first stop of many worthwhile destinations
I don't know why so many of the past reviewers put this film at the bottom of the list of "The Road to . . ." series. This is the film that started it all! It may lack some of the easy play and banter between Hope and Crosby as seen in the later films, but keep in mind this is the first time (1939-40) that Bing and Bob have been in a film together. As the years progressed, they were given more freedom to do what they liked given their bigger star status and the box-office successes of the earlier pictures. Despite what others may say, "Singapore" is an enjoyable film all the way through. It's embedded with gems like "Captain Custard" and "Sweet Potato Piper". The chemistry between Hope, Crosby, and Lamour is great -- you can tell they must have had a fun time making this movie :)I would definitely not leave this one out of my "Road" collection.

The start of a great tradition
The first of the much-vaunted "Road To" series, and an inkling of things to come... Beset on all sides by would-be wives, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope skip town to form an Asian branch of the He-Man Woman-Haters Club, predictably getting sidetracked by drippy Dorothy Lamour (is it just me, or is her likeness to Katie Holmes... check her out in profile... a little eerie?) Anyway, the plot is paper thin, the pacing is sluggish and the gags are as flat as the tunes by songwriter Johnny Burke. It's kind of goofy seeing Hope in a supposedly manly-man role, but maybe that's just in hindsight. Most significantly, this marks the beginning of Crosby's descent into unmitigated pop culture corn... It's a so-so oldie; better that you should stick with Crosby's earlier "Waikiki Wedding," which at least has some cool music.

TOO ROMANTIC
That's the title of the best-known tune which was introduced in this first entry in the immensely popular ROAD TO.... series. In this one, Josh Mallon, the scion of a straightlaced shipping magnate, and his free-spirited pal, Ace Lannigan, ridicule the institution of marriage. However, Josh's Dad is disgusted with his son's irresponsible antics & commits Josh to an office job and a marriage to socialite Gloria Wycott...The working title of this just-average first outing from the famed duo of Hope & Crosby was FOLLOW THE SUN. Other songs which are heard in the picture are: SWEET POTATO PIPER, KAIGOON, THE MOON AND THE WILLOW TREE & CAPTAIN CUSTARD (!). In 1940, the Ohio Censorship Board demanded that the studio (Paramount) make extensive cuts in the native dancing girl sequence.

On The Road To Classic Comedy
While this first outing may not be the very best of the road pictures (I rate "Morocco" and "Utopia" as better), this is classic comedy, if not a classic film. Hope was new enough on the scene to get third billing (behind Crosby and Lamour), and it was amusing seeing an early Anthony Quinn and Jerry Colonna. The plot is better than some in the "Road" series (a bit of class warfare gets things started), and I always enjoy seeing Bing's "dad" in the film (Charles Coburn).

The rivalry between Hope and Crosby for Lamour's affection has an edge to it, but that makes it just about perfect.

In the extra features we learn that Hope and Lamour were not the first choices for the flick -- would you believe George Burns and Gracie Allen??? BTW, the extra features in all of the new Universal series of DVDs for the "Road" series are well done.

I hadn't seen this in years, and it is much better than my memory had it from years as cut up fodder on commercial television. This one is a keeper. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Everybody does his or her bit for the war effort in this comedy thriller released in 1943, smack in the middle of World War II. Bob Hope stars as bumbling war correspondent Robert Kittredge, a man so inept that he misses the German invasion of Russia. "I wouldn't even trust you to cover a hole in the carpet!" screams his editor in chief, Mason (Donald MacBride, with the requisite steam coming out of his ears). Then, of course, Kittredge stumbles onto an evil Axis plot and ends up saving the world.

Dorothy Lamour--Hope and Bing Crosby's glamorous love interest in seven Road pictures--appears here sans sarong, playing an intrepid Lois Lane type. But Hope doesn't have to fight Crosby for her affections; "Der Bingle" makes only one brief vocal appearance, via a music box.Subtlety is not this movie's strong suit, and goofy gags abound from the start, with Hope skulking through a Russian hotel disguised as a Cossack to escape creditors. The Axis characters--Germans, Italians, and Japanese--arestereotypical villains all. An uncanny Mussolini look-alike has a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo in an airplane scene, and acclaimed director Otto Preminger proves he's a good sport with his portrayal of a wicked Nazi ringleader. It's all a fun romp, and an interesting look back at the kind of propaganda Hollywood once churned out to help keep the world safe for democracy. --Laura Mirsky ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Lovely Slice of the 1940's
I was born in 1952, but would come home from gradeschool to find 1940's movies being played on the local TV station. I fell in love with the strange world of the 1940's, which was so very different from the late 50's.

This movie is a delightful romp, as Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamore fight Nazi terrorists and spies in Washington DC who are planning to attack American cities enmass, poisoning the water, blowing up power stations, the type of thing the Bush Administration is always trying to scare us about. I suppose this shows my political bias, but at one point in the movie, a character says that she will no longer work with the Nazi's since she values the freedom in this country. My immediate thought that was with the Patriot Acts 1 and 2, it is from INTERNAL sources that we now have to worry about our freedom, whereas in the 1940's it was the external enemy that wanted to turn us into a police state.

Anyway, this movie is delightful in giving a slice of the popular culture at that time, the wonderful tailored clothes, bizarre women's hair styles, the GI Joe patriotism, and most importantly the laughs which haven't aged a day since 1942, all the way up to the hilarious conclusion when members of all branches of the military join Bob and Dorothy in saving the USA!

If you enjoy WW2 memorabilia, this movie may be a fun experience for you. If you are a baby boomer like me who was raised on such black/white movies on TV after school, it will be a nostalgic look back wards. This is the REAL THING, not some modern movie made to re-enact the WW2 days. In a wierd sense, this is a very sweet movie when Bob and Dorothy were young and vital, and the world was in great danger, and yet we all had time to laugh.

SIMPLY GREAT !
As a French (currently living in Switzerland), I have never had the opportunity to be that familiar with Bob Hope and his humor, therefore I bought this DVD at random...and I simply hit the ceiling ! First of all, on the technical point of view, the transfer is absolutely exceptional (when you'll watch the trailer, you shall see the difference !) , glorious black and white, great sound with lots of dubbing (Argh !) and subtitles.
The story is very light but amusing, typical of those WWII comedies and the lines of Hope...Mama mia ! you can die for them !
It is so hilarious that I already watched it twice in 3 months
So do not hesitate to purchase it , even if the price ... appears to me to be too excessive ... ... Read more