La grande notte di Casanova

What a treat to see Bob impersonate the greatest of all lovers-Casanova. This is a wonderfully entertaining movie which keeps you amused throughout the entire film.Basil Rathbone as usual up to top form. Did he ever play anything but a scoundrel in all his movies? There are so many highlights it is difficult to choose any favorites,but the best would be at the end of the movie when Hope as Casanova is to be executed and appeals to the movie audience to spare him ,is one of the funniest scenes ever done.Next time you go to the movies take some popcorn with you and we may be able to save Bob from a fate worse than death.

Casanova has to depart due to monetary considerations. To help the merchants of the town retrieve their just due Pippo Popolino (Bob Hope) must take Casanova's place. Many people are counting on him to succeed on his new quest except for Elena Di Gambetta (Audrey Dalton) and her potential husband. Will he be able to bluff his way in and accomplish his mission or will his conscience get in its way?

We get to watch as he gets in compromising and sticky situations. You may find yourself kibitzing.

Aside from the fun Hope-type film, we get the pleasure of trying to name all the popular actors as they appear. There are more actors than names do you will have to remember where you saw them before.

Just a few: Bob Hope in Bachelor in Paradise (1961) Audrey Dalton in Kitten with a Whip (1964) Basil Rathbone in The Mark of Zorro (1940) Hugh Marlowe in The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) John Carradine in I Escaped from the Gestapo (1943) Lon Chaney Jr. In The Wolf Man (1941) Raymond Burr in Bride of the Gorilla (1951) Oliver Blake in Giant from the Unknown (1958) Vincent Price in Laura (1944) Anthony Warde in I Escaped from the Gestapo (1943)

This will make a great addition to your Bob Hope collection.

Although I haven't seen the film since the first run showing, I'll never forget the scene where Bob Hope (as Pippo Popolino aka Casanova) was in a gondola in Venice. He dips his finger in the water, sniffs it, and says "Canal Number 5."

Wow, what a cast! This Bob Hope film sure sported a long list of wonderful supporting actors, such as Joan Fontaine, Vincent Price, Basil Rathbone, Raymond Burr, John Carradine, John Hoyt, Lon Chaney, Jr.and even the ex-boxing champ, Primo Carnera! It's really amazing to see so many familiar faces in a rather ordinary sort of film.

Hope plays a tailor's apprentice who is roped into impersonating the famous lover, Casanova. It seems the real Casanova is a deadbeat and his many creditors have devised a plan to use Hope in his place. All Hope needs to do is try to seduce a young lady (Hope Emerson) to see if she is or is not virtuous--as her prospective mother-in-law wants to test her. He is assisted by Rathbone and Fontaine (who is WAAAY to old for this role). Naturally, things don't go as they all planned and soon Hope is running for his life.

As for the film, it's pretty much a typical 1940s-50s Bob Hope film--very pleasant and fun, but not particularly outstanding--even with the excellent supporting cast. High points would include a cute prison cell scene and a cute ending. And, among the lamest moments was Hope in drag. While cross-dressing is usually a sure laugh-getter, Hope's routine is pretty poor and this good idea falters.

Hope was at his peak when this film was made. It has many of the same elements as his Monsieur Baucaire, a costume drama about a person above his station carrying out an impersonation, getting involved with good looking chicks, fighting comic duels, etc. Hollywood back in the late 40s and early 50s was not above recycling a hit. I love seeing these old films again with the great comedians of those times, Danny Kaye, Red Skelton and, of course, Hope. Their timing and ability to make the corniest gags work still amazes me. Also, this film has so many of the wonderful character actors that made the old studio productions such a treat. These are faces that only the most serious of trivia buffs will recognize and put the names on, but here we have Arnold Moss, Frank Puglia, John Carridine, Lon Chaney Jr., John Hoyt, Primo Carnera, Hugh Marlowe and a very young Raymond Burr. The comparisons by another reviewer with Woody Allen are interesting but, hey! Hope was first.