Review of Road to Singapore

Depending on what you want from Hope and Crosby, this may or may not be the best of the Road pictures. It was the first, but not the funniest. In fact, there are several rather dramatic scenes in the film (gasp!). But this film was not meant to be as zany as the subsequent Road pictures. It's right on the mark...a darned good movie! Here, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope are not confidence men, but rather are lazy drifters. Crosby is a rich boy, while Hope is not. Crosby's father -- shipping magnate Charles Coburn, wants Crosby to settle down and get married, but Crosby wants no part of it...or the upper crust visitors to his father's boat. There's a funny segment with "Captain Custard", which hints at just how wonderful the Hope and Crosby team will be. The boys flee to Singapore, where they meet -- who else -- Dorothy Lamour. Now, why exactly the exotic Lamour is working with an abusive Latin dance-partner in Southeast Asia, is anyone's guess, but Hope and Crosby save her from that dance partner -- a young Anthony Quinn. Hope, Crosby and Lamour begin living together...and falling in love. So who will Lamour marry? Hope? Of course not. Meanwhile Hope is deported...well, not quite...and ultimately the trio is reunited.

The songs here are not Crosby's best. The cinematography is quite good. The laughs are many, though this is not as zany as future episodes of the story will be.

Hope and Crosby are wonderful. Lamour is...well. Lamour. Anthony Quinn isn't seen too much throughout the film...but what a handsome guy back then! Charles Coburn is just right as the father.

Oh, and why is Lamour singing about weeping willow trees in Southeast Asia?????

This is a very good comedy, and a must for the DVD shelves of Hope or Crosby fans.