I wish there were some way to Photoshop the film so that Bob and Bing would have long beards throughout the film, after the beards show up at the sheep farm. That would be a really funny movie, at least for awhile.
I agree: Abbott and Costello, Laurel and Hardy, the Three Stooges, and the Marx Brothers are still funny, but I don't think Hope and Crosby hold up all that well in 2008.
"Extremism in the pursuit of moderation is no vice."
I was too quick to post on this. I'd only seen a few minutes of it. I think it does get funnier later. I identify Bing Crosby and Bob Hope with my parents' generation, and it's great to see them enjoying themselves in their prime.
I thought the funniest thing in the movie was Leon Askin as Ramayana. I knew I recognized him from somewhere, and it was interesting to find out he was the general on Hogan's Heroes.
I wonder if this was one of the first movies to be self-satirical. That got pretty common in the 60's. Was it common when this was made?
"Extremism in the pursuit of moderation is no vice."
I've seen all the b/w Road films but for whatever reason missed this
one. Either not shown enough in NYC or got titles mixed up.
Yes these two guys, esp Hope, began the in-film sport of throwing out
lines to the audience that played on awareness that it's really just
flickering light and play acting.
The earlier ones sort of snuck in this breaking of the fourth wall
but later it became a sort of running gag as audience would wait for
lines that included them.
They also played on the use of current aside refs to films and pop issues
of the day. LInes that goofed on other popular actors or events.
Enjoy the other buddy ones - Hope as a child photographer who wants to
be like the gum shoe private eye on his floor. Great 'guest' spot.
In an age of $50B scams it's refreshing to see these two guys operate
as they do. Marx brothers had same charming way of getting over.
hmm I should add I had bit of that good buddy reaction during Wedding Crashers.
hear hear
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