Bachelor in Paradise (1961)

A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Bob Hope is AJ Niles, a writer notorious for having penned controversial books on the male/female relationship, and now finds himself exiled to Paradise, that being the name of the California suburban subdivision where he takes refuge. The character of Niles allows Hope full license to play out his comedic persona at its most familiar---the snide, self-satisfied deliveryman of one-liners meant to wither his target. Yes, this is Bob, the iconic performer of the Eisenhower 1950s, an entertainer whose shtick everyone in America was comfortable with. Even when buffoonery is called for, Hope projects arrogance and swagger; a case of the private man intruding into the public image. Lana Turner is Rosemary Howard the real estate agent who rents the house to Niles setting in motion a train of events that disrupt the whole community. Niles just can't help himself, anonymity is against his nature; he becomes the village Yentl, the meddling, intrusive busybody who dislodges the neighborhood's equilibrium and subsequently the lives of its residents. Lana Turner was once a cute, ingénue with acting potential until Hollywood manufactured her into a "glamour goddess." In this movie at age 40, Turner was well established as a self- conscious actress, plaster cast-stiff, without any real depth or emotive spontaneity in her performance. Every mannerism, ever walk is calculated for correct poise and posture. The make-up artists and hair dressers only accentuated this frozen appearance with painfully perfect application of cosmetics and a hair-do that could only be dislodged by a tsunami. There's not much to say about the storyline itself. Disgruntled with this "known libertine and seducer," the husbands sign a petition to evict the Casanova Niles from his home and oust him from the community. The females, excepting a few puritanical matrons, protest this and rally in his defense. Niles was only trying to help them make their marriages more exciting; he was a public servant, a benevolent family counselor. That tall pair of actors Paula Prentiss and Jim Hutton are once again teamed as a romantic couple, here a married one, who are the focus of Nile's ministrations. The movie is dated, a cultural commentary of the era. Unless you're a big fan of Bob Hope or are just interested in opening a time capsule from a world long buried, pass this one by. For being a historical curio, I give it a "3."

..........IN HEAVEN!!! 1961........Kennedy was in the White House, the word 'Vietnam' meant little (or nothing) to the average American, and Bob Hope was close to winding down his prolific (film) career. Just getting to soak in the memorable era this film represents would normally have been entertainment enough, but this flick goes the extra mile by offering a fun little ride with Bob Hope at the wheel, in fine comedic form.Having just watched the Warner's Archive Collection Remastered Edition DVD, I can honestly say that I can't remember having had a better time watching a movie in many, many years.Though "The Ghost Breakers" (1940) will always be my favorite Bob Hope film, this one comes close. The script is good, Hope is Hope, and the supporting cast offers a tantalizing bevy of 'Bob' beauties, both talented AND lovely (A young Paula Prentiss showing up in form-fitting, pink short-shorts, approximately 20 minutes in, is TRULY a sight to behold!).If you get the chance, mix yourself a pitcher of 'Gibsons', pop this one in, and let the wondrous era that once was, and will never again be, wash over you like a light sun shower....

Bachelor In Paradise casts Bob Hope as a Mr. Belvedere like author about social mores throughout the world. In residence over in France, he's called back to America by his editor John McGiver because Hope's business manager has paid no income tax for several years and has absconded with all his liquid assets. The next book he writes will be totally dedicated to the IRS.Needing to write that book real fast before the interest and penalties mount even more, Hope takes residence in a Stepford like community in southern California called Paradise Valley. It's organizer Don Porter, would just love to have the women become Stepford automatons. The presence of a non-conformist bachelor he's afraid will spoil the order of things. He turns out to be right.Even though the men hate him, the women of Paradise Valley just love the unconventional Hope in their midst. Even though he's traveling incognito, they sense something special. And when you've got a bevy of beauties like Janis Paige, Virginia Grey, and Paula Prentiss hanging on your every word, you'd think he'd have it made.Still Hope's confirmed playboy bachelor that he writes about has fallen for rental agent Lana Turner. When his cover is blown it all hits the proverbial fan.Although he might write about the same subject matter as Clifton Webb, Hope certainly doesn't have the acid Webb wit. It's not in his style. Still he gets some pretty good gags in as the free-wheeling bachelor tries to adjust to suburbia. It's not the best of Hope comedies still his legion of fans will like it. And you can't complain about all the beautiful femininity gathered around the Bachelor In Paradise.

I just saw this for the first time, and I am just a bit too young to have ever seen Hope in his heyday. I don't quite understand how something written this weakly, and assembled this quickly (some of the shots have muffed words but are used anyway just to keep from retaking, I guess) could pass for national distribution. I love the settings and the cars and and the colors, and it does provide a good time machine for that. But the characters behave so sadly and everyone seems pretty unlikable except Bob. I recommend instead "Pillow Talk", which has more absurdity in the story, and the script demands more comedic action from the main actors, which makes it more satisfying as a comedy. It too has some great costumes and interiors, but in the New York of the sixties vein, not the California mode.