La princesse et le pirate

Bob Hope again plays his cowardly character in "The Princess and the Pirate," a 1944 film from Samuel Goldwyn Studios. The film also stars Virginia Mayo, Walter Slezak, Victor McLaglen, and Walter Brennan. Hope plays Sylvester the Great (who gives his last name as Crosby), a bad performer who becomes involved with an incognito princess, played by pretty Virginia Mayo. There's really no point in going through the story - it's fairly ridiculous, concerning a map and a treasure. It's really just an excuse for some gorgeous Technicolor escapist entertainment in the midst of World War II. Beautiful women (the Goldwyn Girls) and lots of comedy abound. Hope is a scream as Sylvester, impersonating a Gypsy woman and Captain Barrett (McLaglen) who has a hook for a hand. Toward the end of the film, both Barrett and Sylvester disguised as Barrett are in Barrett's quarters, unaware of one another, each leaving the room from time to time and making opposite pronouncements to the pirates. Very funny stuff.

Hope is an absolute riot with that dry, offhand delivery of his and his facial expressions. He generally played an avowed coward, though a likable one, and this time is no different. Everyone does a great job in this, and I'm sure audiences, depressed by war news, appreciated it. Lots of fun and recommended.

A vicious pirate called the Hook (Victor McLaglan) and his gang invade a boat carrying a princess (Virginia Mayo) and quick change artist Sylvester the Great (Bob Hope). They're kidnapped but escape and soon found themselves neck deep in danger.

Amusing Bob Hope comedy with him constantly throwing off one liners left and right. This is a lavish production with great sets and costumes (especially Mayos) and shot in bright Technicolor. It's OK but not great--it's way too plot heavy (especially for a comedy)and some of Hope's jokes are real groaners or very 1944 (how many people are going to get a joke about Gypsy Rose Lee?).

Hope is fun, Mayo is beautiful and McLaglan is actually quite funny as the pirate. An amusing comedy with a great closing gag. Kids might like it more than adults--some of the characters here are so broadly played than I found it annoying but children might find it hysterical. I give it a 7.

Hokey parody of swashbucklers, Hope, Crosby, movies, and everything else. Terrible story, ludicrous development, mediocre supporting cast - but great gags, funny and entertaining. It comes off as a fine film, even before "a bit player from Paramount" steals the final scene. I first saw this in 1945, and have seen it four times since, and it retains its comic charm beautifully.

This one is so much better than Hope's later romp in the swashbuckling genre called CASANOVA'S BIG NIGHT.

VIRGINIA MAYO displays comic flair as Princess Margaret, the lovely Technicolor photography doing her full justice as the costumed princess running away from the villains with the cowardly Sylvester the Great (BOB HOPE) at her side. Hope is at his comic best, delivering every line with the sort of casual flair for comedy that served him so well during his early years at Paramount.

But having the most fun are VICTOR McLAGLEN as the hook-bearing pirate with a devilish gleam in his eye; WALTER BRENNAN as the maniacal, half-witted pirate called Featherbrain who relishes every scene and gives one of his best supporting role performances; and WALTER SLEZAK as the wicked man who wants the treasure map and Mayo for his own.

Not to be outclassed by these comic performances, we also have HUGO HAAS as the cabaret owner who shares some priceless one-liners with Hope who auditions for a job in his cabaret. The drinking scene is one of the highlights of the film.

Directed at a frantic pace by David Butler, this is one of Hope's most enjoyable romps and it's all dressed up in fancy Technicolor and lavish sets and costumes.

Not to be missed, if you're a Hope fan.

Of all of Bob Hopes comedies, sans Crosby, this has got to be the best. A movie you can watch not twice, but a hundred times,( as I probably have ) The classic "beer drinking scene" with "Hugo"! Virginia Mayo......... Walter Slezak.....Walter Brennan, Try as they may...Hollywood can't do any better, no filth, no bathroom jokes, what a challenge it must have been in those day's to bring you a film that did not need to rely on that. Watch and enjoy with your kids or along with the guy's and some beer, it's timeless. A true 10......