Road to Singapore

3/22/19401h 25m

Theatrical Release (US)

~ Ready For Fun . . Fight . . or a South Seas Romance . . . ! They find them all on the . . . ~

Overview:

Two playboys try to forget previous romances in Singapore – until they meet a beautiful dancer.

Director:

Victor Schertzinger

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$0.00

Revenue:

$3,200,000.00

Key words:

singapore
musical
road movie
buddy comedy

Cast

Bing Crosby

~ as ~

Joshua 'Josh' Mallon V

Dorothy Lamour

~ as ~

Mima

Bob Hope

~ as ~

Ace Lannigan

Charles Coburn

~ as ~

Joshua Mallon IV

Judith Barrett

~ as ~

Gloria Wycott

Anthony Quinn

~ as ~

Caesar

Jerry Colonna

~ as ~

Achilles Bombanassa

Elvia Allman

~ as ~

Homely Girl (uncredited)

Johnny Arthur

~ as ~

Timothy Willow (uncredited)

Bobby Barber

~ as ~

Man Hit with Soap Suds (uncredited)

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

John Chard
Written 5 year(s) ago
~~
So it begins.

Bob Hope & Bing Crosby team up here for what was the start of a musical comedy franchise that would yield seven movies in total. Six of which would also feature Dorothy Lamour as the leading lady. This first outing finds the boys and Dorothy on the island of Kaigoon, where the lads are escaping from scandal and romantic entanglements and she tied to an abusive partner played by Anthony Quinn. With no money and trouble coming thick and fast, the three of them will do well to survive the week together, especially since love is once again in the air.

It's probably (in a good way) the simplicity of the plotting's that made it such a popular franchise. For the "Road" movies are in truth simple frameworks on which to hang the charming comedy contrasts of Hope & Crosby. Though Crosby is not the straight man as such, he's the more reserved part of the duo, his mannered delivery of the lines and his casual approach to the scrapes they get in blends delightfully with Hope's more crash bang characterisations. And of course they are aided by Lamour who acts as not just as a catalyst for some play off shenanigans, but also as the rose between two spiky hormonal thorns.

Road To Singapore is far from the best of the series and far from being the worst, but it holds up very well and harks back to a time when harmless innuendo, breezy pacing and a willingness to let the actors ad lib situations made for good wholesome comedy. Good songs dot themselves throughout the piece too, with the stand out being "Too Romantic" performed by Crosby & Lamour.

A lovely little piece that serves as a foundation for a much loved series. 6.5/10