The Road to Hong Kong

In May 1962, theatergoers saw two movies about the space race and secret organizations intent on world domination. One was the first James Bond film (Dr. No), and the other was The Road to Hong Kong, the last “Road picture” with Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, and Dorothy Lamour.Ironically, Hong Kong, the first of the Road pics to make it onto Blu-ray, is also the weakest. My 17-year-old son watched this black-and-white comedy with me and was surprised to hear that. He gave it a solid B. “It had some stupid parts,” he said, pointing a finger at the ending, especially, “but it was also pretty funny.”He’s right. While Road to Singapore (1940), Road to Zanzibar (1941), Road to Morocco (1942), Road to Utopia (1945), Road to Rio (1947), and Road to Bali (1952—the only one in color) are all better, The Road to Hong Kong is still entertaining.Comedian Bob Hope and crooner Bing Crosby struck gold in the ‘40s playing a pair of vaudevillians slash con artists who somehow got involved in dangerous situations, with Crosby always duping Hope and the two of them always running into the singing siren Dorothy Lamour along the way. In each installment there were corny song-and-dance numbers, plenty of jokes and one-liners, at least one opportunity for Crosby to sing, and running gags about how Crosby always gets the girl and the best of his partner.Hong Kong was the equivalent of a reunion show, and Crosby and Hope have clearly lost a little of their comic edge. In fact, a younger Peter Sellers doing a cameo as an Indian doctor reminds us that the two stars used to be much faster and glibber with their banter. Yet, they weren’t that old. Crosby and Hope were 59 at the time the movie was made, so it’s more likely that the 10-year-hiatus since they last worked together was responsible for the jokes not being as rapid-fire as usual. And while previous Road pictures were largely ad-libbed, this one felt mostly scripted.Is that bad? No . . . unless you’re Dorothy Lamour, who was relegated to a cameo nightclub scene. Instead, then-hot Joan Collins was given the female lead. She does a decent job, but the chemistry just isn’t the same as it was when Lamour heated up the screen . . . and both of her co-stars.In Hong Kong, which spoofs ‘60s spy films before many of them had even been made, Hope and Crosby play a couple of cons selling “do-it-yourself interplanetary flight kits” that ends up giving Hope’s character amnesia. They go to a monastery for a cure, but along the way they end up mistakenly picking up a suitcase from a Third Echelon agent and are mistaken for the spies who are to give them a Russian rocket fuel formula. The plot thickens when Hope’s character receives a memory boost at the monastery and he can rattle off the entire formula from pages that his partner sticks in front of him as a test. The result is that they soon become entangled with a Third Echelon agent (Collins) and end up at the secret underwater base where the Third Echelon leader (Robert Morley) and his chief scientist Zorbb (Walter Gotell) are preparing to launch a rocket into space carrying chimps. But what better way to dispose of an “inconvenience” than by substituting them for the apes?A space gag about forced feeding of the apes goes on a bit too long (which will make it the only funny part for very young viewers), and yes, if you don’t know the history of the Road pictures and how they break the fourth wall with almost every ending, the finale can seem hokey. But as a spy spoof and a Road reunion, The Road to Hong Kong does a pretty decent job.And Olive Films, which has been producing a nice catalog of oldies on Blu-ray, did a very nice job on the transfer. It looks super, and sounds super. —FamilyHomeTheater.com

most often left out of lists of the popular "road to. . ." movies is road to hong kong. many people don't like it, but it is my favorite, it actually has a plot! (until the very end where it gets kind of odd) the story is about harry turner and chester babcock, con artists who, when the film begins, are on the eve of their newest scheme. they have hundreds of paying investors into an innovation that is supposed to use this rocket space suit thing and cause someone to fly. when the "brave native" that was supposed to demonstrate the suit backs out, turner and babcock have to come up with a plan. turner forces babcock in the suit and chester ends up flying through the roof of the warehouse where the demonstration is being held.poor chester.next we see harry visiting babcock in the hospital discovering that chester has lost his memory. he doesn't remember what girls are and what he did with them, what money is and what he did with it, and he can't even remember his own name. The former two seem to be of great concern to him.harry feels terrible and takes chester to the best doctors he can find. a few of them tell him about a monestary where a memory herb is used. harry and chester find that this story is true and go to the airport. it is at the airport that they meet up with diane, a secret agent for a group called the third eschelon. she thinks that chester is her contact and gives him a secret formula that is needed to send a rocket into space. this third group apparently wants to beat russia and the u.s. to space and threaten to drop bombs on them unless they don't accept rule under their force.at any rate, i won't reveal too much, but it is a very very funny film -- especially the bannana scene. i laugh so hard each time i see it. to me the chemistry of hope and crosby is at its finest. if you love the other road movies, then maybe you will not like this departure -- but there is so much more of the "real world" woven into this pic, you cannot help but love it. also, peter sellers' cameo is fabulous as an insane doctor, so buy this film or rent it today. (i have it on vhs but am waiting impatiently for a DVD version to come out, I wonder why they haven't released it) oh, and there are of course some sterotypes in the film, but don't let them offend you and enjoy the chemistry of the characters!

In some measure, and regardless of subject matter, every motion picture is a product of its time. The character of contemporary society creepsin to script and inform the action on screen, shaping visual and verbal language. Possibly overlooked by viewers of the "Road" pictures is the fact that each, in a reel and a real sense, was a parody of itself, and in turn, of the preceding films. They were a gentle jab at an industry prone to take itself too seriously. Revelling in their ability to glib and adlib their way from start to finish, Crosby and Hope always put ona real-time performance, a passing glimpse at what they and their world were at that moment. Amid the gems of repartee, some unseemly slurs atmisunderstood and maligned members of society emerge. Not funny.For what it's worth, there is one scene in "The Road to Hong Kong" that exhibits that classic comedic timing that left audiences rolling in the aisles. A rollicking ride into space, strapped into seats designed for chimpanzees. Use your imagination. Crosby and Hope did.Jim O'Dell

This was the only one of the road movies that I didn't have and that I hadn't seen. While it had original stars Hope and Crosby there was only a cameo by Dorothy Lamour....the female lead in this is Joan Collins, not one of my favorite actresses. It's nice to have it to complete my collection, but probably won't watch it as much as the other road movies. I will say it is better than most of the garbage they make today (and constant remakes of classic films that should have never been remade). Which is why I decided to go with 4 stars instead of the 3 I almost gave it.

Pretty good movie I kind of liked it not as good as some of the early movies.

Bob and Bing. Timeless. They had a good time making these road movies and it shows, all the actors are having fun which makes the audience have fun too.

Perfect fun movie

It won't work on my DVD player.

hubby loved it for his birthday

A must for all Hope and Crosby fans. Total madness and some good songs. Look out for cameo roles from Peter Sellers, David Niven and Dean Martin. Joan Collins is glamorous but dangerous! Would recommend to all ages. A pity not all the films in The Road series like this one have subtitles for hard of hearing.