O Rei da Confusão

1900. Bob Hope plays Stanley Snodgrass, the world's oldest chorus boy, who can do nothing right.

Fired by his manager (the always watchable Fred Clark) he's hired back in a hurry because a mad slasher (a menacing Robert Strauss) is after his star. Stanley, thinking he's the new star because of his talent, will be an unwittingly decoy.

In future movies Strauss would often have a perfect blend of menace and humor. Here, he's all threat.

You won't find many laughs in this light-weight vehicle, but it's not dreary. It has some good songs and for Hope fans his personality is pleasant. If you don't like Hope's persona you won't enjoy this.

Besides Clark and Strauss, a standout is William Demarest as a cop playing as Stanley's put-upon valet.

The show may look peculiar but it's more a Zeigfield-type presentation that would mix song-and-dance, comedy acts and sketches.

Inane Bob Hope farce where the Great Bob portrays Snodgrass, a jerk who has only succeeded at failure in his life.

He gets the show business bug and of course he is completely inept. He is about to get the heave ho in 1900 New York, until a serial N.Y. killer is bitterly jealous of co-star Arlene Dahl and her lover Tony Martin. Unknowingly, Hope is put in as a decoy for Martin and there are some hilarious moments.

Rosemary Clooney is the girl who really loves him. Unfortunately, both Clooney and Martin have little to do here except sing some ditties, none of which ever became memorable.

To those reviewers who said that this is a lesser Hope entry (one saying that it was the start of his decline) I say, nay...Hope put enough into the likable egotistical fool Snodgrass to carry it off just fine. And plenty of 'ham' in his Stanley character, enough to supply all the fixings (with plenty of left-overs) for the Attila the Hun and his Horde's annual May Day, or should I say Mayhem, picnic.

And to those who said that there were to many forgettable songs, I say...too many sure, but I'm glad that they were 'new' and not the same-o same-o...new is good sometimes.

And since I'm being so contrary, I'll apply a little of that to myself...after decades of watching Hope (too many decades my tired, old body cries), I was sure I had seen all of his films. Wrong! This was my first viewing, and I was thankful that I finally stumbled upon it. Enough smiles, enough laughs and enough of my contrarian views...'hey Attila baby, pass the ham'...

"Here Come The Girls" has a couple of splashy musical production numbers, including some impressive dancing, particularly from the female flamenco artist and the Four Step Brothers. But Bob Hope's character is atypically obnoxious in this one: he loses our sympathies when he practically sexually harasses Arlene Dahl despite that fact that he is supposed to have a sweetheart (Rosemary Clooney) back "home". This scenario only works when Dahl is trying to seduce him, not the other way around. There are still a few funny bits (the cue cards are my favorite), but on the whole "Here Come The Girls" delivers more as a musical than as a comedy. ** out of 4.

A light piece of fluff, but enjoyable fluff! Watch out for the last scene with the great chase - some fantastic and hilarious acrobatics done there. Bob Hope fans, you can't miss this one. Non-fans, give it a go anyway, it's so silly that you'll laugh!