Son of Paleface - 1952

Bob Hope and Jane Russell

Son of Paleface - Released July 14, 1952

Bob Hope (along with co-stars Jane Russell and Roy Rogers) create a parody of western movies that gives Hope 95 minutes to pack in a series of inside-jokes on culture, circa 1952, and allows Rogers to ride Trigger ("the smartest horse in the movies") and softly lampoon his own western films.

Jane Russell wears a selection of outfits (by Edith Head, with jewelry by Joan Joseff) and sings a number of tunes (for example Wing-Ding Tonight) and Hope and Rogers also sing onscreen, the three stars providing a whole soundtrack album's worth of songs.

Structured more-or-less in the same loose comedy style as the Bing Crosby - Bob Hope Road movies, the film rolls along like a variety show, with Bob Hope, of course, dominant, playing Peter Potter Jr, son of "painless" Peter Potter Sr, who was the star of the 1948 The Paleface (and also played by Hope!)

Cecil B. DeMille makes a cameo as a bathtub photographer.

This film is usually listed as one of Bob Hope's best comedies. Inventive and full of Luney Tune-style cartoon humour, the story paradies western movie tropes unmercifully. Hope throws in constant jabs at his previous films, at Bing Crosby, Harvard University, and Roy Rogers.

Jane Russell plays an adventurous double-agent but a lot of her screen time consists of standing in an Edith Head gown or western-outfit and frowning at Hope's misbehaviour.

Related:

Bob Hope in Here Come the Girls - 1953

Bob Hope and Jane Russell in The Paleface - 1948

Bob Hope and Jane Russell in Son of Paleface - 1952

Bob Hope and Paulette Goddard in The Cat and the Canary - 1939

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Original Page Nov 21, 2015