Wednesday, July 04, 2007
BOBBING
Today's NYTimes Best 1176 Film was
This is the lightest of fare.
This was the third 'Road' picture.
I would not have seen it as I have this no-sequel review. But it is one of the two more highly regarded films in the series. The other is Utopia, The Road to.
These ventures are like the Marx Brothers films; vehicles for the stars to play.
Hope and Crosby had a career long 'feud' and made much of it.
When I was a kid we always looked forward to one or the other's radio or television shows because there would be a cameo at least of the rival star.
The movie is formula fun with lots of wise cracks from the boys.
It is surprising that the material still seems fresh.
It is a musical. Four songs. One of them my mother's favorite—Moonlight Becomes You.
I heard it most of my life. But it is a good song.
Hope's career lasted longer than Crosby's.
It is hard to remember the immense popularity that Bing had. Only Sinatra got that level of play and fame and that was after Bing began to wane.
I don't want to forget Dorothy Lamour who was in all these films and as important to the 'thing' as the guys were. She had a lot of energy and steals many scenes. She plays it straight for the most part but when she has a zinger she sends it home.
Anthony Quinn is in this as the arab shiek. Pretty.
I will give it a 3 out of Netflix5 before it just flies away. It is so light.
Labels: best films
