They Got Me Covered

They Got Me Covered is one of two films Bob Hope did on loan out from Paramount to Sam Goldwyn. After that Goldwyn once again signed his own house comedian Danny Kaye so he wouldn't have to pay an exorbitant ransom Paramount put on Hope's talents.

Hope's a bumbling newspaper reporter who turned out to be the only wire service man who did not get the story of the German invasion of the Soviet Union. That got him fired by boss editor Donald MacBride in one of his patented movie temper tantrums,

If you can believe it Hope actually won a Pulitzer Prize, but we soon learn the reason for it. He's got a Rumanian source named Venescu played by John Abbott. Abbott's got another big story for him, but he manages to get himself killed. Hope and ever suffering gal pal Dorothy Lamour have to find out what happened.

This could have been the plot line for any number of melodramatic noir type films, but this is a Bob Hope film so we're talking satire of same. Hope gets a lot of help from a very good cast of players Sam Goldwyn assembled here. Representing the Axis are Otto Preminger, Philip Ahn, and Eduardo Ciannelli plus a very seductive Lenore Aubert as the traditional femme fatale.

Best moments for me are those that Hope has with Donald Meek playing an addled old caretaker who believes the Civil War is still going on. The two of them reprise a couple of old burlesque routines in Abbott and Costello style.

Also look for a really nice performance by brassy blond Marion Martin as stripper Gloria the Glo-Girl.

They Got Me Covered despite the dated World War II topical references still has quite a lot of laughs for today's audience.

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.

The best parts of "They Got Me Covered" are its action and chase scenes. As a comedy, this is not one of Bob Hope's best films. After a while, his stand-up comedian persona becomes irritating and doesn't seem to fit with the film or the humor. This is most evident in his aside comments to himself, usually. Nor are they very funny. The funniest scene of the entire film is that with Donald Meek who plays the little old man (the crazy one). Meek is one of the long- lasting Hollywood supporting actors whom old film buffs will recognize and enjoy. He is a real hoot in this comic scene. And that's when Hope's glance askance as though looking at the audience really works.

The story is OK, but bounces around a lot. Most of the performers are good. And the technical aspects are fine. But as a comedy, this just doesn't have enough gas or gags to make it anything better than an average film.

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.

This wartime Bob Hope comedy is not a classic, but it does produce laughs - including some out-loud ones - with adequate frequency. The topical elements (the Gestapo, air raids, saboteurs, etc.) are played fairly straight, which is interesting to see. Dorothy Lamour looks great as Bob's girl - I got Woody Allen-Diane Keaton vibes from their partnership. **1/2 out of 4.