Road to Morocco

The Road to Morocco is the best of Crosby/Hope road movies, in my humble opinion. Yes, the plot is paper thin, but the comedy and self-deprecating humor is there. Much of the comedy is slapstick, but this is a movie that's not afraid to say "It's just a movie, don't take it seriously." In the first song, Crosby and Hope allude to it being just another road movie. Naturally they'll meet Dorothy Lamour, and they have nothing to fear, because Paramount will protect them. This is not a movie to have a serious, philosophical discussion about. This is a movie to pop into the VCR on a Saturday night and forget about your worries.

It's amazing to me that Dorothy Lamour could keep a straight face during the shenanigans of Bing Crosby and Bob Hope while filming. Apparently she had a great time with them, which is no surprise.

The boys wind up in Morocco in this film, and as usual, Bing's character can't wait to throw poor Bob under the bus - or, in this case, caravan. This time, Bing gets money to pay a restaurant bill by selling Bob into slavery. It turns out Bob is to be the groom of the glamorous Lamour. He's having a blast, though he writes to Bing that he's being tortured daily. As usual, Dorothy falls for Bing.

People might think I'm crazy, but I just love the '40s Bob Hope. He was adorable and very funny. Crosby gets to sing the beautiful "Moonlight Becomes You," an added bonus.

The stories are always the same, set in different locales, and they're always funny. Just two guys ad-libbing and goofing around. Hope plays his own aunt, an apparition. Enjoy.

Extremely funny third "Road" movie starring Hope, Crosby and Lamour, possibly the best in the series. In what is almost literally a laugh-a-minute, the two stars riff off each other to the manner born, their timing impeccable and seeming ad-libs spontaneous and hilarious.

The classic scenes are more and near between. My favourites include the nodding-heads scene when the boys are hiding from Anthony Quinn's gaze, Hope's hilarious exposition scene, (for the folk who only came in halfway through the movie) and his Oscar grabbing scene at end. There are loads of snappy one-liners too, the stars not too proud to send themselves up - Crosby makes a crack about Hope's nose while Hope spoofs Crosby's crooning. Dorothy Lamour looks suitably exotic and has no problem yet again convincing the viewer of her ability to bewitch her usual three men, Hope Crosby and Anthony Quinn, all as usual. While Bob, unsurprisingly loses Dorothy once again to Bing he surprisingly this time gets a girl of his own by the finish.

The songs are fine too ("Ho-Hum", "Constantly", "Moonlight Becomes You" and the jokey title song) and are much better woven into the flow of the film than on previous journeys.

All in all, one of the funniest comedies from Hollywood's Golden Age, it quite rightly cemented the reputation of the "Road" franchise and kept the threesome on their travels for a road or two yet.

Bob Hope is a very underappreciated performer. Of course, he was better as a comedian than as a movie actor, but that's just because he resigned himself to making lightweight comedies like this one. This comedy is very funny; yes, it's pretty lightweight, but what did you expect?

I like all the "Road to" pictures, but this is the best that I've seen. Of course, you won't get any great plots or intricate character development with them, but they are highly entertaining. Likewise, "Road to Morocco" is a very funny movie, if not a bit uneven. See this movie for some good laughs.

P.S. This movie is definitely harmless, despite the comment written by someone who seems to think it's homophobic. I'm wondering if he watched the same movie that I did.

When the ocean liner carrying Jeff and Orville is sunk, they find themselves washed up and on the way to Morocco. In pay for food Jeff sells Orville to a man only to find that Orville has been sold on to Princess Shalmar and is now to marry her. However the princess is only marrying Orville as her first wed is cursed to die within a week – leaving her free to marry Mullay Kassim.

Like an old pair of shoes, the road to movies may not be fantastic but they're comfortable and safe. This is actually one of the better road movies, the plot, though silly, is quite focused and doesn't go off on flights of fancy like some others. The focus of the plot allows a safe environment for Hope and Crosby to do their double act within. The love interest is OK but really it slows the film down a bit.

Crosby is good as ever and gets to do his songs on a regular basis, but really the star is Hope. His Orville is cowardly, treacherous and selfish – but he manages to be sympathetic and funny. This is all down to Hope's wit, timing and deliver – he is a genuine showman. Stars in the shape of Lamour and Quinn are diverting – but this is a Crosby/Hope vehicle all the way.

One of the better Road movies this is funny in an old fashioned way.