And I've given him every chance in the world. SOME of it's funny, to be sure, but most of it isn't. And I wish he was b
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mkaiser-3 — 19 years ago(April 25, 2006 10:30 PM)
Bob Hope was a funny man, great singer and fine character actor. I think his film career waned in the 60s. It's understandable after 20 years of playing basically the same sort of character that he'd try some different things. I think the 1960s and 70s represented a time where Bob was more of a "fish out of water". How to Commit Marriage was DREADFUL because it features the USUALLY funny Bob Hope and Jackie Gleason as record promoters. Unfortunately, neither Gleason or Hope are even REMOTELY funny in this film and are miscast.
Critic's Choice was a final attempt for a Lucy/Bob picture. Lucille Ball was eager to play a character unlike Lucy Ricardo, and Bob Hope was also eager to play a different character. Unfortunately Critic's Choice was lackluster. What do you expect when the role Bob Hope played was originated by Password legend Allen Ludden? Cancel My Reservation was likely intended to be Bob's last. Here, his one liners are forced and very much out of place.
The rest of Bob's career was pretty much confined to annual Bob Hope specials. In 1995, with rumors about his health declining (and a famous report of his death that turned out to be false) Bob was determined to show somehow, that he still had it.
Bob would do one last performance on a PBS special, Swing Alive. His wife Delores came out and sang, then the familiar fanfare "Thanks for the Memory" played. While old photos of Bob were shown, Les Brown escorted Bob Hope to his spot next to Delores. Bob looked heavier and looked every bit of his 95 years. There was some slight redness in his eyes, but it wasn't anywhere near as bad as it looked in the tabloids. Les assures the audience, obviously emotional about Bob's appearance, that he still sings. Les handed Bob the microphone, and almost like magic, the spirit of Bob Hope came out of the 95 year old body, as he sang a song written especially for him. Delores and Les could be seen commenting to each other, as they too seem amazed of how well Bob is doing despite his age. Delores then introduces a routine that Bob once did with Ethel Merman, the song "S Delightful", where Bob only got to sing "IT'S". A perfect routine for an aging man, considering Bob co5b4uld barely hear or see. Delores made some obvious cues with her microphone and Bob knew that was his cue. Bob would speak one last time when he was made an honorary veteran. Again, his spirit came to life when handed the microphone, and Delores made an indication that she wanted to speak. Bob gave her a classic radio style introduction that he would give on his radio show. -
HimmelskeVaffel — 19 years ago(November 02, 2006 12:09 PM)
Bob Hope is the best! Sure some of his jokes may feel outdated today, but he presents a sort of humour I admire. Most of his jokes I find hysterical, especially all the adlibs and bloopers. (I listen to his radio programs as wellamazing stuff!!) His delivery and facial expressions made the entire package complete. Whenever I have feeling down, I just pop in one of those Road pictures, or anything else of his, and my day turns rightside up again.
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bobbyegrace — 19 years ago(February 17, 2007 10:51 AM)
For nydanny: yes, Bob Hope was a Republican and entertained the troops at WW2, Korea, Vietnam, and the first Gulf War. The reason that he did not go to this current war is that he was in his late nineties and probably not as healthy.
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coolhatproductions — 19 years ago(November 26, 2006 09:13 PM)
I liked it best when he displayed kid-like innocense, like at the beginning of The Princess and the pirate during the opening titles describing the bad pirate as menacing and merciless, his head pops out of nowhere and says, "That's not me. I come in later. I play a coward," with a big ol' grin on his face. That's the sort of stuff that draws me to him.
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captain-video — 18 years ago(April 20, 2007 07:22 AM)
Hi bushrod56,
Well put me on the list as one of those people who thought Bob was funny.
I'm 45 and have seen many of his films, TV specials, USO shows on TV etc
Was he funny everytime? No but he was pretty consistent, atleast in my opinion.
Thanks, you reminded me that I need to buy some more of his old movies. -
mkaise1 — 18 years ago(August 31, 2007 05:26 PM)
I think one reason why his films declined in quality in the 60s was because he probably believed that the audience would laugh at ANYTHING he does or says. Unfortunately that's not the case. Also, with the Vietnam war at it's height, Bob spent most of the 60s and 70s entertaining troops, and he was funnier doing that because he was a master at doing topical humor.
Not long after his death was wrongfully reported, he was interviewed by TV Guide, to clear up rumors that his health was declining. The reporter observed that Bob didn't look nearly as bad as he did in the tabloids, and that he was truly Bob Hope when telling his old "Bob Hope stories", although he did have to consult his daughter and his wife on some of the details.
One thing that's evident about Bob in doing the specials, especially from the 60s on, was that he sometimes squinted at the cue cards. Actually, his vision never that good, and the cue cards had to be in VERY large print. -
WishfulDreamer — 18 years ago(June 22, 2007 02:24 PM)
I'm 16- I looove Bob Hope. I know we all have our own opinions- and mine is that he is one of the greatest comedians ever! I found him much funnier than Bing (who I like but not as much). I can never get enough of him.
"Everything I do, I do it for you." -
CelticJen76 — 18 years ago(October 17, 2007 01:53 AM)
I love to listen to his old shows on Sirius. A lot of the jokes are corny, but I still find him to be charming. I love old radio shows and his is one of my favorites, even when he pimps the life out of Chesterfield cigarettes.
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rosiecadaverdog — 18 years ago(October 21, 2007 04:04 AM)
Agree. Strictly a cue card reader. Lame, unfunny one-liners. No wit or spontaneity. His success? We all process differently. Look at Adam Sandler, Gilbert Gottfried - loud is funny. Louder is funnier. Some people think that those Catskill comedians are funny. Walking into a wall and falling down? Some people find it hilarious. Buddy Hackett, Jack Benny, Milton Berle, Jackie Mason? Some people find one-liners funny. Probably not the same people who appreciate nuance, paradox and situational cleverness. Then there are the people who's sense of humor requires jokes or stories involving toilets, genitalia, orfices, excreta and flatulence.
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patriotssbchmp02 — 18 years ago(October 23, 2007 08:02 PM)
I'm 27. While growing up I watched Bob Hope specials. This was back when families still only had 1 or 2 TVs still and cable wasn't a neccessity, so my options were kind of limited. I always thought his jokes were boring and unfunny, but I thought it was because I was too young to understand. Years later, when he was out of the public eye or dead, I watched some of his comedy routines. I still found his jokes boring and unfunny. It made me wonder how the hell he stayed popular for so long. Don't get me wrong. I very much admire all he did for our country. He always had good wholesome shows on TV. He made people forget their problems. He was just not a very good comedian.
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rk4 — 18 years ago(November 22, 2007 06:51 PM)
You wonder how he stayed popular for so long? He did everything from being on braodway, radio, televison, and movies. He also hosted the Oscars some 18 times either by himself or with others. He was the consumate entertainer, not just a commedian.
I've seen a lot of commedians who have done a funnier standup routine than Johnny Carson, but these people simply aren't in the same class as Carson when it comes to being an entertainer. I would also say that Carson isn't in the same class as Hope.
I recently watched Hope on an epsisode of "I Love Lucy" and he was hilarious.
Lucy and Hope were two of the best comedic actors ever. To judge Hope or Ball on some one-liners misses the whole point on what they were about.