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.
Review of Casanova's Big Night
