My Favorite Brunette is a wonderful screwball comedy featuring Bob Hope at his best. Both Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour recreate their Road movie chemistry in this wild and wacky action-packed spoof of private detective movies. Hope’s character is a baby photographer whose office is next to the office of a private detective (played by Alan Ladd). When the real private detective travels to Chicago and Dorothy Lamour’s character–a beautiful and mysterious brunette with a treasure map–shows up in desperation, Hope decides to impersonate the private detective to help her. Hope’s hired by the lovely brunette to protect the map and rescue her father who is being held by the Bad Guys (Peter Lorre, Lon Chaney, Jr). Hope finds out Dorothy Lamour and her father are involved with an international gang dealing in the hot McGuffin of that time period.
If you’re ready to laugh at Bob Hope’s antics as a goofy private eye, you’ll love My Favorite Brunette. GRADE: A
I was expecting this one all week. I liked this better than Bob’s Road movies (of course, I hate Bing Crosby). It was fun.
Jeff, rewatching MY FAVORITE BRUNETTE brought back a lot memories. It’s a very humorous movie.
Any picture with Peter Lorre must be fun!
He’s my favourite villain! 🙂
A bit OT:
When I saw my first Carter Brown paperback (with a cover like your last ones) in 1962 I wondered at the sexy cover – just like your brunettes …
But I was very disappointed because all those novels weren’t really sexy but prudish – unlike Lady Chatterley’s Lover which became one of my favourites, but its author was British and the book was banned in the USA for a long time (and at first in Britain too).
Wolf, the early Carter Brown’s suggest a lot of sexy action, but it wasn’t until the later books in the series that the sex got graphic.
At his best, Hope combined cowardice and braggadocio in a seamlessly funny persona. I particularly like his costume pictures and his brush with horror films and Paulette Goddard.
Dan, well said! Bob Hope managed to juggle braggadocio and cowardice in hilarious fashion. MY FAVORITE BRUNETTE displays Hope’s talents to their fullest!
Loved this as a kid but haven’t seen it for years. I don’t find the Road movies to have held up well and his movies past the early fifties were pretty awful. As were his tv specials.
Steve, you’re right. MY FAVORITE BRUNETTE is near the top of the Best of Bob Hope list.
This is the best of the road movies for me. Not a high bar to clear though.
Patti, Bob Hope specialized in silliness and MY FAVORITE BRUNETTE has plenty of it!
Congrats on the Bills win yesterday, in spite of the injuries.
Rick, Frank Reich, Head Coach of the Indianapolis Colts (and former Buffalo Bills QB), is refusing to play any of his starters in GAME THREE of the NFL Pre-Season. He promises to not play starters in next week’s final Pre-Season game, either. Reich’s reasoning is that the risk of injury to his key players is too high in these meaningless games. The Bills lost an offensive lineman and a cornerback last night. The Lions lost their starting center and a linebacker. Football is a vicious sport.
I saw this about 10 years ago at a Tankon and it was enjoyed by all!
Bob, I consider MY FAVORITE BRUNETTE one of Bob Hope’s best movies.