The Paleface is a great vehicle for comedian Bob Hope and former World War II pinup Jane Russell. As it would happen, it turns out she was a gifted comedienne as well.
The film was co-written by Frank Tashlin (he would come out and say he disliked Norman McLeod’s direction of this film- and would go on to direct the sequel himself- Son of Paleface in 1952). McLeod had experience directing comedies though- including a few with the Marx Brothers in the 1930s (Monkey Business and Horse Feathers), W.C. Fields (It’s a Gift) and Cary Grant (Topper).
Bob Hope is a known commodity in 1948 after his “Road to…” movies with Bing Crosby. These films were big successes. This is actually only Russell’s third film. Her famous/infamous debut was 1943’s The Outlaw with Howard Hughes and the ensuing scandal. She is spoofing her debut with her role here as Calamity Jane.
Hope is such a pro- his weakling/coward schtick here is in the lineage of Charlie Chaplin down to Woody Allen. The two make for a great pair- he screams and jumps up into her arms. She is a beauty- but not a victim. Marilyn Monroe (Russell’s future co-star in Gentleman Prefer Blondes) was a strong comedienne as well but could not play the heroine side of this character Russell plays.
Writing like “I’m going back east where men may not be men but they’re not corpses”. “Let me in- you’re too young to be a widow.” Hope’s false bravado is hilarious- “Anyone could have done it- anyone brave, courageous and who was a dead shot.” Hope wears goofy cowboy garb as he saunters into the Dirty Shame Saloon.
This was a major production in 1948- still there were not many color films in 1948- and these are two World War II icons (Hope performing for the troops, and Russell on posters in many soldier’s bunks).
“Buttons and Bows” song performed by Hope won the Oscar.
Don Knotts vehicle The Shakiest Gun in the West in 1968 is a remake of this film.
The film breezes by- it is engaging, funny, with action.
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