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Jane Russell, Bob Hope, Roy Rogers, and Trigger in Le fils de visage pâle (1952)

User reviews

Le fils de visage pâle

34 reviews
8/10

Another Trip West for Old Scoop Nose

Federal Agent Roy Rogers is on the trail of a mysterious bandit known as The Torch and little does he suspect at first that The Torch is that powerful piece of pulchritude, Jane Russell.

Of course gumming up his investigation is tenderfoot Bob Hope, who is the son of famous frontier scout Paleface Potter. Hope's not inherited much from his father's side. Therein lies a lot of the comedy in Son of Paleface.

The original Paleface film had the Academy Award winning song Buttons and Bows. This one has a whole load of musical numbers in it, better to utilize the talents of the three stars. One of them, Am I in Love was nominated for the Academy Award that year, but lost to Three Coins in the Fountain.

Best scenes in Son of Paleface involve the smartest horse in the west, Trigger, constantly outsmarting Hope. Well if Bing Crosby could constantly do it in every Road picture.................
  • bkoganbing
  • Jul 2, 2006
  • Permalink
6/10

Where I Hail From, We Don't Cotton To Folks What Cotton To Other Folks' Gals That Don't Cotton To Folks That Cotton To Them !

  • ShootingShark
  • Jun 4, 2010
  • Permalink
7/10

"Out of my way, I'm a Harvard man!"

  • classicsoncall
  • Sep 7, 2008
  • Permalink

Good Fun With Good Friends

The original "Paleface" feature was pretty good, but this sequel is actually better, in large part due to the addition of Roy Rogers and Trigger. Rogers and Bob Hope are two of the most likable performers that the movies have seen, and together they seem like old friends who have stopped by for an enjoyable visit. Jane Russell is also back from the original movie, though in a different role.

The story is good fun as long as you don't take it seriously. It's actually rather well-written, in that it accommodates all three stars with material well-suited for them. Hope gets plenty of one-liners and similar gags, and he pulls off even the goofiest of them with energy and aplomb. Rogers gets the chance to do some singing and to have some action sequences, and Trigger gets several good moments. Russell is given a character that allows her to stay within the role of the tough, glowering beauty.

There are enough connections to the first movie to add to the enjoyment if you have seen it, but "Son of Paleface" could also easily stand on its own, and in fact overall it probably is actually a little bit better.
  • Snow Leopard
  • Feb 23, 2005
  • Permalink
6/10

Hilarious following in which Bob Hope shows his particular talent as a botcher cowboy

Agreeable comedy/musical/western with genuine and sympathetic characters , it is plenty of humor , tongue-in-cheek , bemusing gags , entertainment and amusement . One of Bob Hope's best , full of cartoon like gags , unheralded comedy classic . Hope as Harvard-educated son of the original role heading off in the Old West to claim an inheritance . He plays Junior Potter, who returns to claim his father's gold , which is nowhere to be found . As a cowardly Hope becomes a gunslinging hero when ¨The Torch¨ starts aiming for him . There he unwittingly takes on bad guys as Bill Williams . Along the way he meets a beauty Jane Russell as "Mike", who is actually ¨The Torch¨, Wanted : Dead or alive , 20.000 reward ; the luscious head of a band of thieves, and Roy Rogers as an undercover government agent hot on her trail .

