DVD Reviews

Bob Hope: Thanks for the Memories Collection – DVD Review

By Jeff Swindoll Jun 15, 2010, 15:00 GMT

As a recognized genius of American comedy Bob Hope has no equal. From his early days in vaudeville to his years as a top Hollywood box-office draw and star of radio TV and live performances Bob Hope\'s innocent charm and lightening-quick wit have delighted millions of fans throughout the world. The Bob Hope: Thanks for the Memories Collection showcases 6 of his best films including Thanks for the Memory featuring ...more

I can’t add much to the chorus that praises funnyman Bob Hope.  He’s an American icon, for a fellow born in England, and his war service is without doubt earning him honorary veteran status, though he never served in combat.  Universal has brought together several of his films in this set and three have never been on DVD, but others in the set have.  

Bob Hope was born in England in 1903 and lived till the ripe old age of 100.  He got to America as fast as he could.  During that lifespan he became an integral part of American culture.  He was a friendly face that entertained troops overseas (bringing hot dames with him didn’t hurt matters) during several wars, appeared in numerous films, sang some hit tunes, and became a presence on television. 

He’s been much honored, especially for his wartime entertaining.  Universal is paying tribute to the great man with a new box set.  However, not all of it is new as three of the films, Ghost Breakers, Road to Morocco, and The Paleface, have been on DVD before.  But what is new, Thanks for the Memory, Cat and the Canary, and Nothing but the Truth, have not been on DVD before. 

The rub is that you’ll have to buy the set as they’re not available separately.  However, Hope is such a swell fellow that you might not mind buying them again (your mileage may vary). 

Frankly, I would’ve preferred three rarer or unseen films being chosen to replace those already available and I’m still a bit confused about the “Road” movie as it seems an odd inclusion as it was the third one. 

The films are still funny no matter how odd the programming choices.  

Thanks for the Memory (1938): Steve (Hope) and Anne (Shirley Ross) Merrick are a young married couple who are having their share of troubles.  They have a stable of nutty pals who zip in an out of their apartment.  Steve is a novelist who can’t seem to finish his novel. 

Anne was a model who was once engaged to publisher Gil Morrel (Otto Kruger), who still carries a torch for her.  Money is tight and when Gil suggests that Anne come back to work and Steve stay at home to finish his novel it sets their marriage on a downhill slope.   

The Cat and the Canary (1939): A reclusive millionaire died ten years ago but his will is only now being read thanks to his orders.  The greedy gaggle of relatives gathers at his isolated mansion in the swamp.  One of them is wisecracking actor Wally Campbell (Bob Hope), but it’s Joyce Norman (Paulette Goddard) who inherits the loot.

The family gives their halfhearted congratulations, except the smitten Wally who only has thoughts of romance, but the will states that if Joyce dies or goes insane that the person named in a sealed envelope inherits the estate. 

She better watch out as ominous things begin to happen to her and there’s also an escaped murderous mental patient known as the Cat due to his sharp fingernails and quick reflexes.  

The Ghost Breakers (1940): Different but also the same as Cat and the Canary, this time radio personality Lawrence Lawrence (Hope) is on the run from gangsters.  Mary Carter (Goddard) has inherited a haunted Cuban castle.

The two meet up and Larry stows away in her Cuba bound trunk to escape the gangsters and a possible murder rap.  Love naturally blossoms, but the castle contains a secret treasure and it must be found before Mary is murdered.  

Nothing but the Truth (1941): Steve Bennett (Hope) is a stockbroker who takes a wager that he can tell nothing but the truth for twenty four hours.  This wager only gets Steve into trouble with all around him, including his girlfriend Gwen (Goddard).  This would be Hope and Goddard’s third time together and it would be the charm.  

Road to Morocco (1942): “We’re off on the road to Morocco.”  The third time is the charm when this “Road” film finds Bing, Bob, and Dorothy Lamour in the desert sands.  Jeff Peters (Bing Crosby) sells his accident prone buddy Orville “Turkey” Jackson (Hope) into slavery. 

Not a nice thing to do but “Turkey” discovers that he’s not to slave in the hot desert sun but to be fiancé to Princess Shalmar (Lamour).  I know… it’s a hard life.  However, when the real fiancé shows up Mullay Kasim (Antony Quinn) shows up hilarity ensues.  

The Paleface (1948): Calamity Jane (Jane Russell) is offered a pardon if she tracks down a smuggling ring on a westbound wagon train.  She’s supposed to go undercover with another agent as man and wife.  However, when her contact is murdered she requisitions incompetent dentist “Painless” Potter (Hope) to fill in the role. 

He’s more than happy to hook up with the curvy Jane, croon “Buttons and Bows,” and even comes to think of himself as a dead shot thanks to Jane’s secret assistance.   

All of the films are presented in fullscreen.  Disc one has trailers for Thanks for the Memory (2 minutes) and The Cat and the Canary (3 minutes). 

Disc two has the 6 minute “Entertaining the Troops” about Hope’s service in the USO, a 6 minute “Command Performance 1944” recorded for distribution for the places that Hope didn’t go, the 19 minute “Hollywood Victory Caravan” short, a 3 minute photo gallery set to music, the 2 minute Ghost Breakers trailer, and the 2 minute Nothing but the Truth trailer. 

Disc three has the 14 minute “Bob Hope and the Road to Success” about the road pictures, the 2 minute “Road to Morocco sing-along,” a 3 minute photo gallery, the 2 minute Road to Morocco trailer, the 5 minute “Command Performance 1945,” the 2 minute “Buttons and Bows sing-along,” another 3 minute photo gallery, and the 2 minute trailer for the Paleface. 

Thanks for the memories Bob.  Your star will surely shine forever, especially in the hearts of the military.  Fans will have to either justify or purchase accordingly depending on if they already own the three that have been on DVD before. 

However, they’ll certainly be buying for the three that haven’t and this is the only way to get them.  I wish Universal would’ve dug into the vault and brought out three that hadn’t been on DVD, but I’m not crying over spilt milk… I was too busy laughing at Bob.  

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