Cancel My Reservation (1972)

Bob Hope is a stressed out talk show host who is sent on a vacation to Arizona on doctor's orders and has to play Sherlock Holmes with his wife, the lovely Eva Marie Saint, to solve a series of murders that has Bob as the prime suspect.

Director:

Paul Bogart

Writers:

Bob Fisher (as Robert Fisher), Louis L'Amour (novel)

Stars:

Bob Hope, Eva Marie Saint, Ralph Bellamy

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bob Hope	...	Dan Bartlett
Eva Marie Saint	...	Sheila Bartlett
Ralph Bellamy	...	John Ed
Forrest Tucker	...	Reese
Anne Archer	...	Crazy Hollister
Keenan Wynn	...	Sheriff 'Houndtooth' Riley
Henry Darrow	...	Joe Little Cloud
Chief Dan George	...	Old Bear
Doodles Weaver	...	Cactus, Deputy Sheriff
Betty Ann Carr	...	Mary Little Cloud
Herb Vigran	...	Roscoe Snagby
Pat Morita	...	Yamamoto
Gordon Oliver	...	Mr. Willie Sparker
Isabella Hoopes	...	Elderly Lady
Buster Shavers	...	Doc Morton

Storyline

Dan, a TV talk show host from New York is told by doctor to take a break. So he goes to Arizona and as he arrives, the press who were expecting a politician to arrive from Washington hound him and when a reporter asks his opinion about the Indians he empathizes with them. That's when an Indian girl approaches him and asks him if they can talk. He says yes go to his place and when he arrives he finds the girl dead. He tries to call the police but when they arrive the body is not there. Later he goes driving and the Sheriff stops him and finds the body in his car. He's arrested but a wealthy rancher shows up and tells the Sheriff to release him which he does. And he later finds a girl staying in his house and she says she's the rancher's daughter. Later Dan's wife shows up, it seems like their marriage is going through a rough patch but she's more concerned with trying to prove bis innocence. So they start bu talking the dead girl's uncle who doesn't know much but tells them of a wise ...

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Plot Keywords:

arizona | arizona desert | arizona territory | pantyhose | suntan pantyhose | 

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Taglines:

When his doctor suggested a rest...how did it come out arrest?

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Genres:

Comedy | Mystery

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Certificate:

G

Did You Know?

Trivia

Bob Hope purchased the rights to the original novel himself.

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Goofs

At 54.20 Eva Marie Saint is talking on the phone and carries it out of the bedroom. But when she enters and crosses the living room there's no cord.

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Quotes

[Riding on the back of a motorcycle.]
Dan Bartlett: We can pick up my stomach on the way back!

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Soundtracks

Cancel My Reservation
Music by Dominic Frontiere
Lyrics by Bobby Hart

User Reviews

a fun flick, no more, no less.

Unlike many of the these reviewers, Cancel My Reservation does not take itself too seriously. It is no more than a fun flick, without pretensions of high drama. Much of the seemingly stilted dialogue may indeed be deliberate self-parody. The film reminds me of the old Saturday double feature presentations, for those of you who can remember those afternoons at the movies. Relax, and enjoy it as a pleasant diversion, as well as for nostalgic reminders of actors and comics of years past. Bob Hope is a true classic, who provided us with years of pleasure, and who had the courage to tackle many forms of entertainment. He was able to laugh at himself about his film flops, much as Jack Benny did with his The Horn Blows at Midnight. (And the critics are on the mark about the nubile Ms. Archer.)

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 September 1972 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Broken Gun

Filming Locations:

Samuel Goldwyn Studios - 7200 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Naho Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1