A rip-roaring Western/comedy as the conventions of the Wild West are turned upside down . This funny picture is a gag feast , plenty of humor , diverting situations and absurd sketches in Leslie Nielsen style . Amusing and spasmodic comedy with the genius comic Bob Hope acting in his stereotyped role by relinquishing creative control and concentrating on humor based on destruction and wreak havoc , nice inventive bits , skilfully combining the entertainment with the amusement . Bob runs away with every cowboy cliché and even arranges to wind up with the girl . Gorgeous as well sultry Jane Russell who ropes the nervous Hope into marriage for the sake of her job . Bob Hope offered the role of Mike to Maureen O'Hara but she turned it down ; O'Hara loved the script but was going through an unhappy period in her marriage and felt that she would not be able to be funny in the film . Important appearance by Roy Rogers as a federal marshal and , of course , likable Trigger that holds the best scenes on bed with Hope . It includes a lot of songs such as ¨There's a cloud in my Valley of Sunshine¨, ¨Four legged-friend¨ and the Oscar-winning song ¨Buttons and bows¨, reprised from the original movie . The first movie titled ¨Paleface¨ was directed by Norman Z MacLeod starred by Hope as a bungler dentist , Jane Russel as Calamity Jane and Robert Armstrong , its sequel ¨Son of Paleface¨ results to be as good as the original . Remade in 1968 as ¨The shakiest gun in the West¨ , a fun good time directed by Alan Rafkin with Don Knotts and Jackie Coogan .

The motion picture was well directed by Frank Tashlin , one of the few directors to successfully make the transition from animation to live-action , as he directed his cartoons like live-action films and his live-action films like cartoons . Frank Tashlin wanted to direct this film because he disliked Norman Z. McLeod's direction of ¨Paleface¨ for which he wrote the script . Director Frank Tashlin introduces cinematic especial techniques in animated cartoon style , such as odd camera angles , montage and quickly paced editing , as some shots lasting only five frames long . He directed various vehicles for Jerry Lewis as ¨The Geisha boy¨, ¨Hollywood or Bust¨ , ¨Rock-a-Bye Baby¨ , ¨Cinderella¨ and for Bob Hope as ¨Paleface¨ , ¨The son of Paleface¨ . Both of them are considered to be two of his best films . Rating : 6,5 . Entertaining and amusing movie that it will appeal to Bob Hope fans . Worthwhile watching .
  • ma-cortes
  • Jul 7, 2013
  • Permalink
7/10

funny

Bob Hope plays Potter, returning to claim his father's gold, but it can't be found. Mike, played by Jane Russell, is a leader of a gang of thieves, and Roy Rogers as a federal marshal hot on the trail of thieves. It is very funny and lots of gimmicks, and the musical numbers are very good. I never realized that Roy Rogers had such a good singing voice. Jane Russell and Bob Hope do their own songs which are enjoyable, but not as memorable as "Buttons & Bows" from the original. One of the funniest scenes is with Trigger, Roy Roger's horse sleeping with Hope. 7/10
  • willrams
  • Aug 19, 2003
  • Permalink
10/10

Perfect mixture of Hope comedy and Western movie nostalgia

This is one of Hope's best movies. Along with its precursor, PALEFACE, it would make a great part of a double feature...an evening in front of your vcr or dvd. Russell's affectionate/condescension towards Hope works like a charm. The presence of Roy Rogers in this film is a stroke of genius. He plays a perfect lampoon of his own screen image here...and it may very well be his only film appearance in a movie not strictly in the Western genre (you could argue that DARK COMMAND was not only a Western, but a civil war film, but it hardly matters). Roy has a perfect sense for his part of the chemistry of the film and he plays it to the hilt...which is so much fun to see. It was one of the last movies Roy made (as he was now focused on becoming a TV cowboy star), and (with his entire film career supporting this appearance) watching him onscreen here not only makes you laugh, but tugs at your heartstrings as well. This makes SON OF PALEFACE a special movie on many levels. My favorite scenes: Hope trying to impress Russell in the saloon in the beginning; Roy Rogers on Trigger to the rescue as Hope's jeep runs amuck without a wheel; any scene where Trigger is bothering Hope.
  • taillefer
  • Mar 17, 2001
  • Permalink
7/10

Bob Hope And His Hilarious Comic-Timing

After watching 1952's "Son of Paleface" - I'm completely convinced that American actor, Bob Hope was/is one of the absolute funniest funnymen in all of Hollywood movie history, bar none.

And, believe me - This first-rate Comedy/Western spoof sure gave Hope plenty of opportunity to confirm his excellent comic-timing as the pampered city-boy, Junior Potter who (traveling out to the Californian Wild West) actually manages to thwart a serious gold robbery.

