Nothing But the Truth (1941) User Reviews (19)

Creaky plot idea, that still works oddly enough

[theowinthrop · 7/10 · 8 August 2010]

If you saw LIAR LIAR with Jim Carey a couple of years ago, you saw a variant on this movie's central premise: We are so jaded in society that we are willing to accept lying as second nature, and will lie to smooth over social relations and business relations. As long as the lie is not uncovered it is accepted. John Ford said it on a more serious basis in THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE: If you have a choice between printing the colorful legend or the bare bones truth, print the legend.

Bob Hope works at a stock brokerage house owned by Edward Arnold, alongside Gleen Anders (Arnold's somewhat straying son-in-law) and Leif Ericson. Paulette Goddard, a niece of Arnold, gets him to promise to pay up to $20,000.00 to make up the balance of $40,000.00 needed for a charity that is building an old people's home. Goddard has promised this to the head of the charity, Grant Mitchell. She has $10,000.00 of the collected money of the charity, but Arnold will fully match the $20,000.00 if Goddard invests her $10,000.00 in a "sure thing" that will double the investment quickly.

Arnold has no intention of this altruism. He know Goddard gave Hope the money to invest, and with Strange and Ericson they bet $10,000.00 together against this $10,000.00 that Goddard gave Hope if for 24 hours the latter will only speak the truth.

The plot shows the pitfalls such a bet entails. Hope constantly is put on the spot by Arnold and company, asking embarrassing questions in private or at a dinner party he has to attend. And he keeps on having to make insulting revelations to people. They hope that Hope will give in and lie, but he is determined to see it through. Of course some of this backfires: Arnold is pushing a dubious mining venture, and when a would-be investor asks Hope's opinion the latter refuses to support the idea of investing in the company. Anders has been playing around with an actress pushing a play, and has to cover up by his own lying when Hope may be asked the truth by Anders' wife about Anders and the actress. And Goddard has to hope that Hope does not reveal anything to Mitchell about the investment of the $10,000.00 before 4 P.M the next day.

The idiocy of such plots always is that the hero or heroine caught in them does not insist on his/her right to tell everyone about the bet. If that was allowed, everyone would be circumspect about what they ask that person. Instead the hero/heroine has to act stupidly for the entire story until the deadline is reached.

Yet it is an amusing plot all the same (as Carey's film demonstrated). We do depend, despite our best wishes, on lying to get along all over the globe. It can't be avoided. So for all the ill-logic involved it remains a plausible enough commentary about human beings.

Hope and Goddard made an attractive pair of leads, in this, the third and last film they did together. Their co-star from THE GHOST CATCHERS and THE CAT AND THE CANARY, Willie Best reappears too, still doing some racist style humor (catch the suntan lotion joke), but also showing a degree of common sense Hope fails to latch onto. Arnold is good, but has been in better comedies (DEAR RUTH comes to mind) Anders is interesting because he is best recalled as Everett Sloans' weird and doomed partner Grisby in Orson Welles' classic THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI, a straight and dark role. Anders made few movies in his career (usually he was on Broadway) so it is nice to see him trying comedy. Leif Ericson (who had been in THE BIG BROADCAST OF 1938 with Hope) was usually playing stick-in-the-mud characters in this period. He would not do good characters parts until the 1960s. Clarence Kolb is a newspaper owner who finds the editorials he writes put Hope to sleep. Leon Belasco is a Hungarian psychiatrist who is now practicing in Miami (where the film is set), who finds Hope and the others interesting potential clients.

The film seems based on a 1917 comedy of the same title that had a good run for the period. In looking over the cast of that play only William Collier had any Hollywood career (mostly in the silent period, and later as a writer or director). But the film is amusing and will be a welcome addition to Hope fans (especially as it is rarely shown).

