For many people who grew up during the 1960s and '70s, they can't recall a time when Bob Hope wasn't on television or entertaining the troops. Who didn't groan at his corny one-liners? And yet, who can forget his boundless energy, generosity to his fellow performers and superb showmanship? Although I was never a huge fan of Bob Hope, I have to admit that after viewing the new Bob Hope — Thanks for the Memories Collection, I came away with a renewed respect for the late comedian and his films.
This three-DVD set, released by Universal Studios, features six of Hope's comedies: Thanks for the Memory (Paramount Pictures, 1938), The Cat and the Canary (Paramount Pictures, 1939), The Ghost Breakers (Paramount Pictures, 1940), Nothing but the Truth (Paramount Pictures, 1941), Road to Morocco (Paramount Pictures, 1942), and The Paleface (Paramount Pictures, 1948), all of them beautifully restored to pristine condition. The box is filled with little-known trivia about Hope, which makes it a must-have for anyone who loves the gifted comedian who gave so much to the country and the people of the armed forces.
This article appears in May 20-26, 2010.