Directed by Frank Tashlin - "Son of Paleface" is, literally, loaded with laugh-out-loud slapstick comedy sight gags, and comically priceless one-liners that are certain to keep the viewer totally entertained from start to finish.
  • StrictlyConfidential
  • Mar 31, 2020
  • Permalink
10/10

No cliché is left unturned in masterful showcase for Hope's talent.

For me this is one of the rare occasions where a sequel trumps the first and previous instalment, comedy as we all know his very varied and we all see different things that make us laugh, and until now I have only given the highest rating I can to a handful of comedies, but this film is just flawless comedic entertainment to me, a laugh riot indeed.

Here Bob Hope plays the son of Painless Peter Potter from the first film, and the plot involves him going West to claim his Fathers inheritance. Naturally he gets involved in a number of shenanigans that sees him being hounded by the whole town for his Fathers debts. He gets embroiled in the midst of a wanted gang of robbers, and of course he has the sizzling Jane Russell making his heart go giddy up. On and on it goes as the film delivers for laughs every cliché from the Western genre, lynch mobs, Indians on the attack, ghost town, hidden gold, sexy gals, heroes and villains, it's all in there for a laugh a minute satirical piece of work. Added bonus here is we get Roy Rogers and the irrepressible Trigger joining in the fun, in fact Trigger steals a scene of Hope and himself in bed,! yes it's that sort of film. The gags are faster than the rifles on show and the film only pauses for breath for us to sample some quite wonderful tunes; California Rose, Wing-Ding Tonight, What A Dirty Shame, Four Legged Friend, Am I In Love and a brilliant reworking of Buttons & Bows from the first film, it's as good a 95 minutes entertainment I could wish to have from a film, 10/10 for me always.

Bobe Hope, RIP legend.
  • hitchcockthelegend
  • Mar 3, 2008
  • Permalink
7/10

Not quite as good as the original, but still well worth seeing.

Note: The DVD for this film has no closed captions nor captioning as an option. Fortunately, the sound and picture quality are very good.

This film is a sequel to the 1948 Bob Hope/Jane Russell film "The Paleface"--a very enjoyable comedy. This time, Hope plays the son of the man he played in the first film, 'Painless' Potter the dentist. The film begins with Junior graduating from Harvard (as perhaps their oldest senior in school history) and coming West. Unfortunately, he soon discovers that his father has left a ton of debts and the townsfolk are more than willing to hang him if he doesn't pay them out of his inheritance--but there is no apparent inheritance. So, Junior pretends there is--stalling for time and hoping to figure a way out of this mess.

At the same tie, there is a completely anachronistic plot involving 'the Torch'--a female bandit (Russell) who leads a gang of gold thieves. Unbeknownst to her, the hero (Roy Rogers) has been sent undercover to try to discover her whereabouts and bring her to justice. Eventually these plots all come together, as the Torch hears of Junior's gold and wants it for herself.

Along the way, there is a lot of singing and laughs. As in the original film, you'll hear the pleasant and mega-hit "Buttons & Bows" (with some new lyrics by Hope) as well as several other tunes that generally don't get in the way of the plot and are pretty enjoyable. A few times, however, there seemed to be perhaps one or two songs too many and it got in the way of the comedy on occasion. As for the laughs, they are there but a bit broad compared to the original, but Trigger was actually a nice addition to the film--and often got the most laughs! And, overall, it's a lot of fun and a worthy follow-up film.

Hope--"What's the matter--don't you like girls?"

Rogers--"I'll stick to horses, Mister."
  • planktonrules
  • Aug 6, 2010
  • Permalink
4/10

Jane Russell is gorgeous!

Just as is the case with most sequels, Son of Paleface isn't nearly as funny as its predecessor, The Paleface. There are a couple of funny gags, and but for the most part, this movie is pretty silly. Lots of Bob Hope movies are silly, but if you're looking for one that stands the test of time better, rent the 1948 original instead.