To tell the truth

[jotix100 · 7/10 · 15 June 2008]

Steve Bennett, a new recruit on a brokerage firm in Miami, gets an interesting proposal from Gwen Saunders. She has ten thousand dollars that belong to a charity organization and wants Steve to double the money because her uncle, who is the head of the firm will double the amount if it is done properly. At the same time, his new boss and his inner group make Steve a counter proposal if he will not lie once during the weekend.

This funny Paramount comedy of 1941 was a vehicle for Bob Hope, who at the time was at one of the best moments of his career. It helps that he was paired, once again with the gorgeous Paulette Goddard, who had been his screen partner before to excellent results. Both Mr. Hope and Ms. Goddard do fine work as they show a natural talent for this type of comedy. Others in the cast included Edward Arnold, Leif Ericson, Glenn Anders and Grant Mitchell.

"Nothing But the Truth" was directed by Elliott Nugent who paced the comedy at the right speed making one of Mr. Hope's best film appearances.

He agrees to tell the truth, answering all questions, for 24 hours....

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 29 April 2017]

While the plot isn't believable, "Nothing But the Truth" is a pleasant little comedy and is worth seeing.

When the story begins, Steve (Bob Hope) is going to a new job working for a stock broker. His coworkers are a bit taken back because unlike his colleagues, he actually has ethics and tries to be honest with his clients' money! They are amazed...but also confident he isn't nearly as honest as he claims to be. So, they make him a bet...tell the truth ALL THE TIME for the next 24 hours. To make sure, the three guys betting against him insist he stays with them all the time so they can verify whether or not he upholds his end of the bargain. However, he's practically broke and bets the money Gwen (Paulette Goddard) gave him to invest! Along for the ride are Edward Arnold, Leif Erickson and Willie Best...who fortunately is NOT a caricature of a black man in this movie (though he often was in previous films).

Overall, while the whole plot idea is silly and tough to believe, the film is lively and fun. You never get side-splitting laughs from any of Hope's films (in my opinion) but it is good and he is as well. Well worth seeing...I almost gave this one an 8.

Hope and Goddard

[blanche-2 · 3 August 2011]

Bob Hope swears he will tell "Nothing but the Truth" in this 1941 comedy also starring Paulette Goddard, Edward Arnold, Helen Vinson, Leif Erickson, and Willie Best. This was Hope's and Goddard's third film together. They made a good team.

Hope plays a broker, Steve Bennett, who agrees to invest Goddard's money for a charity and double it. He's not sure how to do it until he gets into a discussion with his fellow brokers about lying versus telling the truth. Steve feels the same things can be accomplished by the truth rather than lying. He puts up his $10,000 to bet that he can tell the truth for 24 hours.

It's not going to be easy, and seeing Hope forced to tell the truth in social situations is pretty funny. When he is asked if a matronly woman looks 30, he answers in Spanish but eventually is forced to translate -- to paraphrase, no way can she look 30. When his fellow brokers find a sexy black nightgown in his apartment, Steve admits it's his from a college show.

Most of the film takes place on a yacht, where, thanks to truth-telling, there is a lot of misunderstanding, hiding, and sneaking around.

Hope is cute and funny, and Goddard is gorgeous and vivacious. Entertaining film, based on a play from the World War I era.

The Whole Truth From Hope

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 8 August 2010]

The third and final teaming of Bob Hope and Paulette Goddard occurred with Nothing But The Truth, an ancient Broadway chestnut by James Montgomery that ran for 332 performances in 1916-17. There were two previous films made of this comedy, one in Sweden and the other in France.

As this was done during World War I, I'm betting that a great deal had to be modernized to get it up to 1941 speed. It must have been quite the stage farce in its day. It bares a great deal of similarity to No No Nanette and that shouldn't surprise because the guy who produced it on Broadway was the same Harry Frazee who sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees from the Red Sox to get the dough.

Just as Nanette was on a 24 hour bet to not say yes, Bob Hope is on a bet with Edward Arnold, Glenn Anders, and Leif Erickson to tell Nothing But The Truth from 4 pm. to 4 pm. It's a little sticky though because Hope didn't bet with his money, he bet with Paulette Goddard's and Goddard is Arnold's niece. To make sure Hope hews to the truth, the three men stick to him like flypaper, even as they're all invited to spend time on Clarence Kolb's yacht.

