THE GREAT LOVER
US, 1949, 80 minutes, Black and white.
Bob Hope, Rhonda Fleming, Roland Culver, Roland Young, Jim Backus.
Directed by Alexander Hall.
The Great Lover is a very enjoyable Bob Hope comedy, coming from his heyday in the 40s and 50s. The screenplay was written by veteran team of Melville Shavelson and Jack Rose, writers of many Hope comedies and Shavelson, himself, a director of many comedies.
The plot is simple, Hope as an Ohio journalist accompanying a group of boys forest rangers in Paris, attracted to impoverished Duchess Rhonda Fleming, with her conman father Roland Culver. They all fall victim to millionaire gambler murderer, played expertly by Roland Young. Jim Bacchus has a small role as the pursuing detective. There are many comedy routines, Bob Hope with all his wise cracks as well as facial gestures. They can be seen to advantage in the duet with Rhonda Fleming about luck. A pleasing blend of interesting plot and Bob Hope comedy.
1. Entertaining vehicle for Bob Hope? His comic style? Screen presence, wise cracks, facial gestures, pratfalls, seemingly the cowardly man - but finishing up hero?
2. Black and white photography, studio atmosphere of France and shipboard? The musical score, songs?
3. The title and its irony?
4. The plausibility of the plot, C.J.Dabny as the gambling murderer, his victims? Freddie Hunter as the newspaper man with the forest rangers? Impoverished European nobility? The interactions?
5. C.J. Dabny, the initial murder and victim? His planning his next move? Higgins pursuing him? His talking to his statue, the set up? The Archduke, Freddie as the dupe? His befriending him, leading him on, pretending he was a millionaire, making the Archduke's acquaintance, dropping information? The dinner and the attraction to Alexandria? The card game, his switching cards? Taking in the Archduke, the initial debts? Winning, Hunter realizing the truth? Dabny and his reaction, the attempted murder? The killing of Higgins? His knowing that Hunter was not dead, getting the scouts to search for him? Alexandria searching his cabin, the confrontation, the attempted murder, the rescue? His arrest? Smooth portrait by Roland Young?
6. Bob Hope as Freddie Hunter, the background to going with the forest rangers, the clashes with Stanley, the friendship of Tommy? His getting things wrong, smoking, dousing the coat? Being forbidden everything? In the cabin with the worst bunk, up early in the morning and exercises? His trying to escape the boys? Their inquisition and methods with him? Going off the boat, seeing Alexandria and returning? The friendship with Dabny, believing him? Pretending to be the millionaire? The champagne dinner and the dancing and singing with Alexandria? The card games, his suspicions? Confrontation of Dabny, the death of Higgins after the explanation? His hiding with the dog, getting the help of Tommy? Alexandria? The pursuit, pretending to go overboard? On the anchor, the final rescue? The happy ending? Typical Bob Hope character?
7. The Archduke and his suave manner, aristocratic yet impoverished? The card games and honour?
8. Alexandria, attractive? Wanting to be honest, get a loan and go into business? Keeping up appearances? Style, her dog, the drinking of the champagne, the attraction to Freddie? Not wanting her father to cheat him? The discovery of the truth - and the lights on in the cabin? Hearing that he was a cheat, her attacking him in the cabin? On his side, searching Dabny's cabin, the death threat? The happy ending?
9. The forest rangers - and Stanley being obnoxious and demanding - yet cowardly? Tommy O' Connor helping Freddie?
10. The atmosphere of ship board in the 40s, life style? Gambling? Big money? The world of the conmen? The world of the ingenuous heroes like Freddie Hunter!
