4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Hilarious!, July 4, 2000
This review is from: Caught in the Draft [VHS] (VHS Tape)
This is one of Bob Hope's least known and least appreciated films, but it's a gem. Bob gives his patented "dumb, naive" characterization, and it will have you in stitches. The scene where Hope tries to drive a tank while his sight is obstructed will have you on the floor laughing hysterically.
If you are a fan of Bob Hope, movies of the World War II era, and if you just like to be entertained, this movie is for you.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
"Caught in the Draft (1941) ... Bob Hope ... David Butler (Director) (2002)", June 2, 2011
This review is from: Caught in the Draft [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Paramount Pictures presents "CAUGHT IN THE DRAFT" (1941) (82 min/B&W) -- Starring Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour, Lynne Overman, Eddie Bracken, Clarence Kolb & Paul Hurst
Directed by David Butler
Don Bolton (Hope), and his attempt to evade military service at the beginning of World War II, followed by his enlistment by mistake in a confused attempt to court a colonel's daughter (Dorothy Lamour).
Lynne Overman is given the best lines and this veteran master of the sneer does very well by them. Dorothy Lamour looks lovely and acts nicely, as well, and it is ever a delight to see and hear Clarence Kolb, as her father, whose voice is unique on screen or radio.
This film has the usual run of military service comedy situations. Hope is not as hopeless a soldier as Lou Costello, still he gets his usual laughs. It's a dated film, but I still think audiences can appreciate it today.
Look for good supporting performances by Clarence Kolb as Lamour's father and Hope's commanding officer and Paul Hurst as the eternal tough training sergeant.
Special footnote: -- This film is also available on DVD:
Bob Hope Tribute Collection - Caught in the Draft / Give Me a Sailor Double Feature
BIOS:
1. David Butler (Director)
Date of Birth: 17 December 1894 - San Francisco, California
Date of Death: 14 June 1979 - Arcadia, California
2. Bob Hope (aka: Leslie Townes Hope)
Date of Birth: 29 May 1903 - Eltham, London, England, UK
Date of Death: 27 July 2003 - Toluca Lake, California
3. Dorothy Lamour [aka: Mary Leta Dorothy Slaton]
Date of Birth: 10 December 1914 - New Orleans, Louisiana
Date of Death: 22 September 1996 - Los Angeles, California
Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 3 Stars
Performance: 3 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 3 Stars
Overall: 3 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]
Total Time: 82 min on DVD/VHS ~ Paramount Pictures ~ (October 8, 2002)
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Pleasing wartime Bob Hope effort, October 22, 2002
This review is from: Caught in the Draft [VHS] (VHS Tape)
"Caught In The Draft" is an amusing film not well known today and certainly it is not one of Bob Hope's more frequently seen films. I believe the reason for this was that it was definately a product of its time, as America was preparing to move into the Second World War and was just feeling its way about such issues as conscription and compulsory training of soldiers.
Adapted as a vechicle for Bob Hope's very unique style of comedy acting it is a pleasant and at times very amusing film. While not up there in my opinion with such Hope classics as "The Cat And The Canary", "The Ghost Breakers" or "My Favourite Blonde" it is still an amusing way to pass an hour and a half. Bob Hope was one of Paramount's biggest stars in 1941 when "Caught In The Draft" was filmed. In his solo comedies and in his memorable work as a team with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour in the "Road" films he had become an icon for American comedy. In this outing he is joined as his leading lady by Dorothy Lamour and the two, despite Lamour's limitations both with her role here, and her acting in general, have a real screen chemistry that plays very well.
Bob Hope plays Hollywood movie star and big shot Don Bolton an actor who definately believes his own publicity and who wants to avoid the draft for army service at any cost since it will interfer with his career and his endless womanising. Falling for Lamour playing an army colonel's daughter he seeks to impress her by pretending to enlist in the army only to find that through a chain of circumstances he has indeed actually enlisted in the toughest regiment there is!! What develops then is an amusing series of incidents as Hope adjusts to life in the army and finds himself constantly getting into trouble much to the chargin of Colonel Fairbanks, just the man he needs to impress as he is the father of his love interest Antoinette "Tony" (Dorothy Lamour). His mishaps involve, attempting to parachute out of a plane without his parachute attached properly, gun practice even though he is mortally afraid of even the sound of a gun going off, attempting to drive a tank across terrain without being able to see where he is going (the most hilarious sequence in the film by far!) which results in him crashing into the Colonel's vechicle. Among the most memorable scenes is when Bob is pulled in to doing guard juty when he is dressed only in his underwear under his coat. What develops is a very funny sequence of events as Bob's two buddies Steve and Burt (Lynne Overman and Eddie Bracken in stand out performances)try to get his clothes to him under the eye of Colonel Fairbanks who is visiting the hospital at that moment. It contains some of Hope's most hilarious work as he ducks out windows, jumps into beds and receives the unwelcome attentions of a concerned nurse armed with a castor oil bottle.
While not his best work "Caught In The Draft" shows Bob Hope in his familiar guise of the loveable coward right at the time his illustrious career was at a peak. It's an enjoyable farce and and even though it's Hope's vechicle all the way, Dorothy Lamour given the limited role she has to work with, makes the most of it and the superb Edith Head fashions she wears are superb and most flattering and go a long way to explaining why Lamour was considered one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood in the early 1940's. Enjoy this story set in a period which is now part of our history.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