The bulk of the film takes place on the yacht and I imagine it was the same on stage. Glenn Anders's wife Rose Hobart is there and so is his mistress Helen Vinson which gives him a scary moment or two. All in all it's rather impossible to describe the proceedings, but the lines and situations come out of nowhere.

Funniest performance in the film for me is visiting psychiatrist Leon Belasco who catches Hope in a few compromising positions and is ready and willing to offer his services to what will be a fascinating patient.

But the whole cast does well and Paramount did well by the box office with Nothing But The Truth. It holds up very well today and could even use a remake. I can see Steve Martin doing a modern version.

A Good Comedy But Not a Bob Hope Comedy

[boblipton · 6/10 · 9 August 2010]

The comedic trio of Bob Hope, Paulette Goddard and Willie Best reprise their partnership from THE GHOST BREAKERS in this screen adaptation of the perennial play. Everyone is fine in their roles and Paramount has mounted an impressive cast in support. The story is an amusing one and the writers have made some interesting choices in updating it to 1941 -- although they use the nominally Floridan setting of the movie to minimal effect. Most of the work of covering the show's stage origins is managed by fast cuts and frequent point of view changes. More than good enough.

However, while this is an amusing comedy and well performed at good speed, by a capable crew, it's not what I look for in a Bob Hope movie: I want Bob Hope, that fast-talking, cowardly, lecherous fellow given to asides. It was always a wonderful comic persona and he played it beautifully in many movies. Not in this movie, though, so if that's what you're looking for, you won't find it here. Even though you will find a few laughs along the way.

Truth to tell, it's OK

[Spondonman · 7/10 · 18 September 2005]

Nothing But The Truth with Bob Hope became Liar Liar with Jim Carrey in the '90's, I know which I prefer. Carrey's take was a slicker more professional affair but too syrupy for my taste; this hasn't got the syrup but unfortunately it also hasn't got enough gags in it either.

The gang was all there: Hope, Goddard and Best, surrounded by Edward Arnold and some of the best supporting actors/actresses around in a film directed by Elliot Nugent with high Paramount production values in attendance. The story itself takes over, with some great possibilities in it (as Carrey exploited) but it's so wordy that ultimately the whole thing backfires. Too many plot or behavioural explanations stopped any flow and make the 90 odd minutes seem a mite too long a running time. Be warned if you're a sensitive soul - the racial stereotypes are out in force from the first to the last minute.

Having said all that, I've seen it a couple of times now and enjoyed it thoroughly. The only problem is I don't feel I'll be able to watch it again too soon, rule no. 1 being Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder!

A very funny - and one of Bob Hope's best movies - no lie!

[SimonJack · 9/10 · 11 September 2020]

"Nothing But the Truth" is very funny and one of Bob Hope's best films. Hollywood even matched the title perfectly with the story. Or rather, it didn't change it from the play and the 1914 novel it's based on - by Frederic Isham (1865-1922). The story is considerably updated in time. From newspaper reviews I've read, this film follows the book much closer than the stage play or a 1929 film based on it.

Hope's Steve Bennett is hired by an investment firm in Miami Beach. He meets the boss, Edward Arnold (as T.T. Ralston) and his son-in-law partner, Glenn Anders (as Dick Donnelly). Steve has heard T.T. talk about a great deal in a quicksilver mine in New Mexico, but he thinks it's no good. In a discussion with one of the firm's clients, Leif Erickson (as Tommy Van Dusen), Steve says that he believes in telling the truth -- always.

The three men challenge Steve to bet any amount of money, saying that he can't go 24 hours without telling a lie - including the least little fib. He doesn't have any money of his own, but he's holding $10,000 in cash that he had just been handed for a quick investment. He got it from Paulette Goddard (as Gwen Saunders), who is T.T.'s niece. She's a little scatter-brained but big-hearted woman who is always raising money for local charities.

