Bob Hope Classic Comedy Collection- Give Me a Sailor / Thanks for the Memory / Never Say Die / The Cat and the Canary / The Ghost Breakers / Caught in the Draft / Nothing But the Truth / My Favorite Blonde / The Paleface /Sorrowful Jones

The first 5 are not very funny, but good non the less. The 6th with him in the service is hilarious. Martha Raye in the first and third movie is wonderful. She is just amazing. Though, she is better in the first as an ugly duckling in love with someone whom she can't have, not knowing she is really in love with the someone helping her to get the one she can't have. Movies 4 and 5 have similar themes. They both take place in supposedly haunted out of the way house/castle. Both are good, just not very funny. There are racist overtones from the time period in both 5 and 6. Movie 5 has an african american actor you may recognize from a Charlie Chan film (not Birmingham Brown, but Chattanooga Brown played by Willie Best), he plays a controversial role and part, racist by todays' standards. Bob Hope lands in mud in the 6th and makes a racist(by todays' standards) joke. I will update this after I have seen the rest of the films. Willie Best is in the 7th film as well. He is funny, but again stereotypical for African Americans by today's standards. The 7th film is a great film in which Bobs character bets 10 grand of someone else's money that he will not tell a lie for 24 hours. Well, of course the fun begins after that. The next 24 hours are filled with schemes, and foibles, and what not. It's a great film, I just wish that it was more politically correct. So far, the movies I have seen are good, but not so funny, but more like comedy/drama or dramady's films. The 8th represents what Bob Hope does best, the comical genius that is Bob Hope. Here is a spy thriller, comedy. Hope is accidentally dragged into a situation with a beautiful blond involving spies, microfilm, well you get the gist. He ends up wanted for a murder he did not commit, with spies all around trying to kill him. And then there's the penguin, part of his act on the stage he was performing on, when the spy entered his life. That penguin gets more laughs than Hope in this comedy. You see him in a tuxedo, pajamas, etc. If for no other reason, you should buy this set for this movie alone.The ninth was a true surprise, a true classic, and in color. The 9th is Paleface, yes you read this correctly, the original Paleface is in this set. In Paleface, Hope is a dentist from the east who gets caught up in a situation with Calamity Jane played by Jane Russel. The show is not only good, it's funny. This movie alone makes the set worth the price. The tenth and last movie has Hope with Lucille Ball, Hope plays a bookie and the title role. Here he is a money hungry person who cares for nothing but money. Enter a little girl into his life, add Lucy and you have quite a movie. And, who knew that Lucy could sing? I sure didn't. The movie is more of a dramedy than a comedy. Hope is out of place in this environment and just doesn't fit the role. Still all and all, the movie is a good entry into the set and enjoyable in it's own rite. Remember this set also has Paleface. Imagine getting Paleface and 9 other Bob Hope movies for under $20, along with extras. What a bargain. All in All, I would say this set is a steal, but lets stay honest, stealing will get you into trouble. My advice buy it before the sellers realize what a gem they have and raise the price.Ralph

