Bob Hope Collection [DVD] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

Depending on what you like, this DVD collection of Bob Hope movies will either tickle your fancy or make you go "hmmm". "Alias Jesse James" is a late 50's offering with some surprisingly entertaining comedy elements from such satirical Hope westerns as "The Paleface". Hope plays an Eastern insurance salesman who sells a life insurance policy to THE notorious outlaw Jesse James---then must travel West to protect his "investment" so he can't cash in. "Boy, Did I Get A Wrong Number!" (1966) demonstrates Hope's erratic film career during the 60's. A realtor (Hope) gets his wires crossed--literally!--with a beautiful European actress (Elke Sommers, of course) who's known more for bubble bath scenes than her acting. The beauty goes into hiding from Hollywood & it's up to Hope to hide her..which isn't easy with a wife (Marjorie Lord) & a snoopy housekeeper (the wild-haired Phyllis Diller, who trades some funny lines with Hope)around. The script is sometimes sparse in laughs, but it has its moments. The real delight is "The Facts of Life" (1960), a good "adult" comedy about married people (who are married to others) who, at first, can't stand each other, then are surprised when they drift into an affair! This was proof that both Hope & Lucille Ball could deftly handle more than just broad comedies & TV sitcoms. "I'll Take Sweden" (1965) seems to be just another teen-oriented 60's flick, but offers more as a generational gap commentary. Hope plays Dad to Tuesday Weld, and puts up with teen idol Frankie Avalon. "The Princess and the Pirate" (1944) lets Hope plunder a treasure trove of laughs in the pirate genre with this splashy Technicolor MGM offering. While "The Road to Hong Kong" (1962) finds Hope & Bing Crosby getting a bit long in the tooth for this kind of silliness, it does manage to score some funny moments. Peter Sellers steals his scene as an Indian doctor, and Dorothy Lamour brightens the picture in what seems to be (sadly) a glorified cameo appearance (young Joan Collins replaces her as leading lady). The film has something to do with a top secret rocket fuel formula, and is modernized into a 60's James Bond-ish flick. "They've Got Me Covered" (1943) is another good Hope vehicle, with him playing a hapless reporter getting up to his ears in espionage with Nazis..AND trying to marry his fiance (Lamour).Again, this is a mixed bag of Hope fare. But there's something for everyone here!

This is a pretty good collection at a great price. There are seven movies on individual discs which are They Got Me Covered, The Princess and the Pirate, Alias Jesse James, The Facts of Life, I'll Take Sweden, The Road to Hong Kong & Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number.By far, the two standouts are The Princess and the Pirate & They Got Me Covered. Alias Jesse James is available for the first time on DVD, it's his last comedy-western & a pretty good one. After this it's a drop off in quality. The Road to Hong Kong is the weakest of the Road movies & pretty lame, to boot. The Facts of Life co-stars Lucille Ball & is good, as all the Hope-Ball pairings. The Facts of Life & I'll Take Sweden are Hope vehicles that aim at getting a younger audience & are mixed bags. The former co-stars Frankie Avalon & Annette Funicello, the latter has Elke Sommer (eye candy). Boy, Did I Get a Wrong number has Hope's first pairing with Phyllis Diller that's not among his best.This set concentrates more on Hope's later period (early to mid sixties) which is past his prime as to the quality of the movies. It's the other three movies that really make this set worthwhile. Here's how I would rate these movies on an individual basis:1) The Princess and the Pirate*****2) They Got Me Covered****3) Alias Jesse James***4) The Facts of Life**5) I'll Take Sweden**6) Boy,Did I Get the Wrong Number**7) The Road to Hong Kong*These discs are high quality but there aren't any bonus features. The price is what makes this set the good deal that it is.

A good mix but some aren't very funny. The best ones are from the 50'sAlias Jesse James: The Funniest. Bob Hope sold a insurance policy to Jesse James, now he has to protect Jessie. But Jessie wants to claim the insurance by killing Bob Hope.Boy, did I get the wrong number: OK. Bob plays a husband who is accidently connected to a bubble bath actress and later on is accused of murdering the girl.The Facts of life: Not the funniest. Bob Hope and Lucy are togther when the spouses can't make the holiday and they try to run away togther.I'll take Sweden: Rubbish. Bob wants to get his daughter away from her boyfriend. He goes to Sweden to keep him away and finds more trouble.The Princess and The Pirate: 2nd Funniest. Bob plays a hopless actor who escapes a pirate attack with a runaway princess only to land on an island that is run and rulled by the pirates he escaped. Lots of black humor.Road to Hong Kong: Lamest of the series. Bob and Bing get caught up in a spy network that want to provide a new world for there kind.They've got me coved: Great. Bob is a reporter who can't get headlines for the biggest stories that happen under his nose. Then he hears of a Nazi spy ring in Washington and trouble starts for himself and his girlfriend.

