Starring Bob Hope, Rosemary Clooney, Arlene Dahl, Tony Martin, Millard Mitchell, William Demarest

(5-Okay Film)

Minor. Lackluster. Lively.

A Bob Hope vehicle with the classic film buffoon playing a chorus boy named Stanley who can’t seem to get anywhere in showbiz. An opportunity comes seemingly out of nowhere when he is offered the leading role in a big show, next to the fabulous leading lady, Irene Bailey (Dahl). The reason: there’s a serial killer on the loose obsessed with Irene, and any man she appears to be close to becomes a target. She, as well as the show’s producer, want to use Stanley as bait. Daisy (Clooney), a girl Stanley takes for granted, tries to warn him. The premise is unfulfilled, and the film is neither as zany nor as suspenseful as it could have been. It’s far too often dependent on Hope to zing his way through to the finish line, which isn’t far, seeing as the film is less than 80 minutes long. Not a bad time, but could have been much better.

-Walter Tyrone Howard-

(365)