Road to Singapore

1940  NR  COMEDY  1h 25min

CAST— Bing Crosby, Dorothy Lamour, Bob Hope, Charles Coburn, Judith Barrett, Anthony Quinn, Jerry Colonna, Monte Blue, Arthur Q. Bryan

MUSIC— Victor Young  DIRECTOR— Victor Schertzinger

     The first of the popular Road to… films, with Bob Hope and Bing Crosby teaming up and let loose to do their thing. Crosby is heir to a massive fleet of profitable ocean liners; but instead of sit behind a desk in an administrative position he would rather experience life aboard one of his father’s ships, lazing about from port to port without a care in the world. So would his best friend, a penniless Hope who looks for nothing but a good time, anything but real work. But when the time comes for Crosby to face the music and shoulder some responsibility off he and Hope head for a distant island nation where they inevitably meet up with native dancer Dorothy Lamour. Though both men have solemnly sworn off women (too much trouble, or so they say) will Lamour’s charms break through the gruff exteriors the boys have set around themselves? Though a much touted series this first entry seems a bit of a dud, coming off as nothing more than an excuse for Bing to croon a few and Bob to quip a few. Not exactly compelling stuff.

OUR RATING— **

FOLLOWED BY— Road to Zanzibar (1941), Road to Morocco (1942), Road to Utopia (1946), Road to Rio (1947), Road to Bali (1952), The Road to Hong Kong (1962)