Customer Reviews

Nothing But the Truth [VHS]

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Comedy - the essence of humor is wit and timing. This film is the epitome of humor. Tension and release over and over again. I've never laughed out loud so loudly. And the giggle in me reverberates. I've been searching for a copy of this film for a few years, to not avail. It's truly priceless. If anyone has a used copy of this film on VHS, please contact me. Or anyone else that could get me a copy in any format, pleas let me know. Thanks!

Paramount Pictures presents "NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH" (1941) (90 min/B&W) -- Starring Bob Hope, Paulette Goddard, Edward Arnold, Leif Erickson, Willie Best & Helen Vinson

Directed by Elliott Nugent

Steve Bennett (Bob Hope) is an up and coming young stockbroker working in Florida. He makes a bet with his co-workers that he can tell nothing but the absolute truth for 24 hours, and the other bettors are determined to keep tabs on him to make sure he doesn't falter. The rest of the action takes place aboard a yacht, where Steve's undiplomatic truthfulness gets him into hot water with a wealthy client, several other influential people, and his girl friend Gwen (Paulette Goddard).

Hope made several great comedies, Believe this film is the one that really stands out and holds up well within the realm of entertainment.

Nothing But the Truth (1941) marked the third of three teamings of Bob Hope & Paulette Goddard: preceded by two haunted house films, The Cat and The Canary (1939) & The Ghost Breakers (1940).

Special footnote: -- This film also appears in - Bob Hope: Thanks for the Memories Collection (Thanks for the Memory / The Cat and the Canary / The Ghost Breakers / Nothing but the Truth / The Road to Morocco / The Paleface)

BIOS:
1. Elliott Nugent (Director)
Date of Birth: 20 September 1896 - Dover, Ohio
Date of Death: 9 August 1980 - New York City, New York

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. Paulette Goddard (aka:Marion Goddard Levy)
Date of birth: 3 June 1910 - Whitestone Landing, Long Island, New York
Date of death: 23 April 1990 - Ronco, Switzerland

4. Edward Arnold [aka: Gunther Edward Arnold Schneider]
Date of Birth: 18 February 1890 - New York City, New York
Date of Death: 26 April 1956 - Encino, California

5. Leif Erickson [aka: William Y. Wycliffe Anderson]
Date of Birth: 27 October 1911, Alameda, California
Date of Death: 29 January 1986, Pensacola, Florida

6. Willie Best
Date of Birth: 27 May 1913 - Sunflower, Mississippi
Date of Death: 27 February 1962 - Hollywood, California

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 5 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 5 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 90 min on DVD/VHS ~ Paramount Pictures ~ (February 23, 1999) [

Practically every film Bob Hope made has now made it to DVD, yet for some reason this, one of his very best films - meaning one of the funniest - remains unknown and forgotten. Made as part of a trio of films (the other two are The Cat and the Canary and The Ghostbreakers) with the lovely Paulette Goddard, Nothing But the Truth is a thinly disguised stage play transferred with great sparkle to the screen. Ms. Goddard is far more 'screwball' in this film than the others, imagine Hepburn in Bringing Up Baby, but no less lovely. Hope is sensational, as he warns new customers against a bogus quicksilver mine, to the distress of his new boss, to explaining a dress in his closet - he played a female lead in a college play - "Were you kissed? Did you like it?" - to trying to wiggle out of telling the truth by giving his honest opinion of an old bag's looks - in Spanish! Like the superb George Kaufmann The Man Who Came to Dinner, Nothing But the Truth is a non-stop farce, though on a less exalted level than that masterpiece. From the razzle-dazzle opening where Hope bets his new boss he can tell the truth for 24 hours to the moment 24 hours later, when all the clocks have been switched around so much no one knows what time it is and the beauteous Ms.Goddard's tries to stall a frazzled process server with the immortal lines, "Tea time, time for tea!", Nothing But the Truth carries all before it.
If you enjoy Bob Hope and have an opportunity to see this don't miss it! You may not get another chance.

Bob Hope is just king of all comedy. I couldn't stop laughing with this classic movie!! I just love it. I have tried looking for it everywhere. I would love my kids to see it. It was on cable running almost every day for a month then it just vanished like thin air. I recommend it highly. Only Bob hope could have done this film.

I stumbled onto this movie on television and taped it. I lost the tape a year ago and I have regretted it ever since. Even my younger sibling, who doesn't care for old movies the way I do, loves this film. This movie has all the fine qualities of theater with the luxurious appeal of Hollywood film in it's hayday. Bob Hope shines!

I saw this movie in a hotel room several years ago. I've been looking to purchase it ever since. Bob Hope plays a new stock broker in a well established firm. His first client, unknown to him, is a beutiful woman related to the firm's CEO. Bob guarantees her that he can double her money in a short period of time. He then gets into an argument and finally, a bet, with two of his new brokerage peers as to whether it is advisable, or possible to tell nothing but the truth for an entire weekend. If Bob is able to go through the weekend telling nothing but the absolute truth, he would be able to get enough money from this wager to double his beutiful client's investment. When these two are invited to the CEO's yacht for the weekend, they take Bob along to make sure he doesn't break his word. The lines are wonderful, as Bob finds himself in all kinds of situations that require him to tell the entire, honest truth.

I saw this movie one evening on American Movie Classics in 1990 in a hotel after a long work day. Of all the Bob Hope movies out there, this is the funniest. I just don't understand why it's not available.

If you ever get a copy of this, let me know.

I saw this movie on cable only one time and I've looked for it again ever since, on cable and on video. The writer of "Liar Liar" must have seen it. The real difference between the two stories is that Jim Carrey's character had to tell the truth because of a mystical event. Bob Hope's character told the truth only to win a wager.

I taped this movie about 5 years ago and unfortunately I taped it on SLP and it is not a very good picture. I've been waiting and waiting to be able to buy it, it's one of Bob Hope's best movies.