JohnHowardReid Yes, a most enjoyable romantic comedy, with an accent firmly on music and song. Skilfully directed from a most entertaining script with a roster of extremely likeable players (except of course for heavies Quinn and Pendleton), it's no wonder the film proved such a box-office bonanza for Paramount. Four of the five songs especially composed for the film (the exception of course is "Kaigoon" which is okay as a native dance number but is not a patch on the zippily witty "Captain Custard" or the charmingly off-beat "Sweet Potato Piper" or the agreeably romantic "Too Romantic" or the beautifully balladic "The Moon and the Willow Tree") deserved nominations for the "Best Song" Oscar, but none did receive that honor. Who remembers the actual winners, "It's a Blue World" or "Waltzing in the Clouds"?Lamour of course provides the film's romantic focus, whilst Hope and Crosby (joined briefly by Colonna) supply the slapstick, the clever banter and the perfectly timed repartee. So well do the principals play in tandem, you'd think they'd been acting together for years. It's hard to credit this is the first film in the series. True the humor is not quite as crazy as in some of the other entries, but is that a disadvantage?Beautifully photographed with excellent production values, The Road to Singapore adds up to exceptional entertainment.Although the critics were lukewarm, the public found this initial teaming of Crosby, Hope and Lamour impossible to resist. And no wonder. The film has a joy, a carefree spirit, an anti-materialistic edge, and yet is so glossily and expertly presented that there don't seem to be any categories of picturegoer to whom the film would not appeal. The melodious Crosby, the quippy Hope, the alluring Lamour, and all set in rich and/or exotic locales, teeming with favorite support players like the lovably irascible Charles Coburn or the lovely if demanding Judith Barrett.

utgard14 First "Road" movie for Hope & Crosby sees the duo hiding out in Singapore trying to live a simple life, away from women and responsibilities. Bing's running from an engagement and job he doesn't want. Bob's running from a shotgun wedding a girl's family is trying to force him into. While in Singapore they meet pretty Dorothy Lamour and run afoul of her whip-wielding dance partner Anthony Quinn.It's a good start for the series but not the best. As they made more of the movies, they would become wackier and funnier. This one is funny but focuses a little too much on its plot. Some of you may read that and wonder "What's so wrong with focusing on plot?" Well, nothing usually, but a lot of comedies work best when the comics are allowed to just be crazy and irreverent. The plot to this is paper thin anyway so it would have been better to just let the boys run wild and ad lib, as they often did in the later movies in the series. Still, this one is funny and entertaining. Hope, Crosby, and Lamour were all immensely likable personalities and it's hard to watch any of their films without smiling.

vincentlynch-moonoi Depending on what you want from Hope and Crosby, this may or may not be the best of the Road pictures. It was the first, but not the funniest. In fact, there are several rather dramatic scenes in the film (gasp!). But this film was not meant to be as zany as the subsequent Road pictures. It's right on the mark...a darned good movie! Here, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope are not confidence men, but rather are lazy drifters. Crosby is a rich boy, while Hope is not. Crosby's father -- shipping magnate Charles Coburn, wants Crosby to settle down and get married, but Crosby wants no part of it...or the upper crust visitors to his father's boat. There's a funny segment with "Captain Custard", which hints at just how wonderful the Hope and Crosby team will be. The boys flee to Singapore, where they meet -- who else -- Dorothy Lamour. Now, why exactly the exotic Lamour is working with an abusive Latin dance-partner in Southeast Asia, is anyone's guess, but Hope and Crosby save her from that dance partner -- a young Anthony Quinn. Hope, Crosby and Lamour begin living together...and falling in love. So who will Lamour marry? Hope? Of course not. Meanwhile Hope is deported...well, not quite...and ultimately the trio is reunited.The songs here are not Crosby's best. The cinematography is quite good. The laughs are many, though this is not as zany as future episodes of the story will be.Hope and Crosby are wonderful. Lamour is...well. Lamour. Anthony Quinn isn't seen too much throughout the film...but what a handsome guy back then! Charles Coburn is just right as the father.Oh, and why is Lamour singing about weeping willow trees in Southeast Asia?????This is a very good comedy, and a must for the DVD shelves of Hope or Crosby fans.

bob the moo Fleeing misadventures with girls once again, two playboys escape from women (in particular an arranged marriage for Josh Mallon by his shipping magnate father). However when they arrive in Singapore they meet Mima. A first the two use her for free labour, then they want their freedom from a woman but then they realise that they both want some time with her and compete for her affections.The first of the successful Road movies is the foundation on which the others were build, basically meaning that this is straight to formula without the shine and added touches that we got with the middle movies (before they just got silly towards the end). The plot is stronger as a result but it does feel a little ordinary in comparison to some of their later hi-jinx. However the film is weakened by far too many musical numbers, I don't mind about 2 or even 3 but here it was pushing up to about 5+ in a 80 minute run time. While these do give the film a more general entertainment value I prefer the out and out comedy of Hope and Crosby and the songs took away from that.This is not to say it isn't funny, but just that the duo seem to be finding their feet still. The jokes are good and the banter is sharp without being too knowing. Crosby plays the playboy very well and Hope is more controlled than usual – he is actually operating within the bounds of the film and not doing any knowing gags. This is a bit of a surprise for me as I'm used to hope being bigger than the film and interacting with the audience, but I still enjoyed it, he even worked better in the serious parts. Lamour is more understated than later films but it is strange to see a woman so clearly white portraying a woman supposed to be of ethnic origin – but I guess that's the period.Overall this is an enjoyable film but not the Road series at it's best. Instead this is the birth of the series and the formula is in place with a solid plot and songs, personally I preferred the middle movies where they let rip with the comedy a bit more but not to the point of silliness.