They Got Me Covered

Typical BOB HOPE comedy popular during the war years when his gags were timely and always on target kidding the current political situation and the entertainment world with breezy one liners. DOROTHY LAMOUR is the fetching sweetheart who helps Bob in his efforts to win back his reputation as a Pulitzer Prize journalist after his big gaffe in predicting that Germany will never invade Russia.

It's the breezy sort of thing Hope always did so well, with a nice supporting cast of character actors who knew how to be foils for his comic gags. Among them: EDWARD CIANNELLI, LEONORE AUBERT, DONALD COOK, OTTO PREMINGER, MARION MARTIN and DONALD MacBRIDE. Cook has a surprising against type role as a crazy gangster who at one point says to Hope: "You're cool, ain't ya?" (The use of "cool" way ahead of its time!).

Directed at a fast pace by David Butler, it's certainly not one of Hope's best films but easy to see why Hope vs. Nazis was such a fun idea in those WWII days when the best villains were always those notorious Germans.

The plot has Lamour helping Hope win his reputation back by capturing a bunch of spies in Washington, D.C. Fans of Hope and Lamour should find this one satisfying enough despite its flaws.

Always loved this movie since I saw it on television when I was 14. It doesn't have a very convincing, or even good, script but it's still extremely entertaining, not only because of Bob Hope. There are some scenes without him that are quite on the spot, like that one where the Nazi, Fascist and Japanese sabotage heads meet in order to get a stenographic notebook transcribed:

the Nazi guy (played by Otto Preminger who directed "Laura") calls for his expert: "Send in Schulz!" Schulz enters immediately and is greeted by the words "What delayed you?"

As Schulz can't read the notebook, the Fascist guy calls for his expert: "What is needed is a fine Italian hand! Send in Mr. Testori, please. We do things differently!" Testori enters and is hearty greeted but gets a blow on the head and a dressing down when he too can't read the notebook.

Then the Japanese guy calls for his expert, Hawara, a humble servant of the Emperor who knows all stenographic systems. He's not greeted at all ("Transuration, purease.") but he can explain that the notebook is written in a system of its own (and is subsequently reproached for this information).

There is some suspense in it too, and a memorable killing of an airhead sing-and-dance girl on stage by the throwing of a knife inserted in some kind of cotton ball. (The Fascist guys previously warned her: "Remember, an empty head is better than no head at all!").

One of the funniest Bob Hope movies made without Bing Crosby, this world war two era comedy must have really helped the home front with the laughs. Hope plays a bumbling reporter who messes up many big war time scoops, must to the chagrin of his editor. The funniest scene in the whole movie is when Hope's character comes back to the States and gets yelled at by his editor. The whole scene from when he walks in the office to when he leaves is absolutely hilarious. They really do not make them like this anymore. This country is so starved for a man like Hope these days. No comedian today can even hold a candle to him. I give this film a 10 out of 10 just for Hope performance and the laughs. A dose of Bob Hope a day will keep the head shrinker away. May he rest in peace.

Paramount Studios loaned out Bob Hope to Sam Goldwyn to make two films--"The Princess and the Pirate" (1944) and this film. Despite a new studio, however, the style and enjoyability of this film is about on par with Hope's films of the late 30s and through the 1940s. This was Hope's most productive period--with one excellent comedy after another. None are masterpieces, but all are consistently worth seeing.

Hope stars as an incompetent reporter. His boss is so fed up with his lack of talent in sniffing out a story that he fires him. However, when a man approaches Hope and promises to give him important secrets about the Nazis, Hope sees his chance to win his job back and tell an important story. But, unfortunately, things don't go that smoothly and soon Hope's days seem numbered, as Axis agents from all three powers are all mobilized to kill him and gain the secrets for themselves. Along for the ride is the ubiquitous Dorothy Lamour.

All in all, the film is breezy and fun--and relies more on fun situations than one-liners. It also is a good propaganda film, as although like most of these films it's a bit preachy, it's entertaining enough that you just don't care. If only Hope's later films were this much fun....

The best parts of "They Got Me Covered" are its action and chase scenes. As a comedy, this is not one of Bob Hope's best films. After a while, his stand-up comedian persona becomes irritating and doesn't seem to fit with the film or the humor. This is most evident in his aside comments to himself, usually. Nor are they very funny. The funniest scene of the entire film is that with Donald Meek who plays the little old man (the crazy one). Meek is one of the long- lasting Hollywood supporting actors whom old film buffs will recognize and enjoy. He is a real hoot in this comic scene. And that's when Hope's glance askance as though looking at the audience really works.

The story is OK, but bounces around a lot. Most of the performers are good. And the technical aspects are fine. But as a comedy, this just doesn't have enough gas or gags to make it anything better than an average film.