Producer: Sam Goldwyn. Copyright 1 November 1944 by Sam Goldwyn's Regent Pictures, Inc. Released through RKO-Radio Pictures, Inc. U.S. release: 7 November 1944. New York opening at the Astor: 9 February 1945. U.K. release: 13 August 1945. Australian release: 19 April 1945. 8,662 feet. 95 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: Pirates raid a packet ship. Among their prisoners are a fleeing princess and an inept quick-change artist.
NOTES: Nominated for prestigious Hollywood awards for Best Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture (won by Max Steiner for Since You Went Away) and Best Art Direction in Color (won by Wiard Ihnen and Thomas Little for Wilson). With a rentals gross close to $4 million, number 7 at domestic ticket windows for 1944 (number 6 if the New York gross is included). Oddly, the movie failed to duplicate this success in the U.K., but in Australia it was a tremendous hit in 1945. Only one film, Going My Way, sold more tickets.
COMMENT: Although promisingly sandwiched between the princess (Virginia Mayo) and the pirate (Victor McLaglen - pronounced "Mack-Lock-Len" but you have to say it real fast), this outing is not one of Hope's funniest comedies, although it certainly rates as one of his most colorful. The screenwriters seem unable to make up their collective minds whether to go all out for a spoof, or just content themselves with slapstick, or even to throw a bit of genuine excitement into the pot. In any event, despite his barrage of non-stop verbal and visual gags, Hope often seems overwhelmed by the film's lush two-million-dollar production values.
Miss Mayo, on the other hand, suitably equipped with Louanne Hogan's singing voice, wafts through this Technicolor confection as to the manner born. Villains Walter Brennan, Victor McLaglen and Walter Slezak also have themselves a grand time as the heavies, while Hugo Haas takes full advantage of his laugh-making opportunities as the proprietor of the "Bucket of Blood". In fact Haas (as straight man) and Hope (as comic) make a great team, easily outshining the climactic teaming of Hope with Walter Slezak which I found a bit disappointing (particularly in view of Slezak's later full-bodied performance in Sindbad the Sailor).
SYNOPSIS: Pirates raid a packet ship. Among their prisoners are a fleeing princess and an inept quick-change artist.
NOTES: Nominated for prestigious Hollywood awards for Best Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture (won by Max Steiner for Since You Went Away) and Best Art Direction in Color (won by Wiard Ihnen and Thomas Little for Wilson). With a rentals gross close to $4 million, number 7 at domestic ticket windows for 1944 (number 6 if the New York gross is included). Oddly, the movie failed to duplicate this success in the U.K., but in Australia it was a tremendous hit in 1945. Only one film, Going My Way, sold more tickets.
COMMENT: Although promisingly sandwiched between the princess (Virginia Mayo) and the pirate (Victor McLaglen - pronounced "Mack-Lock-Len" but you have to say it real fast), this outing is not one of Hope's funniest comedies, although it certainly rates as one of his most colorful. The screenwriters seem unable to make up their collective minds whether to go all out for a spoof, or just content themselves with slapstick, or even to throw a bit of genuine excitement into the pot. In any event, despite his barrage of non-stop verbal and visual gags, Hope often seems overwhelmed by the film's lush two-million-dollar production values.
Miss Mayo, on the other hand, suitably equipped with Louanne Hogan's singing voice, wafts through this Technicolor confection as to the manner born. Villains Walter Brennan, Victor McLaglen and Walter Slezak also have themselves a grand time as the heavies, while Hugo Haas takes full advantage of his laugh-making opportunities as the proprietor of the "Bucket of Blood". In fact Haas (as straight man) and Hope (as comic) make a great team, easily outshining the climactic teaming of Hope with Walter Slezak which I found a bit disappointing (particularly in view of Slezak's later full-bodied performance in Sindbad the Sailor).