'The Cat and the Canary'--1939, ***
Hope's first trademark comedy was this remake of Boris Karloff's 'The Old Dark House.' Paulette Goddard co-stars.
'Road to Zanzibar'--1941,**1/2
And the world's longest road trip had begun. Hope, Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour safari through Africa. They'd be baaaaack.
'They Got Me Covered'--1943,**
Comical Washington spy story with Lamour and Otto Preminger.
'Road to Utopia'--1945,***
The Road trio treks to the Klondike. Not a sarong in sight.
'My Favorite Brunette'--1947,***
Photographer Hope gets mixed up with mobsters, played with fiendish relish by Peter Lorre and Lon Chaney Jr.
'Road to Rio'--1947,***
Musicians Hope and Crosby try to free Lamour from a sinister aunt.
'The Paleface'--1948,***
Spoof of 'The Virginian.' With Jane Russell (completely covered).
'Sorrowful Jones'--1949,***1/2
A remake of the racetrack comedy 'Little Miss Marker.' With Lucille Ball.
'The Great Lover'--1949,***
Timid scoutmaster Hope captures a strangler while aboard a ship. Rhonda
Fleming is Hope's love interest, Roland Young is the murderer.
'Fancy Pants'--1950,***
Musical remake of 'Ruggles of Red Gap,' with Hope as an English actor
posing as a butler. Hope reunited with Lucy Ball.
'Road to Bali'--1952,***
Hope and Crosby save Lamour from jungle perils. Dorothy's garb started
a leisure wear sensation--sarongmania.
'Off Limits'--1953,***
Boxing manager Hope trains a young fighter in the military police. Not to be confused with the Willem Dafoe, Gregory Hines Vietnam War flick. Mickey Rooney plays Hope's peppy protege in this one.
'Casanova's Big Night'--1954,***
Hope masquerades as Casanova in Venice. Not to be confused with Fellini's version. Joan Fontaine, Basil Rathbone, Raymond Burr and Vincent Price co-star.
'The Seven Little Foys'--1955,****
Biography of vaudevillian Eddie Foy and his family. James Cagney makes a cameo as George M. Cohan.
'Beau James'--1957,***
Hope shouda been a contenda for an Oscar in this straightforward biography of 1920s New York Mayor Jimmy Walker. Vera Miles, Paul Douglas, Alexis Smith co-star, Jack Benny, George Jessel and Jimmy Durante make guest appearances.
'Paris Holiday'--1958,**1/2
Mixture of American and French farce over the purchase of a screenplay. Anita Ekberg, Martha Hyer and Preston Sturges co-star.
'Road to Hong Kong'--1962,**1/2
The last road trip: Hope and Crosby are con men wrapped up in international intrigue and space travel.
'The Oscar' (cameo)--1966,**1/2
A natural--Bob hosts the Oscars. Stephen Boyd, Elke Sommer, Milton Berle,
Joseph Cotten, Jill St. John and Eleanor Parker star.
'Boy Did I Get a Wrong Number' -- 1966,*
Real estate agent Hope gets involved with a runaway actress. Elke Sommer is the hot number Hope would like to connect with. Phyllis Diller keeps providing interference with his lines.
'Cancel My Reservation'--1972,*
Talk show host Hope gets involved in a murder case but script turns
out to be the bomb. Great cast includes Eva Marie Saint, Ralph Bellamy,
Anne Archer, Forrest Tucker, Keenan Wynn and Ned Beatty.
'The Muppet Movie' (cameo)--1979,***
Kermit and the rest of his feltheaded folks head for Hollywood, meeting
Hope--and a dozen other stars--along the way.
'Spies Like Us' (cameo)--1985,***
Bumbling bureaucrats are chosen for a spy mission. Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase star.
'Entertaining the Troops',***
Highlights of Hope's tours to entertain American troops around the world. Available at Palm Springs Public Library.