Steve had met Gwen just before this, when T.T. and Dick had ducked to keep from seeing her. She told Steve that she was shy on her pledge to the charity drive to raise $40,000. But, if she could just raise $10,000 more, uncle T.T. would match the $20,000 and she'd have the full amount. She gave the cash to Steve for a quick turn-around investment while she was being pursued by Grant Mitchell (as Mr. Bishop) who heads the charity drive for The Seaside Home.

Steve is so honest and confident in his honesty, that he puts the $10,000 he is holding up for the bet. But no one else is to know about it for the next 24 hours. The three men plan to keep a close eye on Steve and try to trip him up with questions. The humor ramps up when they all adjourn to T.T.'s yacht for the weekend. They will be joining a small company of guests he had already invited. The yacht, which T.T. calls his "houseboat," is docked in the harbor.

Among the guests is Clarence Kolb (as Mr. Van Dusen), who publishes the Miami Journal newspaper, and his wife, played by Catherine Doucet; and a famous Austrian psychiatrist, Dr. Zarak (played by Leon Belasco). A hilarious sub-plot develops around Dr. Zarak as he observes the strange behavior of the men. As the men try every trick to get Steve to tell even a white lie, the situations on the boat get hilarious at times. The more the men corner Steve to tell the truth, the more lies they tell.

There are a number of other mini-plots woven into the story that feed much humor into it. Donnelly has been seeing an actress on the side, and Helen Vinson plays Linda Graham very well. Tommy is the son of Mr. Van Dusen, and he has been after Gwen to marry him; but she's not sure. And Willie Best as Steve's valet, Samuel, contributes much to the comedy and story.

One other humorous thing in this film concerns the Los Lomas Quicksilver mine. T.T. Ralston apparently got sucked into acquiring its stock. The type of mine is used here for comical purposes. Quicksilver is a common name for mercury, but it's also an idiom for something slippery, and hard to hold onto. T.T. shows how slippery he is, when he says, "All right, Los Lomas isn't any good at all. But there's quicksilver somewhere in New Mexico and somebody's liable to find it. I've told many a lie that I've had come true."

This is a wonderful comedy that everyone should enjoy, from older children on up. The ending has the best whopper of the entire film - and guess who tells it. Here are some favorite lines.

T.T. Ralston, on the phone, "Hello, J.P., this is T.T."

T.T. Ralston, on the phone, "Oh, by the way, Joe, uh, I've got to show my gratitude in some way. Ever hear of Los Lomas Quicksilver?... Hello... Joe... Joe..."

Gwen Saunders, on the phone with the office, "Well, then give Mr. Bennett this message. It's terribly, terribly important. Tell him that something's come up and that the... the thing that I gave him to do something with, he's not to do that with them at all, and that, uh, he's to hold the thing, and I have to have 'em back right away. Now, that's clear, isn't it?"

Mrs. Harriet Donnelly, "Will you establish your office here permanently, doctor?" Dr. Zarak, "Dear lady, there are as many diseased minds here as in Bucharest. And much more money."

Mrs. Ralston, "Well, I'll say one thing for Mr. Bennet - he's different." Gwen Saunders, "So was Jack the Ripper."

Dick Donnelly, "Oh, brandy... and candy... isn't that dandy?"

Gwen Saunders, "Go on! Go on! Don't leave me out. I'm here. What would you like to do to me?" Steve Bennett, " I'd like to kiss you till your ears fly off."

Samuel, "Look what came up, Miss Saunders." Gwen Saunders, "Oh, go soak your head."

Samuel:, "Hey, boss, I got a great big..." Steve Bennett, "Oh, why don't you fall overboard?" Samuel, "What a short Christmas."

Gwen Saunders, "Tea time. Tea Everybody. It's almost four o'clock. Time for tea. Tea for T.T.?" Utter chaos ensues. T.T. Ralston, "We don't want any tea." Dick Donnelly, "Take that stuff away from him." Gwen Saunders, " I'll serve you myself, Mr. Bishop." She pours the tea on his pants leg.

