The Paleface

In the old American West, faint-hearted dentist Bob Hope (as "Painless" Peter Potter) plays horsey with statuesque sharpshooter Jane Russell (as Calamity Jane). Mr. Hope masquerades as a fearless Indian fighter wedded to Ms. Russell as a government agent. Possibly the film's comedy highlight ends when Hope nearly kisses a Native American chief on laughing gas. At least, it's the film's least lifeless scene. In a surprisingly inept dub, thanks to the star's own laughable instrumental accompaniment, Hope sings Livingston and Evans' classic "Buttons and Bows" which became a huge million-selling #1 hit for Dinah Shore. At the time, audiences were ripe for Technicolor and a western spoof. In the 1940s, they seemed to always be in the mood for Hope, and "The Paleface" helped make him "Quigley Publications" #1 box office star for 1949. **** The Paleface (12/24/48) Norman Z. McLeod ~ Bob Hope, Jane Russell, Iris Adrian, Clem Bevans

*** out of **** This is a comedy of endless gags and one-liners. You will either find them funny or you won't. I found most of them funny, so I liked it. The highlight is Bob Hope singing "Buttons and Bows".

Until Blazing Saddles came out some 25 years later, this was probably the most successful parody of westerns ever released. Bob Hope is hilarious as the unlikely hero "Painless" Peter Potter and Jane Russel shows a great flare for comedy as Calamity Jane. The best part of this film is the chase sequence. That part was the definite highlight of this great film.

The chemistry between Jane Russel and Bob Hope is one of the many reasons that this film shines. There are several genuinely hilarious scenes - the Indian on laughing gas, Bob's big gunfight, the cowboy having his rotten tooth pulled ...the list is endless. The only fault is that the films drags a little towards the final all action finale but other than that it's close to perfect. A great comedy and one of only a few truly great comic westerns. The currently available DVD is a great transfer but it comes on a vanilla disc. A documentary about Bob would have been welcome or even an introduction the way they have done with the John Wayne reisues would have added even greater value. As it stands a great little movie from the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Jane Russell plays Calamity Jane who is offered pardon on a ten year sentence if she tracks down the culprits who are selling weapons to the Indians. She hitches up with a dim-witted dentist, Bob Hope, so that she can trick the bad guys into thinking that he is the federal agent tracking them down, instead of her. Hope is conned into thinking that he has killed a dozen or so Indians, in one of the funnier scenes. Hope is extremely funny in this comedy western as he struts his stuff through the old west. Most jokes hit their mark, and Russell is as much fun as Calamity Jane as well. The catchy Oscar winning tune "Buttons and Bows" is given a voice by Hope early in the film.

*Spoiler/plot- Paleface, 1948. In the Western USA Territories, Calamity Jane goes under cover with a traveling dentist to find badmen selling dangerous contraband guns & liquor to the Indians that leads them on the warpath against wagon train settlers. *Special Stars- Bob Hope, Jane Russell. *Theme- Hope and Russell have great screen chemistry. *Trivia/location/goofs- Comedy film. Some outdoor parts filmed in Chatsworth CA "Iverson Movie Ranch". Paramount Pictures made film. *Emotion- A fun & light film romp with two funny comedians post WW2. *Based On- US western pioneer lore.

I didn't think this was anywhere as great as some reviewers (not here on the IMDb) led me to believe, saying this was "Bob Hope's best movie," "funniest film ever," etc. I found that FAR from the truth, although humor is very subjective. I can think of two of Hope's comedies, just off the top of my head, that were much funnier: The Ghost Breakers and Sorrowful Jones. Anyway, the first half of this film was the worst, just stupid and very few laughs. The second half is much better, after Hope begins to think he's a gunfighter. The second half has some good humor, and helps save the film. This was my first look at Jane Russell. I thought she acted woodenly and wasn't all that pretty. Like this movie, Russell's reputation, looks-wise, is better than the reality. Her chest is what made her. She would have fit better in today's films where hard-looking, tough-talking women are featured. One last thing on the positive side: there is nice, bright color in here, good to see in any 1940s film.