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.

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.

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.

Foreign correspondent Bob Hope is recalled to the States. He has, as he puts it, "slipped up a little bit on the Russian rumpus." Meaning—he was the only foreign correspondent in Europe who didn't report the invasion of Russia by the Nazis. (Instead he sent home a cable saying to disregard all such rumors.)

Fired, Hope winds up in Washington, hoping to redeem himself and his job by begging (and buying) another scoop from a spy named Vanescu (John Abbott). He is going to need help from his girlfriend on the Washington bureau—Dorothy Lamour, of course.

One thing leads to another, and the plot develops into a spy thriller involving a missing notebook; a kidnapped stenographer (Phyllis Ruth); a blonde dance hall star (Marion Martin) who musters up her patriotism when it counts; a murder or two; and a beauty parlor that is actually a nest of Axis spies.

Donald Meek has one great scene as a nut who thinks he's fighting the Civil War. Donald MacBride has a wild bit as the managing editor who is flabbergasted at Hope's incompetence and takes great relish in loudly firing him. Lenore Aubert is wickedly tempting as the beautiful fortune teller and spy near the center of the plot.

The patriotic element is there, too: When the emergency is on, Lamour rounds up her roommates—all government office workers in one department or another. For muscle, the girls bring along their boyfriends: a marine, a sailor, and so on. It's a team very easy to cheer for as they swoop onto the scene.

Of course, Hope and Lamour always look good together. A fair number of snappy one-liners and a decent plot keep this one moving.

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!").