Nothing but trouble

[AAdaSC · 6/10 · 2 July 2011]

Bob Hope (Bennett) is given $10,000 by Paulette Goddard (Gwen) and asked to double it in a few days so that she can pay a charity that she has promised the money to. Hope sees his chance to achieve this by accepting a bet from his fellow business partners that he can tell the truth for 24 hours without uttering a single lie. The three doubters - Edward Arnold (T.T.), Leif Erickson (Tommy) and Glenn Anders (Dick) - stick by his side for this period which mostly involves a night on a yacht. Can Bob hold out.....?

This film has some funny moments but it should have had more. The film is entertaining in the scenes where Hope is put on the spot and has to tell the truth, eg, his response to a telephone enquiry about an investment in one of his company's stocks - "It stinks", his confession to robbing a bank with a policeman nearby, and his performance at a dinner party on the yacht where he manages to insult most of the table. However, there aren't enough of these moments and the film slips into farce for some night-time running about between bedrooms, hiding people in rooms and also some slapstick, which ends the film on a slightly uninventive note as we see Hope and Goddard stalling for time by dragging out lots of introductions (not funny) and shoving food in people's faces (tiresome).

Still, it's an entertaining film in which Bob Hope actually isn't annoying like he usually is with his unfunny wisecracks. Someone has given him a script - thank God. Willie Best (Samuel) does the black racial stereotype, although they clearly missed a trick by not calling him "Sambo". The story is slightly daft as all Hope has to do is tell everyone about the bet and prevent a lot of bother. There is also a moment that hadn't been thought through at the end - how about checking your watches, dur-brains? Overall, it doesn't matter as the film does carry the audience along. It just needed more comic dialogue as a result of the plot premise. And it does have a very good moral, ie, don't give to charity.

One of Bob Hope's funniest movies

[ddave1952-609-939427 · 9/10 · 7 September 2017]

This is one of the funniest Bob Hope movies I've ever seen. In many of his movies he plays a wisecracking, unsympathetic character. In this movie you pull for him, he is forced to keep a bet and he has to tell the truth for 24 hours or lose $10,000 that he's holding for Ms. Goddard. Liar Liar was based on this movie, but I find this movie even funnier. There are many funny scenes, too numerous to mention. All the cast was great in this movie. The end of the movie was especially funny as Ms. Goddard finds out what's going on and helps Bob in his dilemma. I can take or leave many of Bob Hope movies, but this one is one of his best.

Revising my thoughts after watching again

[Pegasus-10 · 7/10 · 7 September 2023]

I originally rated this 9 stars, but have changed it a bit. Goddard is one of my favorite golden age stars, so seeing her play a nitwit was a bit of a downer. Early in the film there was a cringe-worthy moment when the brokerage firm owner dismisses the adult black man shining shoes (itself a lamentable image) as "boy." Willie Best is also referred as that later on. Times change, but still...

The Ghost Breakers is one of my favorite movies (Cat and the Canary is up there, also) but this third re-teaming of Hope and Goddard doesn't age as well. Her costume designer must have been playing an inside joke on her or someone in the production since some of her outfits are ridiculous.

Except for the obvious racial lapses I'd say this is innocuous fun.

Laughed and laughed and laughed!

[CreeCart · 10/10 · 26 January 2020]

Me and my Brother laughed all the way through this movie! One of my favorite Bob Hope films!

Liar Liar lite

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 18 August 2023]

In Miami, stockbroker Steve Bennett (Bob Hope) gets hired by unscrupulous T. T. Ralston (Edward Arnold). Ralston's flighty niece Gwen Saunders (Paulette Goddard) needs to double her $10k in 3 days. She recruits Steve's help while keeping it a secret from the rest of the firm. T. T. Tries to dump a bad mine, but honest Steve refuses to sell it to his clients. The guys bet Steve $10k that he can only tell the truth for 24 hours.

