La princesse et le pirate

Bob Hope and Virginia Mayo star in this hilarious comedy about a tenth-rate actor who gets mixed up with beautiful women, corrupt politicians, pirates and treasure maps. Hope really looks like he's enjoying himself, and when you get a load of Virginia Mayo, you'll see why. She has never looked more ravishing--the gorgeous Technicolor photography actually works better for her than it did for Maureen O'Hara, who was known as "The Queen of Technicolor"--and shows an unexpected flair for comedy. Victor McLaglen seems to be having a blast as the evil pirate The Hook, Walter Slezak plays the crooked governor in another one of his fine oily villain performances, and Walter Brennan is a scream as a crazed pirate who takes a shine to Hope. Some hilarious comic routines--especially one where Hope pretends to be The Hook--and several surprisingly good action scenes, which you don't often see in comedies, make this one of Hope's best pictures without Bing Crosby (well, for the most part). Don't miss it.

A vicious pirate called the Hook (Victor McLaglan) and his gang invade a boat carrying a princess (Virginia Mayo) and quick change artist Sylvester the Great (Bob Hope). They're kidnapped but escape and soon found themselves neck deep in danger.

Amusing Bob Hope comedy with him constantly throwing off one liners left and right. This is a lavish production with great sets and costumes (especially Mayos) and shot in bright Technicolor. It's OK but not great--it's way too plot heavy (especially for a comedy)and some of Hope's jokes are real groaners or very 1944 (how many people are going to get a joke about Gypsy Rose Lee?).

Hope is fun, Mayo is beautiful and McLaglan is actually quite funny as the pirate. An amusing comedy with a great closing gag. Kids might like it more than adults--some of the characters here are so broadly played than I found it annoying but children might find it hysterical. I give it a 7.

Of all of Bob Hopes comedies, sans Crosby, this has got to be the best. A movie you can watch not twice, but a hundred times,( as I probably have ) The classic "beer drinking scene" with "Hugo"! Virginia Mayo......... Walter Slezak.....Walter Brennan, Try as they may...Hollywood can't do any better, no filth, no bathroom jokes, what a challenge it must have been in those day's to bring you a film that did not need to rely on that. Watch and enjoy with your kids or along with the guy's and some beer, it's timeless. A true 10......

This one is so much better than Hope's later romp in the swashbuckling genre called CASANOVA'S BIG NIGHT.

VIRGINIA MAYO displays comic flair as Princess Margaret, the lovely Technicolor photography doing her full justice as the costumed princess running away from the villains with the cowardly Sylvester the Great (BOB HOPE) at her side. Hope is at his comic best, delivering every line with the sort of casual flair for comedy that served him so well during his early years at Paramount.

But having the most fun are VICTOR McLAGLEN as the hook-bearing pirate with a devilish gleam in his eye; WALTER BRENNAN as the maniacal, half-witted pirate called Featherbrain who relishes every scene and gives one of his best supporting role performances; and WALTER SLEZAK as the wicked man who wants the treasure map and Mayo for his own.

Not to be outclassed by these comic performances, we also have HUGO HAAS as the cabaret owner who shares some priceless one-liners with Hope who auditions for a job in his cabaret. The drinking scene is one of the highlights of the film.

Directed at a frantic pace by David Butler, this is one of Hope's most enjoyable romps and it's all dressed up in fancy Technicolor and lavish sets and costumes.

Not to be missed, if you're a Hope fan.

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 .