Product Description

Disc 1: Alias Jesse James WP Disc 2: Boy Do I Have The Wrong Number WP Disc 3: The Facts of Life WP Disc 4: I'll Take Sweden WS Disc 5: Princess and The Pirate P&S Disc 6: Road to Hong Kong WS Disc 7: They've Got Me Covered P&S

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15731 in DVD
• Brand: TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT
• Released on: 2007-12-04
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 7
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 672 minutes

Amazon.com
Bob Hope had a gift: He could be lecherous, cowardly, squirrelly, gullible, and dimwitted, yet somehow make it all endearing. At his best, the result was wonderful comedy--at his worst, the result was belabored schtick. The Bob Hope MGM Movie Legends Collection has a little of both ends of the spectrum. The most "classic" Bob Hope picture in this set is Alias Jesse James, in which Hope plays an insurance salesman who, after selling an expensive policy to the famous outlaw, then has to go West and protect him so his beneficiary can't collect. The hapless fool rises to heroic heights by accident and mistaken identity; it's Hope's favorite storyline and he clearly enjoys himself. A host of Western stars--from James Arness (Gunsmoke) to Gary Cooper (High Noon) make cameo appearances. The Road to Hong Kong is the last Hope & Crosby Road to movie, and while the formula (preposterous plot, good-looking gal, and lots of jokes about being in a movie) is wearing thin, there are still plenty of pleasures to be had. The duo play con men who find themselves in possession of a secret rocket fuel formula after Hope loses his memory, which leads them into the clutches of James-Bond-style megalomaniac (Robert Morley, The Loved One). Dorothy Lamour appears, but it's pretty much an extended cameo; a young Joan Collins provides most of the eye-candy. The mid-60s sex farce Boy, Did I Get Wrong Number! doesn't have much to offer. Elke Sommer plays a starlet weary of always being naked in a bubble bath (naturally, this movie misses no opportunity to put her naked in a bubble bath); when she runs away, she crosses the path of flop real estate agent Hope, who ends up accused of her murder. Hope puts hardly a smidge of effort into his usual stream of one-liners; most of the movie's energy comes from Phyllis Diller, who approaches her gags like a heavyweight boxer, putting her full body into every one. I'll Take Sweden is a pleasant surprise; what initially seems like a typical teen exploitation movie starring Frankie Avalon and Tuesday Weld, with Hope along as Weld's befuddled father, turns into a sly cross-culture satire when Hope takes his daughter to Sweden so she won't marry Avalon--only to discover the European morals may pose a greater threat to her virtue than bohemian hijinx. The result is like a pop version of Henry James, peppered with zippy musical numbers. But the true gem of this collection is The Facts of Life. Hope and Lucille Ball are married to other people; they've known each other a long time and never liked each other, but when a trip to Mexico forces them together, they fall in love. This middle-aged love story is a comedy, but shot through with a bittersweet awareness of the compromises of life. Hope and Ball are both superb, giving their comic skills an yearning melancholy that perfectly expresses the Academy-Award-nominated screenplay. Not to be missed. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews

Bob Hope MGM Movie Legend Collection
This is a pretty good collection at a great price. There are seven movies on individual discs which are They Got Me Covered, The Princess and the Pirate, Alias Jesse James, The Facts of Life, I'll Take Sweden, The Road to Hong Kong & Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number.

By far, the two standouts are The Princess and the Pirate & They Got Me Covered. Alias Jesse James is available for the first time on DVD, it's his last comedy-western & a pretty good one. After this it's a drop off in quality. The Road to Hong Kong is the weakest of the Road movies & pretty lame, to boot. The Facts of Life co-stars Lucille Ball & is good, as all the Hope-Ball pairings. The Facts of Life & I'll Take Sweden are Hope vehicles that aim at getting a younger audience & are mixed bags. The former co-stars Frankie Avalon & Annette Funicello, the latter has Elke Sommer (eye candy). Boy, Did I Get a Wrong number has Hope's first pairing with Phyllis Diller that's not among his best.

This set concentrates more on Hope's later period (early to mid sixties) which is past his prime as to the quality of the movies. It's the other three movies that really make this set worthwhile. Here's how I would rate these movies on an individual basis:
1) The Princess and the Pirate*****
2) They Got Me Covered****
3) Alias Jesse James***
4) The Facts of Life**
5) I'll Take Sweden**
6) Boy,Did I Get the Wrong Number**
7) The Road to Hong Kong*

These discs are high quality but there aren't any bonus features. The price is what makes this set the good deal that it is.

Bob Hope collection
The quality was great. I thought it might be grainy ~ but it wasn't. They're great movies with wonderful memories. The quick wit humor without the worry of somebody dropping the F bomb or nudity is fantastic. To be able to watch clever dialog with your kids ~ especially when they are advancing from cartoons. Definately a worth while investment!

It's Bob Hope!
What more can I say, It's Bob Hope! These classic movies are a must have for anyone that enjoys classics. From the 50's western stars doing cameos in Alias Jesse James to Phyllis Diller in Boy, did I get a wrong number Bob is just that....Bob!