This is Liar Liar without the magic and with less heart. The premise is a little convoluted, but it still works. Bob Hope does a good forced-truthteller, but he's not as funny as Jim Carrey. It's good, but it ain't great. I'm not completely taken with Steve and that ultimately keeps it from greatness.

To Tell the Truth

[wes-connors · 4/10 · 14 August 2011]

Bashful businessman Bob Hope (as Steve Bennett) and his slouching servant Willie Best (as Sam) arrive in Miami Beach, Florida, where Mr. Hope begins working as a stockbroker for pudgy Edward Arnold (as T.T. Ralston). Hope quickly encounters the boss' niece, pretty Paulette Goddard (as Gwen), and enjoys being with her in his cozy office. "You don't have to hit me with no ton of coal," Mr. Best says as he leaves Hope alone with Ms. Goddard. "I guess it's too late for that," replies Hope. Ouch...

Story involves Hope betting Goddard's $10,000 he can tell "Nothing But the Truth" for twenty-four hours. The plot is a comedy staple, and has been done better elsewhere. Lucille Ball's version "Lucy Tells the Truth" (1953) is highly recommended. Prepare for some race and cross-dressing humor; after his co-workers steal his clothes, Hope dons a woman's negligee. This was a dip after his last two box office hits, but not enough to dislodge Hope, who reliably rang up cash registers at the movies for over a decade.

**** Nothing But the Truth (10/10/41) Elliott Nugent ~ Bob Hope, Paulette Goddard, Edward Arnold, Willie Best

"A lie is the same as the truth if the request is alright."

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 5 September 2023]

For his third teaming with Paulette Goddard following the success of "The Cat and the Canary" and "The Ghost Breakers", it seems like the filmmakers might have restrained Bob Hope from his characteristic one-liners and bon mots. I kept waiting for them, but with a few exceptions, this was not the vehicle for his kind of wit and cowardly charm. In fact, stockbroker Steve Bennett (Hope) is so honest, his associates and boss (Edward Arnold) at the Ralston Company dare him into a bet where he must maintain truthful answers to any question posed to him. Ordinarily, this wouldn't have been a big deal, but they all gang up on him with leading questions that would tend to embarrass if he answered honestly. Complicating matters is the fact that he's invested ten thousand dollars of charity money given him by Ralston's pretty niece, Gwen Saunders (Goddard). Treading a fine line in order to tell the truth, Bennett squirms in and out of awkward situations in the hopes of winning over Miss Saunders romantically.

It seems to me however, that Bennett did lie at least once before the twenty four hour curfew came up. It was when he stated to Gwen that he didn't put her ten thousand dollars into anything foolish. You could probably take sides on that remark either way, but if betting ten grand on a risky proposition wasn't foolish, I don't know what would have been, except for investing in Las Lomas Quicksilver. Funny how that plot line went nowhere by the end of the story.

Eventually, Hope's character comes up on the right side of things when the twenty-four-hour deadline comes up, even when the trio of colluders (Arnold, Leif Erickson and Glenn Anders) attempt to rig the clock by fifteen minutes as a diversion. Bennett's butler Samuel (Willie Best) saves the day with his meticulous timekeeping, and Hope closes out the picture with a romantic kiss and a hug from Goddard. Fortunately for Bob, Bing Crosby was nowhere in sight!

Bob Hope and Paulette Goddard Third Comedy Together

[guil12 · 9/10 · 13 November 1999]

This is Hope's and Goddard's third and final comedy together. Similar to the musical NO, NO NANETTE it is the story of Hope who makes a bet he can say the truth for twenty-four hours. If he is successful, he wins a large sum of money that he has lost, given to him for safe keeping by Paulette.

In the attempt to get him to say the truth there are all sorts of situations and people who become involved with his escapades.

TRUTH is a wonderful screwball comedy, directed by Elliott Nugent, and the team of Hope and Goddard, fresh from CAT AND THE CANARY and THE GHOST BREAKERS, all big hits, once more brought the two stars together. They worked well together and were both by now reaching the top of their careers.

