Rating:  -
The Big Broadcast of 1938 was the final entry in the Big Broadcast film series. Although Bob Hope only got fifth billing in the opening credits (W.C. Fields had star billing above the movie title), this musical comedy is a landmark film because it boasts Old Ski-Nose's debut in full length features. The flimsy plot involves an ocean liner race between the SS Gigantic and the SS Colossal, but that storyline serves merely as a staging area for the stale vaudevillian routines, the throwaway gags, the mostly forgettable songs, the dull specialty numbers, and one dubious cartoon sequence. Already with Fields and Hope's famous schnozzes on board, this movie only needed Jimmy Durante in it to achieve some kind of nasal trifecta. But, you know what? The routines and songs may be old and creaky, but this musical still has enough charm and the funny in it to be worth a look.
W.C. Fields may have headlined, but his star power does not overwhelm here. It's Bob Hope who carries this movie - as much as an ensemble cast member can carry a movie. As radio broadcaster Buzz Fielding, Hope tries to put on a radio show while contending with three ex-wives and his new girl, Dorothy (Dorothy Lamour), who is on the verge of straying with the hunky inventor. This film offers other romantic entanglements, but the subplot that tugs best at the heartstrings is Buzz's amiable relationship with ex-wife Cleo (winsomely played by Shirley Ross). It's pretty obvious that sparks still may fly between the two. Hope and Ross have great chemistry together, and they make a fun couple as they joust verbally. The highlight of the film comes an hour into it when Buzz and Cleo reminisce at a bar and segue smoothly into a riveting, bittersweet rendition of "Thanks for the Memories." This number was carried out by Hope and Ross with conversational, off-the-cuff flair that was still very personal and emotional. Apparently, Damon Runyon was so taken with the performance of that song that he chose to review only that portion of the film. And, while I don't consider it to be a showstopper, Dorothy Lamour does sweetly croon "You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth."
W.C. Fields had little moments here and there, most notably in the outrageous golf and pool sequences (hey, the man cheats!). Throughout the movie, he resorts to his patented mumbled insults and putdowns, although one lady does get one back when she impertinently asks, "Is that a tomato he's eating? Or is that his nose?" But I had a bigger chuckle over Martha Raye's bit where she raucously sings, "Oh, Mama," whilst being tossed and flipped around by sailors.
Other negligible subplots revolve around a $50,000 bet, a bad luck daughter who cracks any mirror she gazes at, and an inventor unable to make his invention function. But all that is fluff. This film is mindless spools of fun that would otherwise be relegated to the back closets of Hollywood if not for its two saving graces: the debut of Hope as a feature film player and the introduction of his signature song "Thanks for the Memories." On a lesser note, this is also the first time Hope teams up on-screen with Martha Raye and, more importantly, with Dorothy Lamour. For those things, The Big Broadcast of 1938 becomes a key cinematic event.
Lastly, for those interested, the SS Gigantic wins the race. Sorry for the spoiler.
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The second offering in this Bob Hope tribute collection dvd is College Swing. In his second feature film, Bob Hope inches up in the world, as this time, he receives fourth billing in the credits, one name up from his debut movie. The plot is silly and has to do with a wager placed in 1738 between Gracie Alden's ancestor and the college head. The wager is if, in 200 years, no descendant of the grandfather's graduates, then all his fortunes will go to the college. If someone passes, the college will be ceded to the Alden family. So, now, cut to 1938, 200 years later, where dimbulb Gracie Alden (Allen), after 9 years of attending college, has one last shot at passing the exam. Bob Hope's sly character gets himself contracted to tutor Gracie in exchange for money and other benefits. Gracie passes the exam with flying colors, inherits the university, and begins to make sweeping changes, some of which are fairly dubious.
Huh. That film synopsis took longer than it really should have. Basically, this film boils down to swing music and college silliness. College Swing stars Gracie Allen, who shows off more of her goofy, addled humor. I swear some of that woman's hare-brained comments would make Yogi Berra wince. The film also features her husband/straight man George Burns, a blithely dancing Betty Grable, a brassy Martha Raye, a discombobulated Edward Everett Horton, and, of course, Bob Hope.
