Road to Singapore (1940)

Memorable, crazy movie

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Delightful nonsense that kicked off the whole Road series. The songs and their staging are especially charming and fit right into the nonsense— where else, for example, can you catch such non- perennials as 'Captain Custard' and 'Sweet Potato Piper'. Plus that jungle chant along with the bevy of half-clad native girls is about the sexiest thing on film. Of course, Bing and Bob keep the chuckles coming without half trying. Their chemistry is just superb. Seems Bing's the son of a wealthy hard-driving businessman (Coburn) who wants Bing to eventually take over. Trouble is Bing and his buddy Bob just want to be regular guys (read typical 1930's concern for the 'common man'.) So, with Dorothy, they escape to Singapore. But Dad's hot on their trail. Meanwhile, the guys get to sample native life, while Dorothy's on the spot trying to choose between them. Quinn's role as an Apache dancer with a whip is colorful but incidental. My only gripe is with "comedian" Colonna. His ear-piercing screeches are anything but amusing. In fact, I don't know what they're supposed to be.Anyway, the boys put a whole new slant on the kid's rhyme 'Patty Cake, Patty Cake'. So if you hear it, duck! All in all, Paramount came up with a great slice of amusing nonsense, with a trio that still delights.

The first Road movie of seven. Bob Hope and Bing Crosby are low level officers on a ship. Bing is the heir to a shipping line but has no interest in taking the helm. He just wants to be fancy free to do as he pleases and he has a high maintenance fiancée that seems a bit off putting. She is extremely controlling and also very understanding about his peccadilloes. The two run out after starting a brawl on a posh yacht and to avoid Bing's impending marriage. They end up on a tramp steamer and land on a French ruled south pacific island. Here they meet Dorothy Lamour who is part of an act with Anthony Quinn. They take her away and she sets up housekeeping with them although they do not get the fringe benefits. Daddy and fiancée track them down to the island where they then get returned to civilization. It is a funny movie especially for that time period. No real sex stuff and plenty of jokes and humor.

Avoiding arranged marriages, shipping heir Bing Crosby (as Joshua "Josh" Mallon) and carefree pal Bob Hope (as "Ace" Lannigan) run away to Singapore. They swear off work and women, and then find both in pretty native Dorothy Lamour (as Mima). Eventually, the men begin falling in love with Ms. Lamour, and she likes them both. They work out attractions while getting into local trouble. This was the first in an initially unplanned series of "Road to…" pictures starring Mr. Hope and Mr. Crosby, with Lamour adding the necessary sex appeal. Proving himself handy with a bull whip is handsome young Anthony Quinn (as Caesar). The pleasant soundtrack hit is Crosby's "I'm Too Romantic". An obvious screen chemistry multiplied the co-stars' individual appeal.***** Road to Singapore (3/14/40) Victor Schertzinger ~ Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour, Anthony Quinn

The first of the Bob Hope and Bing Crosby "Road" series, and not the best.What's wrong with it? People have complained that it is plot heavy but that's a little hard to swallow because the plot could be used to stuff a portobello mushroom.The problem, I think, is that it's too serious, if you can believe it. When one of the guys loses Dorothy Lamour he acts as if he's really hurt, which destroys the ethos of the film. Too many songs, although none of them is worse than any of the ones that were to follow.No ipsative gags. How could there be? There can't be any reference to earlier movies like this because there were no earlier movies like this. Bob Hope acts as if he is trying to follow the plot, instead of improvising and winging it. He hasn't become quite the cowardly miles gloriosus of the later films. Crosby is saddled with a past from which he's trying to escape. And the gags -- though lingered over -- just aren't there.Yet it's not a bad movie. Two guys go to Southeast Asia and meet a girl. Everybody's good humored. It's diverting.You won't be depressed after you see it.