Bob plays his own son in this movie, and when he travels to a small western town from Harvard to collect his inheritance from his father, he's in for a real surprise. Everyone in town expects to be repaid what Paleface Potter owed them, but the treasure chest is empty! Bob has to stall for time and come up with a get rich quick scheme with his sidekick, Paul E. Burns. At a saloon, Bob get mesmerized by singer Jane Russell performing a jaw-dropping number in a beautiful costume, and he hopes to marry her for her money, then pay everyone off. What he doesn't know is that she moonlights as a gold thief, and she's only pretending to be rich so she can marry him for his money! Add in Roy Rogers as an undercover cop, and you've got some cute songs, lots of horse-y tricks from Trigger, and a funny love triangle. Also, there are couple of hilarious cameos by Bing Crosby and Cecil B. DeMille!

Honestly, though, the real reason to watch this one is to see Jane Russell in breathtaking Edith Head costumes. Her figure is so beautiful, and it's showed off to its best advantage in this flick. If you happen to watch this movie before you rent Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, you'll probably think Marilyn Monroe isn't worth a second glance.
  • HotToastyRag
  • Sep 16, 2018
  • Permalink
10/10

Wow! What a movie!

This hilarious western spoof is wickedly funny, marvellously self-aware, and doesn't want to admit to knowing the meaning of the fourth wall.

Hope works well with Roy Rogers--and of course Jane Russel is a sight not to be missed. Personally, I liked her better in the raider get-up, fully ensconsed in her role as villain. She keeps us guessing right up till the end whether she's going to shoot Hope or kiss him. What a movie!

I can't tell you any of the gags, or any of the string of one liners Bob Hope starts the movie with and doesn't let up with at all, ever. It would just hurt you too much.

If you haven't seen this movie and think would like to, go watch it. If you consider Bob Hope unfunny, and long for subtler entertainment, go set your pants on fire, you philistine, and give yourself some culture.
  • witheld
  • Sep 2, 2003
  • Permalink
7/10

I dare you not to smile

Bob at his best in my opinion. If you are a Bob Hope Fan you will enjoy this movie, if you enjoy Humor, you will enjoy this movie, if you hate Bob Hope and like to make children cry, you will still enjoy this movie.

The Humor is a bit dated as it is from 1952 and it is now 2021, but funny is funny, it stands the test of time and Bob's delivery is spot on. Jane Russell is beautiful and snarky enough to make you laugh and enjoy the interaction with herself and Hope. What else would make this comedy Western more enjoyable you ask.... Well Thank you for asking, let's add a Trick Horse named Trigger and Roy Rogers to round out this fun Cowboys, Indians and Outlaws adventure. You will ride off into the sunset on your recliner having enjoyed a great movie and if you are like me a big ole bowl of popcorn and a beer to wash down the laughter.
  • Fitzy14
  • May 5, 2021
  • Permalink
5/10

Idiot of a son

Yep. Well, that's Bob Hope for you.

In this film, he stars as the son of a wealthy hero who returns to the town where his father had a legendary status. However, his dad departed the world leaving all the townsfolk in debt and cursing him. Now that Bob Hope has returned, they all expect to be paid off as he inherits his father's fortune. I'm sure you've heard the standard response when someone asks if you have any chance or hope in a tight situation, you respond that they have 2 options - No Hope and Bob Hope. This town actually gets Bob Hope!

Leader of the outlaws Jane Russell (The Torch) is the best in the cast but why is she given a man's name? However, most of the film has Bob Hope centre-stage and so it flags as his quips don't always hit the mark. And his interruptions in the songs are agonizingly painful. Shut up, Bob Hope!

