Kino Lorber releases two more from Bob Hope

Because Bob Hope worked the balance of his career in tired TV specials where he read dull jokes off strategically-but-obviously placed cue cards, his films are becoming overlooked or forgotten. From around 1940 until roughly 1955, Bob Hope starred in a series of consistently hilarious comedy movies, many of which have already been released by Kino Lorber. These, including the Road series with Bing Crosby as well as his own starring vehicles, feature Bob Hope at his absolute best, and now that he's gone (he died in 2003 at the age of 100), it is these movie classics that should represent his career, along with his tirelessly entertaining the troops through all of the wars and conflicts from World War 2 onward. These latest Bluray releases from Kino Lorber are two of Bob Hope’s funniest post-war comedies.

MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE (1946)

Loosely based on the similarly titled Rudolph Valentino silent, which itself was based on Booth Tarkington’s book, Hope plays the title role, a royal barber during the 16th century. Beaucaire gets into royal trouble and thus is sent on a veritable sucide mission where he must impersonate nobleman Duc Le Chandre, or lose his head. Monsieur Beaucaire is the perfect vehicle for Hope. His character works best when he is back-pedaling through dangerous territory and this film puts him in a series of life-threatening situations. It is interesting to compare this film to the original book and the Valentino silent feature. In the silent film, Valentino plays Beaucaire as a hero who impersonates Le Chandre of his own choosing, bravely standing up for the nobleman and fighting his battles. Screenwriters Norman Panama and Mel Frank alter the story for Bob Hope as a comical coward in dangerous situations. Frank Tashlin was added to the project, punching up the script with more jokes after a lackluster preview, even directing some new scenes. This helped the movie considerably, and it became a box office hit and remains one of Bob Hope’s funniest and most beloved films. It is available for purchase at this link: BEAUCAIRE

WHERE THERE’S LIFE (1947)

Hope plays Michael Valentine, a radio personality who plans to end his womanizing ways and get married. Her rough cop brother (William Bendix) doesn’t trust him. Suddenly he is informed that the ruler of a small country has been killed and named Valentine as his sole heir. He is kidnapped, escapes, attempts to get others to believe his story, and is continually beset by close calls, murders and foiled attempts at his life. Being in the company of beautiful Signe Hasso further raises the ire of his fiancée’s cop brother. This was a pretty standard premise for Bob Hope comedy, and Where There’s Life was released when Hope was at the absolute height of his powers and popularity. A popular radio show and a string of features that were big box office hits, Hope seemed like he could do no wrong. A movie like Where There’s Life makes it difficult to realize that Hope’s movie struggled in the 1960s when he attempted to play the same character as an older man, and never adapted to the changing ways of the prevailing culture. Where There’s Life is a true classic Bob Hope comedy, and is available at this link: WHERE THERE’S LIFE.

Both of these wonderful Bob Hope comedies are nicely presented on separate Blurays and each is highly recommended.