MOVIE
April 11, 1941, "Road to Zanzibar", the second title in the "Bob
Hope Tribute Collection" from Universal that included some of the other
"Road" movies such as "Road to Singapore", "Road to
Morocco" and "Road to Utopia".
The pandering duo return to the screen in this Paramount production as Hubert
Frazier (Bob Hope) and Chuck Reardon (Bing Crosby) working their acts at a circus.
Huberts, known as Fearless, is at the receiving end of Chucks get-rich-quick
schemes which are only successful at putting him in danger most of the time.
After burning down the circus tent and having to run from the law and other
people they have cheated, they end up in Africa. A run of bad luck begins when
Chuck is talked into buying a phony diamond mine costing them their entire savings.
Hubert gets their money back by selling the mine to a couple of thugs from which
they barely escape to another village. Here they meet the female con team of
Dorothy Lamour and Una Merkel as Donna and Julia who quickly relieve the boys
of some their money in a swindle and talk them into funding a safari into the
jungle. They boys think they are helping her find her lost father, when in fact
they are really helping her get to another guy she has plans to swindle.
Cannibal natives, snakes, leopards and gorillas threaten to ruin everyones plans
while Bob, Bing and Dorothy try to joke, sing and dance their way out of trouble.
What we saw from the duo in the first movie is fine tuned even further into
a funny and entertaining performance we now expect.
DVD
Region 1
Single Sided, dual layer
Run Time: 92 minutes
Black & White, Closed-captioned
Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1
Audio Tracks: English, Spanish (Mono)
Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
• Production notes
• TV spot(s)
• Bob Hope and the Road to Success
• Command Performance
• Photo gallery
• Cast and filmmakers
VIDEO
Generally weaker than the first movie in the series with a fair amount of dirt,
debris and scratches apparent throughout, but is not distracting as the film
is generally strong and sharp with good black levels.
AUDIO
The audio is better than "Road to Singapore" but still shows some
signs of age with hiss that is most noticeable during the quieter dialog scenes,
but not too apparent during the musical numbers. It's not overly objectionable
and is soon falls away during the viewing.
MENU
Scenes
18 total, 6 per page with thumbnails, static with music.
Bonus Materials
• Bob Hope and the Road to Success
• Command Performance 1944
• Photo gallery
• The Theatrical Trailer
• Production Notes
• Cast and Filmmakers
• DVD-Rom Features
• DVD Newsletter
• Recommendations
Languages
English, Spanish only with subtitles selections of English, Spanish and French.
Play
BONUS MATERIALS
• Bob Hope and the Road to Success (14m)- Roger Mielke, author of "The
Road to Box Office", Richard Grudins, author of "The Spirit of Bob
Hope" and Phyllis Diller tells about the reason for the movies and how
they affected the audience at the time.
• Command Performance 1944 (7m) - A section of the 1944 performance given
to the troops on location in WWII and broadcast on radio. Bob jokes around with
his guests Betty Hutton, Judy Garland, and Lana Turner.
• Photo gallery (3m) - picture slideshow of lobby cards and stills during
filming and breaks of Bob, Bing, Dorothy and supporting cast.
• The Theatrical Trailer
• Production Notes - Trivia about how the movie got its start as a rewrite
of a movie called "Find Colonel Fawcett". Victor Schertzinger, the
director of "Road to Singapore" returned allowing Bing and Bob to
continue with their ad-libbing. Victor, now 60, died a year later during the
filming of "The Fleet's In" with Dorothy Lamour.
• Cast and Filmmakers - a list of cast and crew.
• DVD-Rom Features - a notice that the Universal DVD's in this line may
include games, screen savers, wallpapers, additional info, internet access and
special Universal Studio links.
• DVD Newsletter - A way to sign up for the Universal E-Newsletter via
dvd.universalpictures.com
• Recommendations - Recommends the other "Road to", as well
as the other Bob Hope Tribute DVD's including "The Paleface", "Ghost
Breakers", "Big Broadcast of 1938/College Swing" and "My
Favorite Blonde/STAR Spangled Rhythm".
SUMMARY
The "Road To Zanzibar" continues a journey along the path of a film
series that would turn out to be one of the most successful and remembered in
history. Better than the first of the "Road to" movies, it's entertaining
and worth a spot in your collection if you are a Bob and Bing fan.
Buy: