The Road To Bali
Bali was obviously chosen as the 'setting' for this Hope-Crosby comedy, because of the romantic, somewhat mysterious and exciting reputation the island had back in the early 1950s.
As it is Hollywood's soundstage version of Bali, the name is about the only part that is even close to the real thing. But then it doesn't really matter, provided you take this farce as it is meant to be taken - strictly for laughs!
The only Bob Hope, Bing Crosby 'Road' film made in colour, this 1952 production is clearly dated, but still retains some entertainment value.
Some of the unintentional laughs come from the Paramount Studio sets and costumes, American accents and obvious back-projection scenes.
That aside, it is enjoyable, with Hope, Crosby and of course, Dorothy Lamour, joking and singing their way through a very thin storyline that leaves little doubt as to the outcome of each situation.
The gags are corny, the songs - with perhaps an exception or two - fairly horrible, but overall The Road To Bali is good, clean fun.
It was a successful formula at the box-office and now a neat piece of cinematic nostalgia.
Review by Trevor Hennigan
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