My Favorite Blonde (1942)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Sidney Lanfield

Writers:

Melvin Frank (story) and
Norman Panama (story) ...

Release Date:

8 March 1943 (Sweden)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Train | Penguin | Los Angeles | Vaudeville | German

Cast

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

Runtime:

78 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #7985) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:A

Filming Locations:

Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Some cast members in studio records/casting call lists did not appear or were not identifiable in the movie. These were (with their character names): William Irving (Waiter), Mike Lally (Chicago Taxi Driver). 'Frank Marlowe' (Chicago Taxi Driver) and William Lally (Telegraph Operator).

Quotes:

Larry Haines: Hey, what's this 'Flip and Nip', this 'Floppy Louie' stuff?
Karen Bentley: No questions please. I'm being followed by two men in black.
Larry Haines: You sure you don't mean two men in white?

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in My Favorite Brunette (1947)

Soundtrack:

Wearin' of the Green

One of Bob Hope's best comedies ever!

I can't believe no one has reviewed this film until now. The teaming of Bob Hope and Madeleine Carroll in "My Favorite Blonde" is comic heaven. Madeleine Carroll shows a flair for comedy she was rarely allowed to display in her films.

"My Favorite Blonde" is funny, fast, and sharp in the banter between Hope and Carroll. Check out the scene where they get out of what appears to be certain capture: the most hilarious scene in the film. A fine supporting cast of Paramount contractees make this one of Bob Hope's best constructed comedies. It's plotting and editing make this even more of a road picture than the "Road" pictures, a precursor to "Romancing The Stone".

"My Favorite Blonde" seamlessly shows the mixing of '30's romantic comedy with World War II plots, something that would soon become obsolete as the war dragged on. Catch it whenever you can!