DVD Review: More Hope and Crosby Road Movies on Blu Ray
Continuing their consistent releasing of beloved classics from vintage Hollywood, KINO now offers, on DVD and blu ray, the remaining Road movies. Having already released “Road to Bali,” the only color Road movie, and “Road to Rio,” KINO has now brought out the first four films in the series. They started out as a happy accident, and the cornball comedy, light music, and happy romance contained in each production continues to entertain in the 21stcentury.
ROAD TO SINGAPORE
This 1940 first film in the series was the aforementioned happy accident. It was originally titled “The Road to Mandalay” and was set to feature Fred MacMurray and Jack Oakie. Both of those actors passed on the script, so it was given to Bing Crosby who was to star in it with Burns and Allen in support. Bing liked it, but George and Gracie passed, so the project was shelved. Dorothy Lamour recalls sitting in the Paramount commissary with Bing and Bob Hope, and being unable to consume her lunch due to laughing at their antics. So, when the studio was ready to film another movie with Bing, the Road to Mandalay script was dusted off, Hope was hired, and so was Lamour. At the time, Bing and Dorothy were the bigger stars and Hope received third billing, as this was his first A picture. In this film, Hope isn’t outwardly brash and inwardly a coward – his brashness is very much a part of his characters persona; an iconoclast who is quite sure of himself. Bing is his cool counterpart. Of course the title was changed to “Road To Singapore,” and it was such a major box office hit, it resulted in several sequels. It is available for purchase at this link: Hope/Crosby/Singapore
ROAD TO ZANZIBAR
When “Road to Singapore” became a hit, and Hope furthered that success with “The Ghost Breakers,” another Road movie was put together. This effort is important for Hope especially in that he adds another layer to the brash character he’d played in the previous movie. While still outwardly sure of himself, he uses this to mask insecurity and cowardice. Bing is the leader who easily dupes Bob. Bing and Bob once again help Dorothy Lamour out of a dangerous situation and fall into danger themselves. This became the formula for all of the Road features. Another similarity to the previous “Road to Singapore” is that “Road to Zanzibar” was also an old script that the studio had laying around, “Finding Colonel Fawcett,” and had it reworked as a project for Bing and Bob. Hope added his radio writers to the screenplay, to ensure more jokes. It is available for purchase at this link: Hope/Crosby/Zanzibar
ROAD TO MOROCCO
Considered by many to be the best Road movie of them all, “Road to Morocco” is relentlessly funny in the best way, with Bing and Bob working the same narrative formula with Dorothy Lamour, and every trick they had conceived in the first two films. The break through the fourth wall, they make it known that they realize they’re in a movie, they sing duets, Bing offers some of his best songs in the series, and Dorothy is at her most beautiful. While the first two films were popular, “Road to Morocco” was a real sensation. Audiences responded favorably to Bing and Bob’s casual style. That both had their own separate careers as stars by this time, made this film a real blockbuster at the box office. It is available for purchase at this link: Hope/Crosby/Morocco
ROAD TO UTOPIA
If Road fans do not consider “Morocco” the best in the series, then their choice will usually be this one. By this time, Bing, Bob, and Dorothy were all such big stars, it took a lot of effort from the screenwriters to effectively please each of them. For instance, the previous Road films were written by Frank Butler and Don Hartman. This one was penned by Bob Hope’s radio writers Norman Panama and Mel Frank. When they presented the script to Bing, they made it sound like he was the star. When they presented it to Bob, they bolstered his part. When both accepted the script, Dorothy then agreed to appear. Robert Benchley is included as a sort of narrator, adding more wry humor to the proceedings. It is brisk, funny, and delightful. It is available for purchase at this link: Hope/Crosby/Utopia
It really isn’t possible to review these films separately, as they belong together. And the recommendation, then, is to buy all four of these wonderfully remastered blu rays, each of which contain special features, all with documentaries, and some including commentaries.