Customer Reviews

The Road to Box Office: The Seven Film Comedies of Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour, 1940-1962

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

 

 

I did enjoy this book, I must admit, yet the 47.99 price tag seems a bit hefty for a book that is a pretty superficial overview of the Road Films. The fimographies at the end do not list the cameo and unbilled performances of the three stars in each others' films (which is easy to research). All in all, the result was disappointing for this truly sparkling era of Hollywood production.

A disappointment. Although the author deservedly credits Dorothy Lamour as an important part of the star combo for this series, he seems to have very little knowledge about her own illustrious non-Road career. Indeed, his bio chapter on her seems little more than paraphrasing James Robert Parish's chapter on her in the old 70s book The Paramount Pretties. And there is regrettably little fresh information for fans of the movies, who no doubt know everything mentioned here. At least he could have included some rare reviews to these pictures.

BearManor Media presents "ROAD TO BOX OFFICE - THE SEVEN FILM COMEDIES OF CROSBY, HOPE & LAMOUR, 1940-1962" (Paperback), by Randall G. Mielke (Author) --- The formula for the "Road Series" followed a flimsy plot with adventurers Crosby and Hope caught in seemingly impossible situations --- They would defeat the bad guys - usually utilizing the famous patty-cake routine - and vie with one another for Lamour's attention, who completed the famous trio --- Nice musicality with a few ballads, duets and comedy numbers were added for musical flavor --- And for the fans it all worked perfectly --- the "Road" films were in a league of their and financially successful --- the author Mielke brings this out in some detailed ways that gives each actor their own chapters, plus nice synopsis on each film.

INCLUDED IN THIS BOOK:
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Preface ------- v
Introduction ------------ ix
How They Met ----- 1
Taking Them on the Road ----- 11
Road to Singapore, 1940 ----- 17
Road to Zanzibar, 1941 ------ 37
Road to Morocco, 1942 ----- 57
Road to Utopia, 1945 ------ 75
Road to Rio, 1947 ----------- 93
Road to Bali, 1952 --------- 115
The Road to Hong Kong, 1962 ---- 133
The Final Road -------------------- 153
Stopping by the Side of the Road:
An Overview of the "Road" Series --- 157
The Crooner Goes to Hollywood:
The Movies of Bing Crosby ---- 171
The Vaudeville Comic Hits the Screen:
The Movies of Bob Hope ------ 197
Have Sarong, Will Travel:
The Movies of Dorothy Lamour --- 225
Bibliography ---------------------- 243
Index ---------------------------- 245

BIOS:
1. Bing Crosby (aka: Harry Lillis Crosby)
Date of Birth: 2 May 1903 - Tacoma, Washington
Date of Death: 14 October 1977 - Madrid, Spain

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

Realize this book does not cover everything in detail, but gives an overview of each cast member and film --- There are some flawed statements, but does wet the appetite for all of the fans who love to read about this subject and their stars --- Not enough on our favorite girl in the sarong Dorothy Lamour, agree with one of the reviewers on this page author could have included some rare reviews to these pictures --- But all in all, "Road to Box Office - The Seven Film Comedies of Crosby, Hope and Dorothy Lamour, 1940-1962, is a good and fun read as reprinted by BearManor Media. the new paperback --- look back on three screen stars, all with successful careers of their own, who traveled seven "roads" together and left audiences with miles of movie memories.

This is why I gave a three and a half star rating for the readers who lived and enjoyed this special time with the trios films, music and television appearances --- Never be another time the likes of them again, gotta love it!

Total Page: 272 Pages ~ BearManor Media #ISBN-13: 978-1593935450 ~ (08/19/2010)

A critical study of the great Hope-Crosby-Lamour Road Movies is long overdue - but this does not even begin to fit the bill.

Low on facts and thin on substance, the book seems more like a student's essay than a real study of the films. The author seems content that a quick overview of scenes from each film is enough to comprise an in-depth discussion, and constantly repeats himself, often putting the exact same paragraph within a couple of pages (Who was the proof reader for this book? ....).

When the book attempts to be critical (which it rarely does) it falls flat on it's face. The idea that The Road To Hong Kong is the least of the series purely due to it's Space Travel plot, - meaning it is less based in reality than the other films - is totally flawed.

To sum up - a potentially great book is scuppered by repetitious prose, little new information or research and very weak arguments. ....

Oh well, nice try - hopefully someone will do the series justice one day...