Road to Bali (1953)

It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

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

With this-the sixth in the Road movies-it's the first (and only) time an entry is presented in Technicolor. It's also the first one I saw as a child at my local library though I've either only saw the beginning or come in the middle the couple of times I did that so now I've seen the thing in its entirety. I didn't remember it being too funny then but now that I get many of the inside jokes, it's a bit more funny now though I have to admit it seemed a bit longer than necessary when the plot comes into play. Still, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, and Dorothy Lamour are always fun to watch and there are some funny cameos from various stars including a clip of Humphrey Bogart in The African Queen which leads to some Oscar references of which Bob always likes to joke about never getting (in truth, he got several special ones over the years). While Bob and Bing would make one more Road feature, Ms. Lamour ended up just making a glorified cameo in that one as this movie turned out to be her last as a leading lady. So on that note, Road to Bali was another worthy entry in the series. Next up, The Road to Hong Kong.

Trying to avoid shotgun weddings, two entertainers (Bob Hope, Bing Crosby) run away and take jobs as deep sea divers. This leads them to Bali and princess Dorothy Lamour. Inevitably both guys vie for Dorothy's affections while tangling with bad guys and a giant squid.Routine 'Road' picture with the notable difference of it being in color. Hope and Crosby are always fun, especially when they break the fourth wall. Lamour is lovely in color. This was her last film for ten years. Some of the gags are tired but there are still lots of yuks. Also some decent songs. Overall the likable personalities of the trio keep it afloat. Jane Russell, Martin & Lewis, and Humphrey Bogart (through African Queen footage) all have cameos. There is one rather odd sequence where Dorothy dreams of her childhood pet monkey and we see a real chimp wearing a very creepy Bob Hope mask.

When more than one writer is credited with a script, chances are the movie stinks. As if he knew this, the director had Bob and Bing breaking the fourth wall, and throwing in stuff that did nothing except bog the "story" down. It was the cinematic equivalent of watching a doctor desperately trying to revive a patient who is D.O.A.It was creepy that women young enough to be their daughters throw themselves at the boys. Indeed, the sexism and racism here is despicable! Were Bob's and Bing's egos' that fragile or that inflated? I couldn't decide which.How was it that the natives spoke perfect, unaccented English? Where did they get their fine clothes and jewels? How did they build that mansion? Bob, Bing, and Dorothy land on a supposedly deserted island, but spend the night in the swankiest hut ever built, and Dorothy romps in a man-made lagoon the next morning! Why did they throw in the tiger and the gorilla? How did Dorothy's evil cousin wind up where she wound up? Then, because the film makers ran out of ideas (not that they had any to begin with), they pull an Irwin Allen, and have a volcano erupt! Ninety minutes of torture, and our trio never do get to Bali (why they had to get to Bali is never explained). Instead, Bing, Dorothy, and Jane Russell (don't ask) walk toward a yacht anchored in the harbor (don't ask) as Bob frantically tries to stop the "movie" from ending (don't ask).Avoid this like the plague. Your brain cells will thank you.

1952's ROAD TO BALI is my first "road" picture, and I don't think it's the one I should have started with - after all, by 1952, this shtick had to be getting pretty old. I admit to being a fan of Bob Hope, especially in his '40s films; I'm not a particular fan of Bing Crosby as an actor. I'm more a fan of his incredible singing in the early '30s. But having heard a lot about these "road" movies, I wanted to see one.ROAD TO BALI isn't as highly rated as some of the others. The premise has to do with Bob and Bing, two vaudevillians who escape from Australia to avoid the father of the woman they're both engaged to for some reason. They eventually meet Dorothy Lamour, Bob dives for treasure and is almost killed by a giant squid, and then the three of them plus the treasure head for Bali. Along the way, there's music, corny jokes and beautiful women. The scene where a widowed ape decides Bob is her next mate is very funny ("Why am I always attracted to young widows?" he asks), and there are a few more laughs along the way. Just not enough.Dorothy Lamour is lovely and has a great figure. Many years ago, a friend of mine was in a revue where Lamour was scheduled to appear. Everyone looked for her, ignoring the old lady in the corner, who turned out to be Lamour. When costumes and makeup got through with her, she looked exactly as she did in the Road pictures. Good for her. I look forward earlier installments of this series.