Early Memories of Hope the Movie Star
Most contemporary audiences primarily know comedian extraordinaire Bob Hope for his TV specials, Texaco commercials, USO tours and annual golf tournament. But from the late ‘30s until the early ‘60s, he was one of the top box-office draws. Movies were a perfect showcase for his breezy personality and rapid patter, as well as his singing and dancing skills.
In fact, Hope, who turns 96 in May, made more than 85 films during a 30-year period. Universal Home Video has released 17 of Hope’s early films (at $15 each), including such classics as “The Road to Morocco,” “Monsieur Beaucaire,” “Ghost Breakers,” “Never Say Die” and his very first film, “The Big Broadcast of 1938.”
On Tuesday, Universal will add three lesser-known titles to its popular “Bob Hope Collection”: “Thanks for the Memory,” “Rhythm Romance” and “Variety Girl” ($15 each).
“Thanks for the Memory,” from 1938, marked Hope’s first starring role. The film’s title was taken from the tune--which would soon become his signature song--that he introduced a few months earlier in “Big Broadcast of 1938.”
The comedy-drama even reunites him with his “Big Broadcast” co-star, Shirley Ross.
Though the film is just fair-to-middling funny, Hope and Ross exude chemistry as a young married couple whose apartment is the gathering place for their friends, who all seem to be a bunch of drunks and wastrels. Because he is spending most of his time entertaining his buddies, Hope doesn’t have the time to complete his first novel. Ross comes up with the idea of returning to work as a model and paying for their expenses. But soon Hope’s male pride can’t handle being a “kept man,” and he seeks solace with their ditsy but pretty neighbor.
“Thanks” boasts a good supporting cast, including Helen Broderick, Charles Butterworth and Eddie “Rochester” Anderson, who do their best to breathe some life into the limp script.
Hope and Ross get the opportunity to perform “Thanks for the Memory,” as well as the Hoagy Carmichael and Frank Loesser standard “Two Sleepy People.”
The two team up again in 1939’s minor but pleasant “Rhythm Romance,” which was originally released as “Some Like It Hot.” In this lightweight outing, Hope is well-cast as a fast-talking, slick impresario of a Coney Island boardwalk show who is always one step ahead of his creditors. Legendary drummer Gene Krupa plays Hope’s bandleader-barker, and Ross is on hand as a new singer--with the dreadful moniker of Lily Raquel--who falls in love with Hope.
Their romance fizzles, though, when she discovers that Hope has gambled away her treasured family ring, as well as the rights to the song they both wrote. Hope is banished from the boardwalk and hits the skids, as she and Krupa hit the heights at a new jive nightclub.
“Variety Girl,” from 1947, isn’t really a Bob Hope movie at all. He’s just one of 55 stars from the Paramount lot who appear in this threadbare, predictable musical comedy about two young women (Mary Hatcher and Olga San Juan) who head to Hollywood with dreams of becoming movie stars. Hope and his “Road” pal Bing Crosby excel in some enjoyable banter in a golf sequence and sing the Johnny Burke and Jimmy Van Heusen duet “Harmony.” Ray Milland, Barbara Stanwyck, Cecil B. DeMille and Spike Jones are among the other performers making cameo appearances.
