My Favorite Blonde (1942)

Karen Bentley, an English secret agent, links up with Larry Haines and his star penguin Percy in an attempt to outwit German spies.

Director:

Sidney Lanfield

Writers:

Melvin Frank (story), Norman Panama (story),

Stars:

Bob Hope, Madeleine Carroll, Gale Sondergaard

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bob Hope	...	Larry Haines
Madeleine Carroll	...	Karen Bentley
Gale Sondergaard	...	Madame Stephanie Runick
George Zucco	...	Dr. Hugo Streger
Lionel Royce	...	Karl
Walter Kingsford	...	Dr. Wallace Faber
Victor Varconi	...	Miller
Otto Reichow	...	Lanz
Esther Howard	...	Mrs. Topley
Edward Gargan	...	Mulrooney
James Burke	...	Union Secretary
Charles Cane	...	Turk O'Flaherty
Crane Whitley	...	Ulrich - Henchman
Dooley Wilson	...	Porter
Milton Parsons	...	Mortician

Storyline

Larry Haines, a mediocre vaudeville entertainer, boards a train bound for Los Angeles. Is Hollywood waiting for him with open arms? Not really as the one he signed a contract for is Percy, his roller-skating penguin partner! But, as the proverb says, the shadow of glory is better than no glory at all! Anyway, doesn't Larry meet a woman on the train? And a blonde one! And a British agent into the bargain! The delicious creature who is carrying a coded message hidden in a brooch and is being pursued by Nazi agents. She will need Larry (and Percy)'s help to elude her pursuers and to get the secret information to destination. The mission will be accomplished, although in an eventful and hilarious way...

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Plot Keywords:

train | penguin | vaudeville | spy | german | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 March 1943 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

A Minha Loira Favorita

Filming Locations:

Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

78 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on October 19, 1942 with Bob Hope reprising his film role.

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Quotes

Larry Haines: [Trying to get away from Karen] Taxi! A thin taxi for one!
Karen Bentley: Larry! Larry! You have 3 hours between trains. Wouldn't you like to go past my apartment house and drop me off?
Larry Haines: Drop you off? I sure would. How many stories is it?

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Crazy Credits

The opening title cards read: "Bob Hope who calls Madeleine Carroll 'My Favorite Blonde'".

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Connections

Followed by My Favorite Brunette (1947)

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Soundtracks

"Sobre las Olas (Over the Waves)"
(1887)
Written by Juventino Rosas
Played during the Haines and Percy vaudeville act
Reprised for subsequent acts

User Reviews

Hitchcockian spoofery Hope style.

Madeline Carroll is British spy Karen Bentley, she has in her possession British aeroplane plans that the Nazis obviously want, so she's on the run with the baddies in hot pursuit. During one escape she hides away in a theatre and comes across Larry Haines (Bob Hope) and his performing penguin Percy, she doesn't have to work hard to get Haines smitten with her and he helps her escape. This sets us up for a mad cap cross country chase movie with quips aplenty and incredulous scenes to enjoy. Hope is on prime form and the chemistry between Carroll and himself is one of the film's chief bonus points, and in view of the back story to the film it's not hard to see why the pair were a believable duo. By all accounts Hope really had the hots for Carroll and she spent the whole shoot fighting him off since she was happily involved with Sterling Hayden at the time. It's a fun film that takes a while to get going, but once it does it doesn't disappoint on the fun front, and Bing Crosby of course turns up for one of his many cameos. 7/10