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Released by: Shout! Factory
Released on: 4/12/2011
Director: various (see review)
Cast: aside from Bob Hope, various (see review)
Year: various (see review)
Purchase from Amazon
The Movie:
Shout! Factory brings those who dig Bob Hope the second volume containing six of his not-so-common movies. This collection covers a span of about 20 years and the films are loaded with familiar faces.
Disc One
The Great Lover (1949) directed by Alexander Hall; starring Bob Hope, Rhonda Fleming, Roland Young; aspect ratio 4:3; audio 2.0 Dolby Digital.
A thriller/comedy about a scoutmaster and his scouts on an cruise ship who find themselves involved in an illegal gambling operation that also equates to murder. If made today, this one would be full of pedophile jokes. Look for appearances by George Reeves and Jim Backus
Paris Holiday (1958) directed by Gerd Oswald; starring Bob Hope, Fernandel, Anita Ekberg; aspect ratio 2.35:1; audio 2.0 Dolby Digital.
Another thriller/comedy, again on a luxury liner, but also on land, that is supposed to take place in France. Bob plays a comedian going to France in the hopes of getting the rights to a play and finds himself involved in a dangerous game involving crime, giggle-inducing blue screen action, and the smoking hot Anita Ekberg.
Disc Two
The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell (1968) directed by Frank Tashlin; starring Bob Hope, Phyllis Diller, Gina Lollobrigida; aspect ratio 4:3; audio 2.0 Dolby Digital.
So Bob is a Sergeant in WWII, operating in the Pacific theater. His mission: get some beer and some broads to the service men. A torpedo threatens his mission but who cares because the mind-altering beauty that is Gina Lollobrigida totally takes away any hope of paying attention to the story. Good God is she ever gorgeous. Watch for appearances by Mako (Akiro the Wizard!) and Dick Sargent (who is just a big a weenie in this as he was in Bewitched).
How To Commit Marriage (1969) directed by Norman Panama, starring Bob Hope, Jackie Gleason, Jane Wyman, Leslie Nielsen; aspect ratio 4:3; audio 2.0 Dolby Digital.
Bob and Jane Wyman play a married couple on the skids. Their daughter gets knocked up, but the pending divorce of her parents makes her lose faith in the institution of marital bliss so she puts the kid up for adoption. Bob and Jane get back together so they can adopt the child. Jackie Gleason is the other grandparent and is at odds with Bob. Also starring by Tina Louise in a bathtub and Tim Matheson, plus a chimp driving a golf cart.
Disc Three
Son of Paleface (1952) directed by Frank Tashlin; starring Bob Hope, Jane Russell, Roy Rogers and Trigger; aspect ratio 4:3; audio 2.0 Dolby Digital.
In this western/comedy, Bob is looking for his father's gold and Jane Wyman cross-dresses to play a thief. Roy Rogers, with Trigger, plays a U.S. Marshall in pursuit of Jane. This one is a musical. Ugh.
Cancel My Reservation (1972) directed by Paul Bogart; starring Bob Hope, Eva Marie Saint, Ralph Bellamy; aspect ratio 4:3; audio 2.0 Dolby Digital.
Wrongly accused of a series of murders, Bob and his wife resolve to clear his name of the crimes. This one has lots of familiar faces to look for (Pat Morita, Forrest Tucker, Anne Archer, Keenan Wynn, Johnny Carson, Bing Crosby, Flip Wilson, and John Wayne), but that doesn't really help much.
This set is a mixed bag. While none of the six movies much appealed to this writer, it is certainly understandable how many would find this set to be enjoyable. Maybe it's for the nostalgia of a more innocent era in the movies. Or maybe to relive those rainy Sunday mornings when your dad was dominating the tv set and nursing a hangover while watching the Sunday Afternoon Movie on one of the two channels the town you lived in received. Perhaps you enjoy watching hot 60s and early 70s babes strut their stuff without showing their goodies. No matter what the reason for being drawn to these formula-driven films, Shout! gives the fans this second volume of Bob Hope flicks to pour through.
Certainly the most interesting looking movie here is Paris Holiday. It's the only one not in 4:3 and certainly stands out from the rest, insofar as the visual presentation. The most ridiculous one is probably How To Commit Marriage, complete with the inept musical entourage known as “The Comfortable Chairâ€. Gleason and Hope come no where near where the comic tour de force one might expect from such heavies. The chimp playing golf steals this one and is pretty much the only real laugh in the whole thing. In fact none of these movies ever gain much by way of laughs. One thing about Bob Hope movies, though, is the fine women bouncing around in various states of dress. How anyone can look at Gina Lollobrigida and not have impure thoughts is beyond the realm of comprehension. Tina Louise in a bubble bath? Anita Ekberg showing off her Love Boat cleavage? Bob Hope had it made.
Video/Audio/Extras:
All but Paris Holiday are shown in 4:3, and most look pretty decent. Nothing fantastic though, and The Great Lover, being the only black-and-white movie, looks pretty bad to be honest. All have some dirt and debris, but nothing horrid (other than the one just mentioned). Sometimes colors look pretty sharp, sometimes a bit washed out. The audio tracks are all 2.0 Dolby Digital, with some pops and hisses here and there. At times (like with Paris Holiday) the audio levels drop and then get loud again. It's not distracting though and is only mentioned here for your info.
There are absolutely no extras to view, but you get six movies so deal with it. There are animated menus and chapter selections.
The Final Word:
One can't imagine too many younger people gravitating toward this collection, but the older crowd might dig it. Not a bad gift for the old man in the family, who probably won't care about the lack of extras and the varying visual and audio quality.