Son of Paleface, the Idiot Son.
  • AAdaSC
  • Jul 21, 2025
  • Permalink

A Worthy Sequel

This was a worthy successor to the original Paleface. This one was just as good and had even a few more funnier moments including the scenes with Trigger, the fight with the Indians and, of course, the climatic chase scene. Also, this film shows Roy Rogers flair for comedy as he has some great comedic moments with Hope. This film will always a perfect sequel.
  • Sargebri
  • Oct 9, 2003
  • Permalink
7/10

Bob Hope is back funny than never as Junior Paleface meanwhile gives a pinch in eye candy Jane Russell!!

Four years after the cunning Bob Hope perceives a promising Paleface's sequel introducing himself as Son of Paleface in turning century in late western period, whereby the Junior Potter is back with fancy clothes from Harvard in financial trouble claiming his father's gold at Sawbuck Pass, turns out that his father hidden the gold somewhere, meanwhile in town has a robbery's gang lead by someone self-called Torch, guess who is this unknown outlaw? Nothing less than the eye-candy Jane Russell, that has been followed by a federal uncover agent Roy Benton, actually an old acquaintance hero Roy Rogers and his famous horse sidekick Trigger.

Well aside all oddities the humor is granted by the pushover Bob Hope who embodies perfectly the urban bully-chickeny in sharp dialogues with the western towners, in meantime gives a pinch in the flaming Russell, off the bat Potter interacts with older-sneaky Ebe (Paul e. Burns) that seems be smarter than foolish Potter, there are countless gags along the ultra-comic adventure, worthwhile points out the amusing sequence where Potter shares a bed with the clever Trigger, what a night!!, Without forget the extra-pissed Indians at your neck, anyway it has the same patten with its forerunner, in time this sequel never was release in Brazil in any format, would it be asking too much expect a Paleface's double-feature?

Thanks for reading.

Resume:

First watch: 2000 / How many: 2 / Source: Cable TV-DVD / Rating: 7.5.
  • elo-equipamentos
  • Jul 23, 2025
  • Permalink
9/10

Probably Hopes Best

IMHO this is probably Bob Hope's best comedy. He is ably supported by an excellent cast, especially Jane Russell - who I think was always more gorgeous,sexier and a better actress than Monroe. Some fantastic one-liners make it a hoot from start to finish and it works on several levels. I loved this when I was a kid and still love it now 40 some odd years on. Seen it lots of times and it never gets stale. It made me a Bob Hope fan and I forgave him a lot of later rubbish because of it. A special mention for Trigger - steals several scenes - whoever trained him (Roy Rogers?) did a wonderful job. A little off the subject, but how come Kelsey Grammar has never done Bob Hope in a biopic-he is absolutely a natural for it.
  • beresfordjd
  • Jan 13, 2006
  • Permalink
8/10

Hilarious sequel to original Paleface is incredibly entertaining

  • mlraymond
  • Apr 5, 2008
  • Permalink
5/10

Hope is outclassed by a pair of birds and a horse.

The general consensus seems to be that this sequel is better than the first movie; this might be so, but any improvement is extremely marginal. Son of Paleface is another corny Bob Hope vehicle that churns out the same kind of weak comedy and lame adventure as before. It's perhaps a little zanier, but laughs are still in short supply.

This time around, Hope plays Junior, son of Peter Potter, the character he played in The Paleface. Junior travels out West to the town of Sawbuck Pass to claim his inheritance, but when he gets there he discovers that there is no gold. Worse still, his father owed money to the townsfolk, and they want Junior to settle the debts. To avoid being lynched, Junior pretends that his father left him a fortune.

When sexy saloon girl Mike Delroy (Jane Russell), AKA notorious outlaw The Torch, hears of Junior's apparent newfound wealth, she sets about seducing him; meanwhile, federal agent Roy Barton (Roy Rogers) is closing in on The Torch and her gang.

It says a lot about that this film that the funniest moments come, not from the human stars, but courtesy of some animals: a pair of hungry buzzards who perch on the back of Junior's jalopy when he drives into the desert (one of them wearing a napkin ready for dinner), and Roy Roger's horse Trigger, who gets the biggest laughs by stealing the covers while in bed with Hope.