It was really a Hollywood flurry and worry (I'm sure) when the greatest comics of the time (1960) embarked upon a true love story but with these pros there was no danger. A reworking of Brief Encounter emerged as a bitter sweet and humorous accidental love affair. These stars looked great, turned in Oscar performances and bowled over the fans. I Love Lucy already summed up, the Lucille Ball of TV returned to her motion picture roots and did not break stride and Mr. Bob Hope perhaps turned in the role of his career. Neither disappointed. All this was intentionally low key, no slap stick or outrageous capers. Fans who never saw Ms.Ball out of her "Lucy" role will be amazed at her great beauty and top notch acting and Mr. Hope will surprise you as the serious romantic leading man.There is the natural human comedy which only enhances the appeal of the motion picture. The gorgeous eyes over Hope's shoulders (ad catch line) will make you fall in love with Lucy all over again.This film needs to be on DVD for posterity. Long live Lucy and Bob Hope.

Bob Hope had a gift: He could be lecherous, cowardly, squirrelly, gullible, and dimwitted, yet somehow make it all endearing. At his best, the result was wonderful comedy--at his worst, the result was belabored schtick. The Bob Hope MGM Movie Legends Collection has a little of both ends of the spectrum. The most "classic" Bob Hope picture in this set is Alias Jesse James, in which Hope plays an insurance salesman who, after selling an expensive policy to the famous outlaw, then has to go West and protect him so his beneficiary can't collect. The hapless fool rises to heroic heights by accident and mistaken identity; it's Hope's favorite storyline and he clearly enjoys himself. A host of Western stars--from James Arness (Gunsmoke) to Gary Cooper (High Noon) make cameo appearances. The Road to Hong Kong is the last Hope & Crosby Road to movie, and while the formula (preposterous plot, good-looking gal, and lots of jokes about being in a movie) is wearing thin, there are still plenty of pleasures to be had. The duo play con men who find themselves in possession of a secret rocket fuel formula after Hope loses his memory, which leads them into the clutches of James-Bond-style megalomaniac (Robert Morley, The Loved One). Dorothy Lamour appears, but it's pretty much an extended cameo; a young Joan Collins provides most of the eye-candy. The mid-60s sex farce Boy, Did I Get Wrong Number! doesn't have much to offer. Elke Sommer plays a starlet weary of always being naked in a bubble bath (naturally, this movie misses no opportunity to put her naked in a bubble bath); when she runs away, she crosses the path of flop real estate agent Hope, who ends up accused of her murder. Hope puts hardly a smidge of effort into his usual stream of one-liners; most of the movie's energy comes from Phyllis Diller, who approaches her gags like a heavyweight boxer, putting her full body into every one. I'll Take Sweden is a pleasant surprise; what initially seems like a typical teen exploitation movie starring Frankie Avalon and Tuesday Weld, with Hope along as Weld's befuddled father, turns into a sly cross-culture satire when Hope takes his daughter to Sweden so she won't marry Avalon--only to discover the European morals may pose a greater threat to her virtue than bohemian hijinx. The result is like a pop version of Henry James, peppered with zippy musical numbers. But the true gem of this collection is The Facts of Life. Hope and Lucille Ball are married to other people; they've known each other a long time and never liked each other, but when a trip to Mexico forces them together, they fall in love. This middle-aged love story is a comedy, but shot through with a bittersweet awareness of the compromises of life. Hope and Ball are both superb, giving their comic skills an yearning melancholy that perfectly expresses the Academy-Award-nominated screenplay.Not to be missed.Disc 1: Alias Jesse James WPDisc 2: Boy Do I Have The Wrong Number WPDisc 3: The Facts of Life WPDisc 4: I'll Take Sweden WSDisc 5: Princess and The Pirate P&SDisc 6: Road to Hong Kong WSDisc 7: They've Got Me Covered P&S

Una telefonista, que anda algo despistada, pasa por error una llamada de Tom. ( Bob Hope.) a la habitación de la famosisima actriz de cine Didi. ( Elke Sommer.) que se haya escondida tras su fuga de los escenarios. ( noticia que publican todos los periódicos en primera página para así poder encontrarla.).El bueno de Tom, que lleva una vida familiar feliz, con su esposa y sus hijos, accede a escondidas a visitar a Didi en su hotel al decirle ésta que se encuentra desamparada y sin alimentos.La única que se percata de la maniobra de Tom es su ama de llaves, que es una pícara, y que nos hará reír a lo largo de toda la película.Pero las cosas se complicarán mucho más cuando Didi decide marcharse a la casa de campo de Tom, cosa que también decide hacer la esposa de éste.Comedia disparatada, con abundantes carcajadas gracias a los maravillosos actores y actrices de esta brillante película, y a su director George Marshall.

all 6 were anywhere from good to great

Esta pelicula la vi cuando tenia 17 años y me gusto mucho. Les premio con cinco estrellas no por la pelicula, que no deja de ser un tema de humor sin más. Les premio por la rapidez al enviarla, la eficacia, la horadez que se respira cuando se trabaja a tanta distancia, con las estafas que existen hoy en dia online. chapeau por esta empresa. Seguiré comprando. no me dejeis de enviar los catálogos que creo que me registre. Saludos J.J.

Bought it to add to my expanding collection of Elke Sommer films (33), but I was amazed at how brilliant Bob Hope was with his comic timing and Elke matches him well