As Good As It Gets

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

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

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

This is a fair Bob Hope comedy with the flavor of an old-fashioned swashbuckler. But for a couple of scenes showing ships under sail, one exchanging cannon fire, and Hope and Virginia Mayo in a small lifeboat, there is little seaworthiness about this film Most of the other shots were filmed on sets, and all of the sea action doesn't amount to even a quarter of the film. So, forget the swash. There is no denying that Bob Hope was a great entertainer. But his peculiar type of comedy in many of his movies in the 1940s to 1960s is very dated. And, these many years later, it just isn't that funny. His technique may have been good for success then, but it's not conducive to posterity. And, I even wonder if it was necessary for his success then. Especially when one compares it alongside the comedy of so many other performers in the 1930s through the 1960s that still make us laugh today. Bob, and his friend, Bing Crosby – when they worked together, liked to mug for the camera a lot. That was OK. But what locked them into a short span of time for humor, was their popping out of the movie's time frame to their present for a side comment or ad-lib. For instance, in "The Princess and the Pirate," Hope's Sylvester the Great lives in the days of sailing ships and pirates. His character, as a world traveler and entertainer is stretch enough, considering that time. And he does fine with his dialog until he pops out lines that jolt us out of the days of adventure on the high seas. An example is his referring to the Hook being able to open beer cans with his hook. Such modernist deviations in the script may have tickled a funny bone or two in their day, but that day is long past and the humor with it. My five stars are for a good cast, with especially good performances by Walter Brennan as Featherhead and Victor McLaglen as Captain Barrett – The Hook. Here are a couple funny lines from this film. See the Quotes section in the IMDb Web page of the film for more humorous dialog.Featherhead (played by Walter Brennan), "You can't miss him. He looks just like me. He's twice as smart as I am. Sylvester, "Oh, a half-wit, huh?"Princess Margaret (Virginia Mayo), "Sylvester, I'm ashamed of you. Why don't you die like a man?" Sylvester, "Because I'd rather live like a woman."Bucket of Blood owner, "You sound like a stranger. You haven't lived very long in this town, huh?" Sylvester, "Does anybody?"

Bob Hope plays a bad performer who is looking for a job in the New World. On the way there, the boat he's on is attacked by pirates and taken. Their prize is a runaway princess (Virginia Mayo). Although a thorough coward, Bob musters up the courage to help her escape. Now a pirate (Victor McLaglen) and corrupt governor (Walter Slezak) are out to find the girl and kill Hope. Can the pair manage to escape and avoid a horrid fate? Well, perhaps with the help of a crazy old coot (Walter Brennan) they can find a way.I am a history teacher and seeing a movie with me can either be informative or annoying depending on your perspective. When I see films that are historically inaccurate, I tend to grumble and complain. When I see films that are completely ridiculous historically, I tend to REALLY complain and annoying people around me! As for "The Princess and the Pirate" I did NOT expect the film to be like a PBS documentary, but the film seems to bear absolutely no semblance to any pirates I ever read about and was a really silly little trifle. So, if you are historically-minded, DON'T watch this film--it will drive you crazy.Now, if you can look past the historical inaccuracies and anachronisms, is the film worth seeing? Well,...maybe. If you adore Bob Hope and love anything he's in, then of course you should see the film. If you are looking for a comedy, well, this film suffers from one minor problem...it's not funny. It IS full of pretty costumes and very bright and garish colors but funny it ain't. Instead, it's as if they simply brought out the costumes and told Hope to 'just wing it'--doing his typical stand-up act filled with hit and miss (mostly miss) quips. And, as for Brennan, they told him to cackle insanely throughout the course of the film.By the way, get a load of Slezak's skin-head wig. It's pretty bad...and in keeping with the rest of the film. And, after looking at the rest of the reviews I am apparently in the distinct minority and consider this to be among Hope's worst films...though it is pretty (when the DVD print is in focus--which was a problem now and again).

Bob Hope comedy shot in fabulous color and with a terrific supporting cast. Ship sailing the Spanish Main is overtaken by pirates: their captives include a princess escaping her throne and a theatrical performer, Sylvester the Great, who is the king of the bad review. Skit-like adventures becomes episodic, and interest peaks and ebbs, but the presentation is hearty and some of the lines are very amusing. Victor McLaglen is wonderful as salty, bad-tempered pirate The Hook and Virginia Mayo works well with Hope and holds her own. Ultimately too long, and too silly for those not in the mood, but one of Bob Hope's better vehicles. ** from ****

The anachronistic one-liners fly off Bob's tongue faster than a seagull with its tail feathers ablaze, and about 50% are throw away misses, but this is still a fairly entertaining Pirate romp in gorgeous technicolor, not to be taken at all seriously.Hope's schtick is outshone by Victor McLaglen, who as The Hook, is at his blustering best, chewing the sets and scenery and obviously enjoying lumbering around in the guise of a pirate Captain. Too bad he never did a turn in another film as Long John Silver or Blackbeard, he'd have been a hoot to watch. The best and funniest scene here is when he pretends to be Hope's reflection in the mirror, aping his mannerisms. McLaglen's facial expressions in this scene are priceless.The story is wildly uneven, and sags in badly in the second act as per most Hope comedies, but Walter Brennan and Virginia Mayo help to keep things lively and overall it's worth a look. Hilarious ending too.