"Calling All Tars" isn't very funny, but it shows Bob Hope while he was still developing his on screen character, and the film offers a tantalising glimpse of Johnny Berkes, who also appeared with Hope in one other short film. Berkes was a little man with a big nose who played wiseguy Brooklyn types: he's very similar to Jimmy Durante, and Berkes shows a great deal of talent in his two Bob Hope movies.
In this short comedy, Bob and Johnny play wiseguys who dress up as sailors because they think it will help them pick up girls. (No comment.) A shore patrolman comes along and mistakes them for AWOL sailors. The two counterfeit gobs are brought to a navy ship and put to work swabbing the deck.
The most interesting thing about this film is its format: in the first scene Hope and Berkes perform together as a cross-talk comedy team, with both men getting equal emphasis and sharing the funny lines. Just when we think that they're working as a team, Berkes disappears and Hope is working solo. Then, when it looks like Bob Hope is the star of this film, he disappears and the action cuts back to Johnny Berkes doing a solo comedy routine. The studio seemed to be giving equal treatment to both comedians: Bob Hope clicked with the public, but Johnny Berkes didn't. It's a shame that this film is the peak of Berkes's career, because he showed real talent (despite his unpleasant physical appearance) as a brash Durante-like comedian.
In this short comedy, Bob and Johnny play wiseguys who dress up as sailors because they think it will help them pick up girls. (No comment.) A shore patrolman comes along and mistakes them for AWOL sailors. The two counterfeit gobs are brought to a navy ship and put to work swabbing the deck.
The most interesting thing about this film is its format: in the first scene Hope and Berkes perform together as a cross-talk comedy team, with both men getting equal emphasis and sharing the funny lines. Just when we think that they're working as a team, Berkes disappears and Hope is working solo. Then, when it looks like Bob Hope is the star of this film, he disappears and the action cuts back to Johnny Berkes doing a solo comedy routine. The studio seemed to be giving equal treatment to both comedians: Bob Hope clicked with the public, but Johnny Berkes didn't. It's a shame that this film is the peak of Berkes's career, because he showed real talent (despite his unpleasant physical appearance) as a brash Durante-like comedian.
