Nothing but the Truth

Nothing But The Truth with Bob Hope became Liar Liar with Jim Carrey in the '90's, I know which I prefer. Carrey's take was a slicker more professional affair but too syrupy for my taste; this hasn't got the syrup but unfortunately it also hasn't got enough gags in it either.

The gang was all there: Hope, Goddard and Best, surrounded by Edward Arnold and some of the best supporting actors/actresses around in a film directed by Elliot Nugent with high Paramount production values in attendance. The story itself takes over, with some great possibilities in it (as Carrey exploited) but it's so wordy that ultimately the whole thing backfires. Too many plot or behavioural explanations stopped any flow and make the 90 odd minutes seem a mite too long a running time. Be warned if you're a sensitive soul - the racial stereotypes are out in force from the first to the last minute.

Having said all that, I've seen it a couple of times now and enjoyed it thoroughly. The only problem is I don't feel I'll be able to watch it again too soon, rule no. 1 being Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder!

Steve Bennett, a new recruit on a brokerage firm in Miami, gets an interesting proposal from Gwen Saunders. She has ten thousand dollars that belong to a charity organization and wants Steve to double the money because her uncle, who is the head of the firm will double the amount if it is done properly. At the same time, his new boss and his inner group make Steve a counter proposal if he will not lie once during the weekend.

This funny Paramount comedy of 1941 was a vehicle for Bob Hope, who at the time was at one of the best moments of his career. It helps that he was paired, once again with the gorgeous Paulette Goddard, who had been his screen partner before to excellent results. Both Mr. Hope and Ms. Goddard do fine work as they show a natural talent for this type of comedy. Others in the cast included Edward Arnold, Leif Ericson, Glenn Anders and Grant Mitchell.

"Nothing But the Truth" was directed by Elliott Nugent who paced the comedy at the right speed making one of Mr. Hope's best film appearances.

While the plot isn't believable, "Nothing But the Truth" is a pleasant little comedy and is worth seeing.

When the story begins, Steve (Bob Hope) is going to a new job working for a stock broker. His coworkers are a bit taken back because unlike his colleagues, he actually has ethics and tries to be honest with his clients' money! They are amazed...but also confident he isn't nearly as honest as he claims to be. So, they make him a bet...tell the truth ALL THE TIME for the next 24 hours. To make sure, the three guys betting against him insist he stays with them all the time so they can verify whether or not he upholds his end of the bargain. However, he's practically broke and bets the money Gwen (Paulette Goddard) gave him to invest! Along for the ride are Edward Arnold, Leif Erickson and Willie Best...who fortunately is NOT a caricature of a black man in this movie (though he often was in previous films).

Overall, while the whole plot idea is silly and tough to believe, the film is lively and fun. You never get side-splitting laughs from any of Hope's films (in my opinion) but it is good and he is as well. Well worth seeing...I almost gave this one an 8.

"Nothing But the Truth" is very funny and one of Bob Hope's best films. Hollywood even matched the title perfectly with the story. Or rather, it didn't change it from the play and the 1914 novel it's based on - by Frederic Isham (1865-1922). The story is considerably updated in time. From newspaper reviews I've read, this film follows the book much closer than the stage play or a 1929 film based on it.

Hope's Steve Bennett is hired by an investment firm in Miami Beach. He meets the boss, Edward Arnold (as T.T. Ralston) and his son-in-law partner, Glenn Anders (as Dick Donnelly). Steve has heard T.T. talk about a great deal in a quicksilver mine in New Mexico, but he thinks it's no good. In a discussion with one of the firm's clients, Leif Erickson (as Tommy Van Dusen), Steve says that he believes in telling the truth -- always.

The three men challenge Steve to bet any amount of money, saying that he can't go 24 hours without telling a lie - including the least little fib. He doesn't have any money of his own, but he's holding $10,000 in cash that he had just been handed for a quick investment. He got it from Paulette Goddard (as Gwen Saunders), who is T.T.'s niece. She's a little scatter-brained but big-hearted woman who is always raising money for local charities.

