|
By PAUL BRENNER
In this edition of Universal's "Bob Hope -- The Tribute Collection Double
Feature," Hope is seen in his first two feature films, appearing not as the star
but as a member of a troupe of vaudeville, radio, and specialty acts. In the two
films presented here -- "The Big Broadcast of 1938" and "College Swing" -- Hope
is merely another brand of fresh-face, smart-ass light comic from the Broadway
stage that populated thirties comedies like Stepford Comics. The two roles were
unimportant, inconsequential and generic -- with Hope biding his time until a
breakout role would free him from his radio announcer banter (which would come a
few more movies down the road with "The Cat and the Canary"). As far as the
films themselves are concerned, they are mish-mashes, with absurd and flimsy
plots that serve as a framework for comedy and musical numbers.
In "The Big Broadcast of 1938," Hope's name crops up sixth in the credits as he
mingles with a collection of Paramount's radio, film, and recording stars
(Dorothy Lamour, Martha Raye, Shirley Ross, Ben Blue, and W.C. Fields -- Fields
gets top billing and it's mostly Fields's film). Hope's main chore in the film
is to introduce entertainment acts on a trans-Atlantic cruise ship and he gets
to deliver lines like "Ladies and Gentlemen, I have a rare treat for you . . .
that great Mexican singer Tito Guizar!" Hope does, however, have the best scene
in the film: a momentary pause in the wackiness for Hope's soon-to-be signature
song, "Thanks for the Memory" with Shirley Ross, a reflective tune of quiet
melancholy that charts the bittersweet joys and pains of a failed marriage.
For his second film, "College Swing" (directed by Raoul Walsh (!) and with
an-uncredited writing assist from Preston Sturges), Hope climbs to number four
in the comic roster convincing a producer to have his skimpy role padded out.
The nominal stars of the film are George Burns and Gracie Allen but Paramount
perversely chose to have the team separated for most of the film. Once again,
Hope is a comic cipher with a barrage of empty wisecracks. At this point
Paramount was clearly trying to figure out what to do with Hope, like an
untested relief pitcher making it to the big leagues. Here once again was a
roster of Paramount stars and signers-on -- Betty Grable, John Payne, Edward
Everett Horton, Jackie Coogan, The Slate Brothers, Ben Blue, and, once again,
Martha Raye. This would be the first in a trio of team-ups Paramount initiated
with Hope and Raye ("Give Me A Sailor" and "Never Say Die" follow), all of which
would prove moderately successful, reflected by the moderate success of "College
Swing" itself. As Hope later put it, "It was one of those light and airy comedy
musicals that made no sense but a lot of dollars."
Both films include production notes and cast and crew bios. "College Swing" also
contains the theatrical trailer. |
