If our recollections are correct, there was an awful lot of build-up and expectation of this film. It was advertised and plugged quite a bit as being "THE" New Bob Hope starring vehicle; attributing something special to it. Mr. Hope even made a seemingly serious remark about hoping that this ALIAS JESSE JAMES (Paramount, 1959) was Oscar material.
It wasn't really that special, but it was very good and probably a cut above most of the other movies of that period. It seems that there was a big change in screen comedy in those days. Dean & Jerry had parted company in 1956 after a decade together. Abbott & Costello had been inactive, what with Bud Abbott first retiring; then Lou Costello setting out on his own, only to meet an early death in March of 1959.
Even though Bing and Bob usually made gag cameos in each others' films, there hadn't been any joint effort from them, no "Road" pictures since ROAD TO BALI (1952). In the interim, Mr. Hope's screen projects were all pretty much in keeping with the laugh standards previously established. Bob even ventured out of the usual with a couple of dramatic parts. In THE SEVEN LITTLE FOYS (Paramount, 1955) he portrayed vaudevillian Eddy Foy, and turned in fine performance in the process. Two years later, Bob took the role of New York City's "colorful" Prohibition Era, bigger than life character, Mayor Jimmy Walker (Paramount, 1957). Of course there were other film projects, his Television Show and don't forget he always spent his Christmas Holidays away from home; entertaining our Men and Women in the Armed Forces who were stationed overseas.
So, back we go to today's 'Mystery Challenger', ALIAS JESSE JAMES.
OUR STORY
..In the proverbial nutshell, a tenderfoot Insurance Salesman, Milford Farnsworth (Mr. Hope) sells a $100,000.00 insurance policy on the Outlaw Jesse James to a man unknown to be Jesse, himself (Wendell Corey). Jesse then plans to collect on the policy by having another person killed and identified as Jesse. (Of course, you'd never guess just who that guy could be!) That's it; a very thin premise with which to make a movie. Yes, we agree; but that's really all that is needed. If put in to proper, skilled hands of some veteran comedy gag men-writers and a capable Director of comedy, it can be expanded. This certainly was the case here.
It is the jokes, the sight gags and the "In" humor of the ensuing situations' making up the scenes that propel the story forward that makes it all happen. We have the basic premise so often used of the "Dude" or the "Tenderfoot", if you will, who winds up facing down all the henchmen before confronting the "Big Shot" boss. It has been the central theme of oh so many films.
Our favourite gag involved Bob's running to a young, bespectacled boy playing a piano in the saloon. When Bob asked him his name, he replied, "Harry Truman!" The film promised to have a big surprise in the finale, giving it a little more punch, as well as a carload of laughs. What it turned out to be was Cameos by a whole bunch of Western Stars from the Movies and Television. Remember, this was the 1950's and the Western Series was the 'A' number 1 staple of the Networks' Primetime Schedule.
As a result of this, we have quick surprise appearances by James Arness (Marshall Matt Dillon on GUNSMOKE), Ward Bond (Major Adams on WAGON TRAIN), Gail Davis (TV's ANNIE OAKLEY), James Garner (the brother, Brett on MAVERICK), Hugh O'Brian (WYATT Earp), Fess Parker (DAVEY CROCKETT), Roy Rogers (Self) and Jay Silver heals (Tonto from THE LONE RANGER).
It was a truly peculiar occurrence that the one Guest Star who we kids didn't recognize was doubtless the best known on the Big Screen; as it was Gary Cooper! He even had a line of dialogue to say. It was "Yup!" Whether or not this was Oscar material for Mr. Bob Hope is strictly up to ones' own judgment and conjecture. It was certainly much better a vehicle for him than some of the other following projects, such as: CALL ME BWANA (1963), A GLOBAL AFFAIR (1964) and I'LL TAKE SWEEDEN (1965). As for teaming up with Bing, it appeared that he and Mr. Crosby had gone to the well once too often with THE ROAD TO HONG KONG (United Artists, 1962).
