The Princess and the Pirate

source: The Princess and the Pirate

Moviecut—The Princess and the Pirate

This is a fair Bob Hope comedy with the flavor of an old-fashioned swashbuckler. But for a couple of scenes showing ships under sail, one exchanging cannon fire, and Hope and Virginia Mayo in a small lifeboat, there is little seaworthiness about this film Most of the other shots were filmed on sets, and all of the sea action doesn't amount to even a quarter of the film. So, forget the swash. There is no denying that Bob Hope was a great entertainer. But his peculiar type of comedy in many of his movies in the 1940s to 1960s is very dated. And, these many years later, it just isn't that funny. His technique may have been good for success then, but it's not conducive to posterity. And, I even wonder if it was necessary for his success then. Especially when one compares it alongside the comedy of so many other performers in the 1930s through the 1960s that still make us laugh today. Bob, and his friend, Bing Crosby – when they worked together, liked to mug for the camera a lot. That was OK. But what locked them into a short span of time for humor, was their popping out of the movie's time frame to their present for a side comment or ad-lib. For instance, in "The Princess and the Pirate," Hope's Sylvester the Great lives in the days of sailing ships and pirates. His character, as a world traveler and entertainer is stretch enough, considering that time. And he does fine with his dialog until he pops out lines that jolt us out of the days of adventure on the high seas. An example is his referring to the Hook being able to open beer cans with his hook. Such modernist deviations in the script may have tickled a funny bone or two in their day, but that day is long past and the humor with it. My five stars are for a good cast, with especially good performances by Walter Brennan as Featherhead and Victor McLaglen as Captain Barrett – The Hook. Here are a couple funny lines from this film. See the Quotes section in the IMDb Web page of the film for more humorous dialog. Featherhead (played by Walter Brennan), "You can't miss him. He looks just like me. He's twice as smart as I am. Sylvester, "Oh, a half-wit, huh?" Princess Margaret (Virginia Mayo), "Sylvester, I'm ashamed of you. Why don't you die like a man?" Sylvester, "Because I'd rather live like a woman." Bucket of Blood owner, "You sound like a stranger. You haven't lived very long in this town, huh?" Sylvester, "Does anybody?"

I saw this movie when it was first run in Chicago, at the good old Woods Theater. I was 14 at the time, and I've never forgotten it. Bob Hope was then at the height of his popularity, Virginia Mayo was just emerging as The Latest Dish, Walter Slezak, Walter Brennan, Victo McLaglen, et. Al., were at the top of their form. The Technicolor was smashing, the lovely ladies (i.e. The Goldwyn Girls) were delightful, the script sparkled with wonderful humor, and the plot not only made some sense, but was wonderful escapist entertainment, since we were then in the throes of World War II. I can't but agree with the previous comments about the great comedic humor we had then. Today's brand of humor is not only tasteless, but also vulgar and senseless. Bob Hope was a master, and remained such through much of his active career. Sam Goldwyn's production standards were impeccable, and the movie was a thorough joy. My summation is that people could laugh back then, and had the natural intelligence to "get" sophisticated, intelligent comedy.

Bob Hope was an outstanding comic. I met an old radio man who knew Bob Hope briefly, and this man said Hope was not an impromptu type. He couldn't come up with these one liners off the top of his head, but he did the delivery of written work perfectly. To look at him work in movies like this, that is almost impossible to believe, and it makes me even more in awe of what he accomplished. In this movie he plays a coward (imagine that!) who is coupled with a beautiful princess in escaping pirates who loot the ship he's on. He's befriended by one pirate, Featherhead (Walter Brennan), who shows some great versatility in his comic role. The same man who convincingly played a vicious killer in "My Darling Clementine" and "The Westerner", does a magnificent job of outwitting Bob Hope in this movie over and over, and Featherhead's only half of a halfwit! The antics never stop, and the physical comedy is perfect. A lot of big name actors helped to make this a great movie. More than a laugh a second. Just hilarious. And after Hope saves the princess from a pirate and a tyrant, do you think he gets the girl in the end? Or does some other rascal.

I loved this movie. The first time I seen it I was a little girl. I have seen it a few times over the years and love it even more. Bob's comedy has never been surpass. Hollywood lost one of it's finest stars when he passed away. This is my all time favorite of Bob Hope's. The costume's are just beautiful. The other actors in this film were just as good. At the end when Bing Crosby shows up and gets the girls just makes me laugh. Poor Bob worked so hard and still Bing got the girls. Another movies that Bob was in that I recommend is: The Seven Little Foys,Casanova's Big Night, The Lemon Drop Kid, and the one he played the dentist in... (I cannot remember the name) But he sang the song Button and bows.

