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Brilliant and touching

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

The Princess and the Pirate is directed by David Butler and produced by Samuel Goldwyn and Don Hartman. It stars Bob Hope, Virginia Mayo, Walter Slezak, Walter Brennan and Victor McLaglen. Filmed in Technicolor, it sees Victor Milner and William E. Snyder on cinematography and the music is scored by David Rose. Story sees Hope as failing stage performer Sylvester Crosby, who whilst fleeing his bad reviews in Europe, gets involved in piracy, treasure maps and the safe keeping of a runaway princess (Mayo). With the feared pirate known as The Hook (McLaglen) after their gizzards, lawlessness, peril and high jinks will no doubt follow.Samuel Goldwyn wanted, and got, big things for The Princess and the Pirate. Marking it out for booming Technicolor was one thing, getting Bob Hope to star was another. Having loaned out Billy Wilder and Gary Cooper to Paramount, Goldwyn was able to call on the services of Hope for two movies. Having used him the previous year in They Got Me Covered (where Dorothy Lamour co-starred), this was the final part of that deal. Also of note is that co-producer Don Hartman was part of the writing team, because having co-written Hope and Crosby movie Road to Morocco (1942), this picture is structured very similar to the style of that successful Hope & Crosby series of film's. Suffice to say that fans of the "Road To" movies are more than likely to enjoy this one too.Hope had such a long career in film it often gets forgotten that he has some great movies outside of those "Road To" film's. Sure there were some duffers, but for a Bob Hope fan there are many treasures lurking within his considerable output. Treasures mostly found when he was doing period comedy, such as in the likes of The Paleface, Monsieur Beaucaire , and here with this exuberant pirate adventure. It's one of his best film's, but not just because of he himself. Sure he's at the top of his game, be it hopelessly using humour to try and court the radiant Miss Mayo, or quipping away in cowardly fashion when faced by the villains, he thrives on vocal delivery and mugging towards the camera, but he is helped enormously by the splendid people opposite him.Mayo is made for Technicolor, and in what is one of her early starring roles, more than holds her own in amongst all the boys. Brennan is wonderfully cackling like, infectious and plays off of Hope's rapid-fire approach with great success, while Slezak neatly underplays it for maximum sly villainy. But it's McLaglen who is the real comedy bonus here. Full of pirate bluster and hook handed menace, he appears to be having a great time and it rounds out the comedic chaos nicely. Having a considerable budget of just under $3 million (a lot for a comedy movie at the time), it's disappointing that the film doesn't boast sweeping location work, but the sets are smart and the costuming is visually appealing. While David Rose's Oscar nominated score is suitably high-seas influenced.Plenty of action, buffoonery and even a little song, it's a film for all the family to enjoy. A film that even today finds Hope's jokes still effective and never in danger of getting old. Tickle yee gizzards indeed. 7.5/10

Bob Hope plays a bad performer who is looking for a job in the New World. On the way there, the boat he's on is attacked by pirates and taken. Their prize is a runaway princess (Virginia Mayo). Although a thorough coward, Bob musters up the courage to help her escape. Now a pirate (Victor McLaglen) and corrupt governor (Walter Slezak) are out to find the girl and kill Hope. Can the pair manage to escape and avoid a horrid fate? Well, perhaps with the help of a crazy old coot (Walter Brennan) they can find a way.I am a history teacher and seeing a movie with me can either be informative or annoying depending on your perspective. When I see films that are historically inaccurate, I tend to grumble and complain. When I see films that are completely ridiculous historically, I tend to REALLY complain and annoying people around me! As for "The Princess and the Pirate" I did NOT expect the film to be like a PBS documentary, but the film seems to bear absolutely no semblance to any pirates I ever read about and was a really silly little trifle. So, if you are historically-minded, DON'T watch this film--it will drive you crazy.Now, if you can look past the historical inaccuracies and anachronisms, is the film worth seeing? Well,...maybe. If you adore Bob Hope and love anything he's in, then of course you should see the film. If you are looking for a comedy, well, this film suffers from one minor problem...it's not funny. It IS full of pretty costumes and very bright and garish colors but funny it ain't. Instead, it's as if they simply brought out the costumes and told Hope to 'just wing it'--doing his typical stand-up act filled with hit and miss (mostly miss) quips. And, as for Brennan, they told him to cackle insanely throughout the course of the film.By the way, get a load of Slezak's skin-head wig. It's pretty bad...and in keeping with the rest of the film. And, after looking at the rest of the reviews I am apparently in the distinct minority and consider this to be among Hope's worst films...though it is pretty (when the DVD print is in focus--which was a problem now and again).

I saw this movie when it was first run in Chicago, at the good old Woods Theater. I was 14 at the time, and I've never forgotten it. Bob Hope was then at the height of his popularity, Virginia Mayo was just emerging as The Latest Dish, Walter Slezak, Walter Brennan, Victo McLaglen, et. Al., were at the top of their form. The Technicolor was smashing, the lovely ladies (i.e. The Goldwyn Girls) were delightful, the script sparkled with wonderful humor, and the plot not only made some sense, but was wonderful escapist entertainment, since we were then in the throes of World War II. I can't but agree with the previous comments about the great comedic humor we had then. Today's brand of humor is not only tasteless, but also vulgar and senseless. Bob Hope was a master, and remained such through much of his active career. Sam Goldwyn's production standards were impeccable, and the movie was a thorough joy. My summation is that people could laugh back then, and had the natural intelligence to "get" sophisticated, intelligent comedy.

Bob Hope and Virginia Mayo star in this hilarious comedy about a tenth-rate actor who gets mixed up with beautiful women, corrupt politicians, pirates and treasure maps. Hope really looks like he's enjoying himself, and when you get a load of Virginia Mayo, you'll see why. She has never looked more ravishing--the gorgeous Technicolor photography actually works better for her than it did for Maureen O'Hara, who was known as "The Queen of Technicolor"--and shows an unexpected flair for comedy. Victor McLaglen seems to be having a blast as the evil pirate The Hook, Walter Slezak plays the crooked governor in another one of his fine oily villain performances, and Walter Brennan is a scream as a crazed pirate who takes a shine to Hope. Some hilarious comic routines--especially one where Hope pretends to be The Hook--and several surprisingly good action scenes, which you don't often see in comedies, make this one of Hope's best pictures without Bing Crosby (well, for the most part). Don't miss it.