1942 - ROAD TO MOROCCO, Bob Hope 1940's comedy

An example of what passed for comedy during World War II.  The film stars Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and perennial third wheel Dorothy Lamour.  This very silly film has something to do with Hope and Crosby ending up in Morocco which looks like something out of the Arabian Nights instead of 1940's Morocco.

The film is completely held together by the comedic bits of Crosby and Hope, Lamour was always the "straight man" in these films although she does wear her costumes well.

 

The film has some musical interludes as is to be expected since Bing Crosby is in it.  There is one hit song "Moonlight Becomes You," but the rest of the film is just goofy scenes and shtick.

 

If there is one outstanding thing about this film, it's Bob Hope.  Here he is at the top of his abilities basically stealing scenes away from about every other actor in the film.  When Hope was good there was no one who could bring the kind of razor sharp comedy timing that Hope brought to a gag.

For the most part the film is an ordeal to sit through but it was extremely popular with audiences looking for some entertainment during the war years.

Written by Frank Butler and Don Hartman with uncredited assistance from Crosby and Hope's gag writers.  The running time is 82 minutes