The anachronistic one-liners fly off Bob's tongue faster than a seagull with its tail feathers ablaze, and about 50% are throw away misses, but this is still a fairly entertaining Pirate romp in gorgeous technicolor, not to be taken at all seriously. Hope's schtick is outshone by Victor McLaglen, who as The Hook, is at his blustering best, chewing the sets and scenery and obviously enjoying lumbering around in the guise of a pirate Captain. Too bad he never did a turn in another film as Long John Silver or Blackbeard, he'd have been a hoot to watch. The best and funniest scene here is when he pretends to be Hope's reflection in the mirror, aping his mannerisms. McLaglen's facial expressions in this scene are priceless. The story is wildly uneven, and sags in badly in the second act as per most Hope comedies, but Walter Brennan and Virginia Mayo help to keep things lively and overall it's worth a look. Hilarious ending too.

Hokey parody of swashbucklers, Hope, Crosby, movies, and everything else. Terrible story, ludicrous development, mediocre supporting cast - but great gags, funny and entertaining. It comes off as a fine film, even before "a bit player from Paramount" steals the final scene. I first saw this in 1945, and have seen it four times since, and it retains its comic charm beautifully.

Loads of wacky fun in this costume comedy that features Hope and Mayo who try to elude "The Hook," played with devilish charm by Victor McLaglen. Great gags, rousing excitement and even a cameo by a crooner named Crosby.

Many , many years ago , on the Spanish Main , there sailed the Seven Seas the most bloodthirsty buccaneer in history . Ruthless and daring he was , and , though his soul was black with foul deeds , he feared no creature , living or dead . Because he had an iron claw for a right hand , this terror of the Ocean lanes was known as ¨The Hook¨ . Bob Hope is Sylvester the Great , a conceited actor , the man of seven faces . He is a vaudvillian who falls for a gorgeous princess (Virginia Mayo) , both of whom being pursued by a nasty hooked pirate (Victor McLagen) and a governor (Victor Slezak) . Hope posing as a woman in order to escape , being saved by an old pirate (Walter Brennan). The Hook and his hoodlums (Mike Mazurki , Hugo Haas , Marc Lawrence) set out in pursuit Sylvester . They look for a valuable treasure and on the run Hope disguises as a gypsy . Meanwhile , Hope attempting to save the princess from being abducted . Hope and Mayo flee and find themselves surrounded by pirates . Later on , they go to the inn called ¨Bucket of Blood¨. Deciding to head back to treasure island . This is an original and entertaining swashbuckler comedy , spoofing numerous pirate situations and including a wonderful song titled ¨Kiss me in the moonlight¨. The film is a Bob Hope recital , he stooges , makes acrobatics , tongue twister and puts faces and grimaces . It's a pretty amusing farce with the master comic and he displays splendidly his portentous skills . Bob Hope show with his particular talent as a great comic about an issue of mistaken identities , maps , hidden treasures and many other things . This is one of Bob's early Technicolor entries , being spectacularly photographed by Victor Milner and William Snyder . Available digitally remastered stereo with original film trailer . This one Hope played on loan from Paramount to the great producer Samuel Goldwyn . Samuel Goldwyn paid Paramount $133,500 to borrow Bob Hope for twelve weeks. During that time, Hope made this film and ¨They got me covered¨. The Screen Guild Theater" broadcast a 30 minute radio adaptation of the movie on March 26, 1945 with Bob Hope and Virginia Mayo reprising their film roles . Of course , at the end of the movie appears a famous guest star , Big Crosby , in a closing cameo performed . Bob Hope , Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour on their crazies starred the known series about ¨The Road To..¨, these are the following : ¨The road to Singapur¨ this one started it all ; ¨Road to Hong Kong¨, ¨The Road to Lebanon¨, The Road to Morocco¨ , ¨The Road to Rio¨, ¨The road to Zanzibar¨, ¨The road to Utopia¨ . ¨The princess and the pirate¨ results to be as funny as some the other ¨Road movies¨ , it's a great entertainment and fun . The motion picture was well directed by David Butler . Picture is a vehicle Bob Hope , he's an authentic comic and real Farceur . If you like Hope's crazy interpretation , in which he manages charm and humor , you will most definitely enjoy this one ; it's really a great amusement .