This is a 4-disc collection from Universal Studios Home Entertainment featuring ten of the movies Bob Hope starred in during the 1930's and 1940's, including such classics as "The Paleface" and "My Favorite Blonde." [None of his "Road" pictures from the 1940's are here, but they are readily available as a separate box set ( https://www.amazon.com/Crosby-Collection-Singapore-Zanzibar-Morocco/dp/B0001FGBZW/ref=pd_sim_74_10?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=MPAMSSJM2V4Z94EXWBKY ) and should be part of your collection as well.]The ten movies are spread out over four single-sided discs with all of the bonus material showing up on the fourth disc. All ten films are in full frame format (1.33:1) and subtitles are available in English. Here's the full breakdown:Disc 1Give Me a Sailor (1938, black-and-white, 1 hr. 17 min., IMDB rating 6.9)Thanks for the Memory (1939, Black-and-white, 1 hr. 18 min., IMDB rating 6.7)Never Say Die (1939, black-and-white, 1 hr. 22 min., IMDB rating 7.0)Disc 2The Cat and the Canary (1939, black-and-white, 1 hr. 14 min., IMDB rating 7.3)The Ghost Breakers (1940, black-and-white, 1 hr. 25 min., IMDB rating 7.3)Caught in the Draft (1941, black-and-white, 1 hr. 21 min., IMDB rating 6.8)Disc 3Nothing But the Truth (1941, black-and-white, 1 hr. 30 min., IMDB rating 7.3)My Favorite Blonde (1942, black-and-white, 1 hr. 18 min., IMDB rating 7.2)Disc 4The Paleface (1948, color, 1 hr. 30 min., IMDB rating 7.0)Sorrowful Jones (1949, black-and-white, 1 hr. 28 min., IMDB rating 7.0)"Entertaining the Troops" (2001, color & black-and-white, 6 min. 20 sec.) - This is a brief documentary on Hope's involvement in entertaining the troops, focusing primarily on WWII. The film is narrated by Richard Grodens who wrote the book "The Spirit of Bob Hope." Phyllis Diller also makes some onscreen commentary."Command Performance 1944" (black-and-white, 6 min. 48 sec.) - During WWII, these shows were filmed and recorded in Hollywood and then sent overseas to be aired for servicemen in the field. This is not a full show, but it does include a routine with Hope and Lana Turner where they grill a porterhouse steak for the enjoyment of the troops. (Meat WAS, after all, being rationed and this was one of the requests sent in to the producers of the program.)"Command Performance 1945 (black-and-white, 5 min. 6 sec.) - This segment includes a routine with Hope's longtime sidekick Jerry Colonna."Hollywood Victory Caravan" (1944, black-and-white, 19 min. 45 sec.) - The plot of this short feature involves a young lady trying to get on a train to visit her wounded brother. It is essentially a promotional film to encourage Americans to by War Bonds. The film includes appearances by Barbara Stanwyck, Alan Ladd, Bing Crosby, Humphrey Bogart, and (of course) Bob Hope, among others.These are clean prints with great sound at a fantastic price. This will provide hours of family entertainment. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Just was surprised at how simple these movies were.No intense plot, just a funny story.

Great films. It has one of my favorite films included "Sorrowful Jones" also starring Lucille Ball. And one of the other more notable films here is "The Cat And The Canary" with Paulette Goddard. Naturally played for laughs here.( Check out the original "Cat And The Canary" which is quite suspenseful. All in all you can't go wrong with this set. Very entertaining

If you're like me (a Boomer from 1954) you probably remember 1960's Bob Hope: the Direct-To-Geritol movies like "I'll Take Sweden" and "Boy Did I Get A Wrong Number"; the unbearably corny 'comedy specials'; the 'surprise' Tonight Show walk-ons. You might even have fond memories of his USO specials from Vietnam or Dutch Harbor-hoping to see an older brother or an uncle in the crowd. These movies will show you (or remind you) why Bob Hope became **BOB HOPE**. This a hungry young radio comedian who steadily builds on success after success. He's sharp and funny and not at all like the guy you remember from 1968+

For me, nothing tops a great Road movie with Bing and Bob's chemistry, humor and songs. This box set comes mighty close with some of Hope's best solo outings, particularly his pairing with Paulette Goddard in the ghost comedies and the classic Nothing But The Truth. Watching these it's very easy to see why Hope became a cornerstone of American entertainment for 5 decades.

This collection is awesome! I love the humor being appropriate for all ages. If my son comes into the room, I don’t to turn it off so he won’t see anything I don’t want him to see. More than anything this is a collection that will keep you laughing the whole time and make your day a little better!

There was only one movie in colour, so I found that disappointing.

As advertised, this item is Region 1 and will only play on compatible equipment. The ten named films are contained on four discs, chapter index is not available but the films are all of a 'Universal' standard of picture and sound quality. Unlike the available U.K's Optimum Classic version of 'Caught in the Draft' which experiences both audio & visual problems between approx. 1hr 13mins and 1hr 17mins, this one plays without issue. Extras include 'Entertaining the Troops', the 1944 & 45 Command Performance and 'Hollywood Victory Caravan'. If you enjoy classic Hope movies ('38 - '49) at £1 per movie, you can't go too far wrong.

total entertainment from a era long gone pity we cannot go back to it.

excellent

JUst perfect