College Swing offers up the energetic film title number, which showcases cute Betty Grable, and an amusing duet by Hope and Raye, "How'd You Like to Love Me?" Also mildly entertaining is the opening scene set in a 1738 school as the students stuffily sing a school psalm, only to have a student turn it to scat. An outraged elder asks him, "What is thy name?" - to which the lad replies, "Benny Goodman." College Swing is not a movie I would have purchased by itself, but as the second feature in this package, it'll do.
Rating:  -
a fun double feature. the latter is most notable for the work of george burns & gracie allen, doing what they did so well; the former, starring w. c. fields, is best remembered for the brilliant sequence wherein bob hope (in a duet w the sadly forgotten shirley ross) introduces "thanks for the memory". not a must-see, but a good enough way to while away an evening.
Rating: -
This double feature contains two of Bob Hope's early movies. He was not the star in either film but a featured role in both. Both are typical musical revues of the early age of Hollywood musicals, little story songs to service the performers and not the story. This is very similar to Broadway musicals of the 20's and 30' but with a little more vaudeville in them.
College Swing finds Gracie Allen is the last of her line of nitwit women. If she cannot pass her college exam, the college reverts from her family to the city. Bob is a con artist who figures out how to make her pass. In return she is to put him in charge of the college. George Burns and Edward Everett Horton are the head of the board of trustees and are confirmed bachelors. But it's not George that Gracie winds up with. This is all set to swing music.
The Big Broadcast of 1938 would be totally forgotten if it did not introduce Bob Hope's theme song Thanks for the Memory. Bob is a radio host who has a penchant for gambling and ex-wives. He is to host a radio broadcast aboard a new radio wave powered ship that is racing the ship that holds the current crossing record. W.C. Fields is the named star of the film as the twin brother of the owner of the new ship who has a bad luck curse. The ship makes a detour to rescue the passengers of a sinking boat which includes Fields' like wise cursed daughter, Martha Raye. Also on board is Bob's three ex-wives and his current flame, Dorothy Lamour - yes, they didn't meet on the road. The film has plenty of irrelevant splashy musical numbers. But it is Bob and Shirley Ross' rendition of Thanks for the Memories that is the high moment in the film.
The best thing about these two films is Martha Raye. She shines in both films and shows her talents. Too bad Hollywood never found a place for her. But these two films and her great performance in Chaplin's Monsieur Verdoux make a great tribute to her.
This DVD is a must have if you are one of the following:
*A Bob Hope fan
*A Martha Raye fan
*Someone with an interest in early Hollywood musicals
DVD EXTRAS: None
Rating:  -
For those interested in the quality of the sound and picture and if it is an original, unaltered release rest assured this one is. Fantastic sound and picture quality with no alteration. A genuine pleasure to watch and own.
Rating: -
This is a terrific buy with two classic comedies on one CD. If you love Burns and Allen like I do, you'll go for 'College Swing'. It is a reminder of why Martha Raye was so popular in that era--she's a bombshell of singing, dancing, and comedic talent. They made her up ugly, plus you don't get to see much of her famous legs. In the song, "How'd You Like to Love Me", there's a large bandage visible on the front of one of her legs, I've always wondered what happened--possibly walking through the glass at the end of the scene? For those of us who came along at the end of Hope's career, this is an interesting view into why he was so appealing in his younger years. Betty Grable does some fantastic dancing, Ben Blue as Professor Volt can dance like nobody's business, and the whole movie is an insight into the escapism so popular during the Depression. 'Big Broadcast' is an okay movie, highly incredible. How is an ocean liner going to go 100 miles per hour because of propellors on the deck? Anyway, the ship is Art Deco heaven, giving an excuse for the set designers to go wild. Hope's theme song came out in this movie, women had plucked eyebrows and outrageous hats, and Martha Raye is back showing her best. All in all, buy this set, it's great for spirit-lifting on a dreary day!
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