The story, however, didn't do much. Much too much the same thing about tricking Hope to say the truth. Some funny scenes where Hope, in drag, tries to sneak out of Goddard's state room on board the yacht they were guests. Some funny scenes between Hope and Willie Best, that wonderful black actor, fresh from their work together in GHOST BREAKERS, as Hope's sidekick.

Also in the cast are Edward Arnold and Leif Erickson.

This 1941 Paramount comedy is available on VHS.

Let me tell you a bitter "truth"- We say they don't make cult comedies anymore, but when they did, we did not really care about it.

[SAMTHEBESTEST · 8/10 · 17 December 2023]

Nothing But The Truth (1941) : Brief Review -

Let me tell you a bitter "truth"- We say they don't make cult comedies anymore, but when they did, we did not really care about it. Jim Carrey's "Liar Liar" is a very popular comedy, and for Hindi cinema audiences, there is Govinda's "Kyu Ki Main Jhooth Nahin Bolta." If you really liked these movies, then believe me, you are going to like "Nothing But The Truth" more-almost double. The 1940s decade gave us many great comedies. Some of them didn't work at the box office but gained a cult fan following, while others did well at the box office along with a fine reception. I can't believe that movie fans and critics ignored this sweet little gem. Was there too much competition, or was it because Bob Hope was not as popular as Cary Grant, Gary Cooper, Clark Gable, James Cagney, Edward G. Robinson, and others who have some great and well-known comedies to their names? I had a blast watching this movie, and I am saying this after watching all those cult comedies of the silent era and talkie movies from the 30s. Now, do you believe me? Just watch it, and I assure you, you won't regret it. Rather, you'd join me in the campaign to make this one more popular. What a fantastic comedy. What a great piece of writing in the chaotic entertainer's club! In simple words, it's the power of "truth" and how harmful it can be. Gladly, there are no serious consequences or moments that can make it serious, even for a moment. It stays steady on its funny ride. Bob Hope has my heart and cheeks. Thank you for the entertainment, mam. What a splendid show. The rest of the cast has done fine too. The biggest strength of the film is its screenplay and storyline-all thanks to the original play. Elliott Nugent has given a cult comedy that hardly anyone knows, and I am glad to be one of those rare people who have watched it. This is how a "classic comedy" looks in my book. Shame on movie fans, critics, and IMDb users for keeping it this low.

RATING - 8/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Nothing but.... stupid

[sb-47-608737 · 4/10 · 24 May 2018]

The plot is more or less covered in the various reviews, so there is nothing to add to that. And I won't say the plot is creaky, but it is, the way it is developed. One of the conditions of the bet was that he wasn't supposed to change his routine, which he did, thoroughly, and since he didn't challenge the change forced onto him, he in fact had lost the bet within few minutes. Then, no one was supposed to hint the bet, but there is, though not specifically shown, Donnelly must have, to Linda. Of course the "Answer to All question and not refuse to answer" is something no person, even of IQ 30, would agree to. They didn't ask, but there could have been awkward questions, especially in public. A lot of scenes and embarrassing situations were forced on, with easy escape routes, even without lying, for example in the end when Bishop asks what you did with the money, the answer should have been "I have put it in an envelope and given to TT, who had put it in a safe" - unadulterated truth. Many of the similar things makes it a bit forced comedy, not really what one could call sitcom or screwball.

Nothing but a dud

[LaDonnaKeskes · 3/10 · 6 June 2020]

Using every other actor as a foil to Hope's nervous wisecracking is the way to make a movie that trudges along without a single laugh. Paulette Goddard is wasted, Edward Arnold embarrasses himself, and there's nothing for Hope to do but twist and turn and desperately try to bring some levity to this typical tale of double-dealing and femme fatales. Watch it on YouTube if you just want some forties background video. The costumes are pretty nice, and one sympathizes with Willie Best, who's limited to pop-eyed looks and resigned sighs.