Steve had met Gwen just before this, when T.T. and Dick had ducked to keep from seeing her. She told Steve that she was shy on her pledge to the charity drive to raise $40,000. But, if she could just raise $10,000 more, uncle T.T. would match the $20,000 and she'd have the full amount. She gave the cash to Steve for a quick turn-around investment while she was being pursued by Grant Mitchell (as Mr. Bishop) who heads the charity drive for The Seaside Home.

Steve is so honest and confident in his honesty, that he puts the $10,000 he is holding up for the bet. But no one else is to know about it for the next 24 hours. The three men plan to keep a close eye on Steve and try to trip him up with questions. The humor ramps up when they all adjourn to T.T.'s yacht for the weekend. They will be joining a small company of guests he had already invited. The yacht, which T.T. calls his "houseboat," is docked in the harbor.

Among the guests is Clarence Kolb (as Mr. Van Dusen), who publishes the Miami Journal newspaper, and his wife, played by Catherine Doucet; and a famous Austrian psychiatrist, Dr. Zarak (played by Leon Belasco). A hilarious sub-plot develops around Dr. Zarak as he observes the strange behavior of the men. As the men try every trick to get Steve to tell even a white lie, the situations on the boat get hilarious at times. The more the men corner Steve to tell the truth, the more lies they tell.

There are a number of other mini-plots woven into the story that feed much humor into it. Donnelly has been seeing an actress on the side, and Helen Vinson plays Linda Graham very well. Tommy is the son of Mr. Van Dusen, and he has been after Gwen to marry him; but she's not sure. And Willie Best as Steve's valet, Samuel, contributes much to the comedy and story.

One other humorous thing in this film concerns the Los Lomas Quicksilver mine. T.T. Ralston apparently got sucked into acquiring its stock. The type of mine is used here for comical purposes. Quicksilver is a common name for mercury, but it's also an idiom for something slippery, and hard to hold onto. T.T. shows how slippery he is, when he says, "All right, Los Lomas isn't any good at all. But there's quicksilver somewhere in New Mexico and somebody's liable to find it. I've told many a lie that I've had come true."

This is a wonderful comedy that everyone should enjoy, from older children on up. The ending has the best whopper of the entire film - and guess who tells it. Here are some favorite lines.

T.T. Ralston, on the phone, "Hello, J.P., this is T.T."

T.T. Ralston, on the phone, "Oh, by the way, Joe, uh, I've got to show my gratitude in some way. Ever hear of Los Lomas Quicksilver?... Hello... Joe... Joe..."

Gwen Saunders, on the phone with the office, "Well, then give Mr. Bennett this message. It's terribly, terribly important. Tell him that something's come up and that the... the thing that I gave him to do something with, he's not to do that with them at all, and that, uh, he's to hold the thing, and I have to have 'em back right away. Now, that's clear, isn't it?"

Mrs. Harriet Donnelly, "Will you establish your office here permanently, doctor?" Dr. Zarak, "Dear lady, there are as many diseased minds here as in Bucharest. And much more money."

Mrs. Ralston, "Well, I'll say one thing for Mr. Bennet - he's different." Gwen Saunders, "So was Jack the Ripper."

Dick Donnelly, "Oh, brandy... and candy... isn't that dandy?"

Gwen Saunders, "Go on! Go on! Don't leave me out. I'm here. What would you like to do to me?" Steve Bennett, " I'd like to kiss you till your ears fly off."

Samuel, "Look what came up, Miss Saunders." Gwen Saunders, "Oh, go soak your head."

Samuel:, "Hey, boss, I got a great big..." Steve Bennett, "Oh, why don't you fall overboard?" Samuel, "What a short Christmas."

Gwen Saunders, "Tea time. Tea Everybody. It's almost four o'clock. Time for tea. Tea for T.T.?" Utter chaos ensues. T.T. Ralston, "We don't want any tea." Dick Donnelly, "Take that stuff away from him." Gwen Saunders, " I'll serve you myself, Mr. Bishop." She pours the tea on his pants leg.

Me and my Brother laughed all the way through this movie! One of my favorite Bob Hope films!