Earlier in his career, including in the famous "Road" pictures with Bing Crosby, Bob Hope made some pretty funny movies. But as he matured the type of role he took in movies changed. Where he used to play the likable sap who usually didn't get the girl, in later years he seemed to want to be seen as a sex symbol (which wasn't going to happen!), showing up in films with the likes of Elke Sommer (here), Lana Turner, and Anita Eckberg. And, more and more, the dialog he had in movies tended toward a conveyor belt of one liners, delivered as such. This particular film has ended up on some "worst movies ever made" lists. And, while I wouldn't go that far, it's no gem.
I guess the thrill is seeing Elke Sommer prance around in soap bubbles. Other than that, the plot is simple -- too simple -- real estate agent (Hope) offers to help sexy starlet (Sommer) get away from it all. He tries to keep it clean (therein the long running slightly off-color gag), but still gets in trouble with his wife (Marjorie Lord) and often egged on by maid (Phyllis Diller).
The problem with Hope here is that he puts no more effort into this film than the skits on his television shows...and cinema is supposed to be something more than blackout sketches. I have quite a few of Hope's television specials in this general time frame, and trust me, they were often funnier than this film.
Elke Sommer...well, I have no problem with her, but she was never one of the great actresses or comediennes. But, she could be enjoyable in films, but not when the whole purpose of her presence was to just see how beautiful she was (I can get that in Playboy). And here she plays...well...a dumb blonde. Been done so many times.
Phyllis Diller was a very funny lady, but more appropriately cast in television. Again, her dialog sounded too much like one-liners.
I very much liked Marjorie Lord in Danny Thomas' old television series, but here I couldn't stop staring at her hairdo...it should have been a hair-don't. Very distracting, and a disappointing role for her.
A chase scene can be very funny in a film. Can be. Wasn't here. At all.
This film is solely for big fans of Hope or Sommer or Diller. I didn't think much of it when I saw it at the theater in 1966 (when I was 17), and I think less of it today. Sorry, Bob, America loves you, and rightfully so, but not for this little fluff.
I guess the thrill is seeing Elke Sommer prance around in soap bubbles. Other than that, the plot is simple -- too simple -- real estate agent (Hope) offers to help sexy starlet (Sommer) get away from it all. He tries to keep it clean (therein the long running slightly off-color gag), but still gets in trouble with his wife (Marjorie Lord) and often egged on by maid (Phyllis Diller).
The problem with Hope here is that he puts no more effort into this film than the skits on his television shows...and cinema is supposed to be something more than blackout sketches. I have quite a few of Hope's television specials in this general time frame, and trust me, they were often funnier than this film.
Elke Sommer...well, I have no problem with her, but she was never one of the great actresses or comediennes. But, she could be enjoyable in films, but not when the whole purpose of her presence was to just see how beautiful she was (I can get that in Playboy). And here she plays...well...a dumb blonde. Been done so many times.
Phyllis Diller was a very funny lady, but more appropriately cast in television. Again, her dialog sounded too much like one-liners.
I very much liked Marjorie Lord in Danny Thomas' old television series, but here I couldn't stop staring at her hairdo...it should have been a hair-don't. Very distracting, and a disappointing role for her.
A chase scene can be very funny in a film. Can be. Wasn't here. At all.
This film is solely for big fans of Hope or Sommer or Diller. I didn't think much of it when I saw it at the theater in 1966 (when I was 17), and I think less of it today. Sorry, Bob, America loves you, and rightfully so, but not for this little fluff.