Search - The Road to Hong Kong on DVD

End of the Road

laddie5 | 04/15/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is the last Road movie made by Hope and Crosby. Both were around 60 and Crosby in particular looks stricken by the sophomoric playacting and the effort of simulating attraction to Joan Collins. Hope tries to jolly him through their scenes together and manages to scare up a laugh or two, especially in the pre-credit sequence. But it's only during Dorothy Lamour's too-brief guest appearance that the old magic returns. At 47, she looks younger than ten years earlier in "Bali," but she was too old for Hope and Crosby -- one of the sadder examples of male movie star vanity and a sour note to end a great series on. If you're smart, you'll get off the Road at "Rio.""

I loved it!

08/11/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I know that many people consider this the worst of the Road movies, but I would consider it my favorite. While dissapointed in not having Dorothy in there more than just a cameo appearance, I think the rest of the movie makes up for it! The banana feeding scene was the best! (Hope and Crosby being tested in place of the monkeys on the spaceship) This movie also had some other good cameo appearances."

One More Time.....

Cowboy Buddha | Essex UK | 09/02/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The Bob Hope/Bing Crosby/Dorothy Lamour "Road" pictures were the most successful film series until someone named James Bond came along. The Road To Hong Kong was a belated final entry - a nice idea but one executed on a miserly budget when the stars were somewhat past their peak. The script roughly follows the dependable formula of the earlier films and, while not as funny or as charming as the classic Road To Morocco, still provides a fair amount of amusement. It is certainly not the overcooked turkey that some people claim.



Cheaply filmed in England in black and white on cardboard sets and with special effects of rocket ships that would have made Ed Wood proud, the film relies a lot on the audience's affection for Hope and Crosby. The interplay and patter of their double act, so finely tuned over the years, is still a major attraction. Poor Dorothy Lamour is reduced to a guest star spot while the female lead is given to Joan Collins looking amazingly fresh and extremely sexy. One of the main embarrassments of the film is the love scenes between a visibly aging Crosby and the svelte young Collins. But, apart from that, she works quite well with the old troupers. And Robert Morley has a fun turn as a Dr No-type villain.



For me, though, the real star is Bob Hope in his trademark role as a professional coward with delusions of being a great lover. Whether tossing off a succession of quips or performing slapstick (with the aid of an obvious double) he breathes more life into the film than it possibly deserves. One of Hope's best scenes is with a pre-international stardom Peter Sellers who plays an eccentric Indian doctor. It is both fascinating and funny to witness this encounter between comic geniuses from different generations.



Yes, yes, yes...I know the film is creaky and looks older than it actually is. But it is also a lot of fun and has its heart in the right place. It's certainly no worse than any of the British "Carry On" films which have somehow been elevated to cult status. To paraphrase another fun film of that era - Hope and Crosby may have been past their prime, but what they had left over was more than most film comics started out with."

End of the Road to ...

Movie Mania | Southern Calfornia | 01/21/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Road to Hong Kong was the last Hope - Crosby Road film. Dorothy Lamour only makes an appearance in this film. Joan Collins is the love interest in the film - a beautiful spy for the top secret spy group The First Echelon.



Harry and Chester are a couple of con artists. When Chester loses his memory in an accident, they are sent to a Tibetan Lamasery. En route Chester is accidentally slipped a rocket fuel formula. While at the Lamasery, they find out about a rare herb that increases memory capacity. The boys know this will make a great mentalist act for vaudeville and still it. They steal a bottle and return home. As a test, Chester memorizes the formula. This sets the remainder of the film. The First Echelon wants their formula and will do anything to get it.



This being the final Road film, lots of guest stars including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, David Niven and an early performance by Peter Sellers.



This is the most polished of the Road films. Written by Norman Panama and Melvin Frank, who have collaborated on a number of his films including their Oscar nominated Bob Hope film The Facts of Life and Frank's best solo film, A Touch of Class. Just sit back and enjoy.



DVD EXTRAS: None

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