The rest of the movie comprises of warmed-over gags and unmemorable songs, the film even reprising Buttons and Bows from the first film, but with Hope adding some new lyrics. The most promising aspect of the film - the hunt for 'Painless' Potter's hidden gold - ends disappointingly, an attack by American Indians taking precedent, the treasure discovered purely by accident.

4.5/10, rounded up to 5 for IMDb.
  • BA_Harrison
  • Aug 31, 2022
  • Permalink
10/10

Hilarity at Its Best

"Son of Pale Face" is good clean fun performed by 3 great stars who are joined together with Trigger as one great team. Roy plays the good guy and government agent going after the infamous bandit , "the Torch", played by the sexy Jane Russell. Gumming up the works of course is Bob Hope who plays the off-spring of DDS Pale Face Potter from the earlier movie, "Pale Face" 4 years before. I saw this movie in 1952 and was a great fan of Roy Rogers. I remember I was disappointed during the movie that Roy wasn't wearing his twin six-shooters and was just using his secret agent's guitar hidden gun by pulling one of the strings to thwart his foes. I was happy though that he didn't have any kissing scenes with Jane Russell. I was sure he was going to (dread the thought) during the bar scene and was relieved that he thought the better of it. Afterall it was a sissy thing to do in those days if he did. His reputation remained intact with me from then on.
  • pllc15
  • Jul 10, 2008
  • Permalink

Even better than I expected!

I had seen Trigger steal the scene - and the blanket - from Hope, and finally got to see the whole movie. What a cast! Bob Hope, Jane Russell, and Roy Rogers. The three stars complement each other, and I'd love to have a copy of a still with the three of them singing together! The movie is a great showcase for Trigger, and Paul E. Burns is great in a Gabby Hayes-like role! Of course, it is not a "politically correct" portrayal of American Indians, but it is typical of its period.
  • urthmothr
  • Aug 21, 2001
  • Permalink
10/10

Jane can protect me any day

Haven't seen this film for years,unfortunately its not on sale in the UK,so i decided to buy a copy of it on ebay which was region 1.I had to change the region on my computer in order to play it,but it was well worth it.Its just as funny as i remember it.Bob hope was as funny as ever as the Harvard hopeful,he never lost his touch as the brave coward.Jane was as sexy as ever,and so tough the ultimate sex goddess,she really suited these films,together they were brilliant.Roy Rogers and Trigger fit in well to the films fun adding a bit extra,which was not in the first paleface.A very funny film which we don't make anymore,so please no remakes of this fine comedy.
  • VicTheDaddy
  • Mar 14, 2006
  • Permalink
8/10

Bob Hope carries a torch for Jane Russell

This western spoof is solid entertainment with Bob Hope as the centerpiece of the story. The zany antics of this greenhorn out west to inherit his father's fortune is the main plot outline and Hope manages to entangle himself in a federal investigation involving a rash of robberies by a notorious outlaw gang. Roy Rogers and Trigger also star in this colorful drama with Jane Russell along to provide sparks and fireworks for Hope. The picture moves at a brisk pace with a mixture of comedy, Russell's profile, shootouts, Trigger's capers and an Indian attack, although Rogers is essentially a straight man for Hope's one-liners. Rogers sings a tune or two and Russell's warbling is also good. Bill Williams is among the supporting cast and is good but his eastern accent is out of place in a western movie.
  • NewEnglandPat
  • Jul 27, 2003
  • Permalink
10/10

Moronic Harvard man with horseless carriage meets the wild West.

  • weezeralfalfa
  • Aug 10, 2017
  • Permalink

Hilarious movie, and a treat for Jane Russell fans

A terrifically funny movie. Bob Hope's wisecracking persona and writer-director Frank Tashlin's cartoon-like gags make a perfect blend. And anyone who enjoys Jane Russell has to check out her opening shot in the movie, in which the camera pans up her gorgeous legs while va-va-voom plays on the soundtrack.

Top-notch comedy in every department
  • skad13
  • Aug 25, 1999
  • Permalink

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