Ho salvato l'America

Bob Hope plays a reporter who thinks he has a scoop about Nazis in New York.

This is typical Bob Hope and also typical World War II stuff. One's delight with the material depends on one's Hope threshold.

I like Hope's early works from "The Big Broadcast of 1938" for the next ten ot twelve years. But the treasure here is Dorothy Lamour, who proves she was more than a pretty face and figure in a sarong.

Also good is John Abbot in a small part as the reporter's source.

The movie also has some good "crazy" moments. Keep an eye peeled when he's in an airplane early on. And it has some nicely cast teeny parts.

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....

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.