mark.waltz So this is where it all began...the patty cake's, the song of the sarong, one buddy risking the safety of the other to get out of a predicament or to get the girl. Of course, the alleged Singapore setting isn't at all believable; it looks like some tropical island filled with dozens of topless tanned men, as toned as the sarong clad girls are laced with flowers.It's obvious to me that this wasn't planned as a series, but with Bob Hope and Bing Crosby as the top new screen comedy team of 1940 (along with Abbott and Costello), a series was inevitable, although other than gag guest appearances from Crosby in a few of Hope's films, they never appeared on the screen together in anything but these 6 "Road" films.This has a rather ordinary plot set up with Crosby trying to get out of an engagement and out from underneath the thumb of his domineering ship magnate father (Charles Coburn). It's not easy though to hide from the world when you've got sidekick Hope constantly getting them in all sorts of trouble. They meet up with Dorothy Lamour, saving her from hot tempered Anthony Quinn. The gags are there, but the tongue in cheekiness and self congratulatory inside jokes are not. By the time of the second film, the writers realized the magic they had, and the scripts were changed accordingly. A couple of nice musical numbers ads the romance, with the audience certain from the Starr whom Lamour will end up with.

wes-connors Avoiding arranged marriages, shipping heir Bing Crosby (as Joshua "Josh" Mallon) and carefree pal Bob Hope (as "Ace" Lannigan) run away to Singapore. They swear off work and women, and then find both in pretty native Dorothy Lamour (as Mima). Eventually, the men begin falling in love with Ms. Lamour, and she likes them both. They work out attractions while getting into local trouble. This was the first in an initially unplanned series of "Road to…" pictures starring Mr. Hope and Mr. Crosby, with Lamour adding the necessary sex appeal. Proving himself handy with a bull whip is handsome young Anthony Quinn (as Caesar). The pleasant soundtrack hit is Crosby's "I'm Too Romantic". An obvious screen chemistry multiplied the co-stars' individual appeal.***** Road to Singapore (3/14/40) Victor Schertzinger ~ Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour, Anthony Quinn

lugonian ROAD TO SINGAPORE (Paramount, 1940), directed by Victor Schertzinger, marked the initial pairing of crooner Bing Crosby. and funny man, Bob Hope, in what was to become the first in a series of "Road" adventures revolving around a guy, a pal and a gal. With no sequels originally intended, its popularity truly relies most not on the slight screenplay by Don Hartman and Frank Butler nor the few comedy routines, but the fine chemistry brought out by its leading players, Crosby, Hope and Dorothy Lamour. The story revolves around Josh Mallon (Bing Crosby, in a role suited for a much younger actor), a free-spirited young man whose serious-minded father (Charles Coburn) wants him to carry in the family business of his multi-million dollar establishment, Mallon Steamship Company, as well as to settle down and marry an heiress, Gloria Wycott (Judith Barrett). Josh very much prefers spending time bumming around with his boyhood pal, "Ace" Lannigan (Bob Hope), who enjoys having him around for laughs. Following a social function where Josh and Ace entertain the snobbish guests, soon developing into a fist fight riot. The boys break away from civilization by boarding a ship bound for Singapore where they live as carefree bachelors in a bungalow near the port of Kaigoon. While in a cabaret, Josh and Ace witness the gaucho dance performed by Cesar (Anthony Quinn) and Mima (Dorothy Lamour). Due to Mima's attention towards the young Americans, a fight ensues between them and the jealous Cesar leading to another riot. As the boys leave, they take Mima with them. As Mima takes the position as their housemaid, the boys resent her changing their carefree style with orders and keeping the bungalow neat and tidy. Eventually, they find themselves falling for her and do whatever pranks possible to get her to themselves. More problems arise when Papa Mallon and Gloria track down Josh to take him back with them to the states, much to the dismay of his friends.As Bob Osborne, host of Turner Classic Movies, mentioned in his profile on the the making of the film in its January 28, 2010 presentation, SINGAPORE was initially scripted for George Burns and Gracie Allen, and revised for Fred MacMurray and Jack Oakie before the screenplay finally went to Crosby and Hope. Worked into the script were songs by Johnny Burke and Victor Schertzinger, including: "Captain Custard" (sung and performed by Bing Crosby and Bob Hope); "The Moon and the Willow Tree" (sung by Dorothy Lamour); "Sweet Potato Piper" (sung by Crosby, Lamour and Hope); "Too Romantic" (sung by Crosby and Lamour); "Kaigoon" (by James Monaco and Johnny Burke, sung by natives); and "Too Romantic" (sung by Crosby). "Too Romantic" is the love song theme, slow in tempo, suited for the style of Crosby and Lamour, while the lively "Captain Custard" number demonstrates how grown men can still get by acting like mischievous little boys clowning around, and making eyes and chasing pretty ladies in the process. As much as these guys are full of fun, their on screen party guests think otherwise. Look fast for TV character actress Elvira Allman as a homely woman. Other members in the cast include Pierre Watkin (Morgan Wycott); Gaylord Pendleton (Gordon Wycott); Johnny Arthur (Timothy WIllow); and Benny Inocencio (The Native Boy), As fate would have it, this simple and innocent story proved far more success as anticipated, paving the way for a series of "Road" comedies by re-teaming Crosby, Hope and Lamour in different character portrayals, different locales but similar situations involving two guys and a gal. Unlike their ventures that lead to ZANZIBAR (1941), MOROCCO (1942), UTOPIA (1945), RIO (1947), BALI (1952) and HONG KONG (1962), this initial entry contained nothing to the hilarity of in-jokes, constant ad-libs by its principals, un-billed guest stars, subtitles and/ or talking animals. There are two instances where the script allows for wild comedy, one where the trio enact a medicine show that turns disastrous, with Jerry Colonna (the one with the mustache, loud voice and big rolling eyes) and as its prime victim; and another during the native festival where Bob and Bing dress up as natives in order to get some free food. SINGAPORE has rare distinctions where it provides some background to its two characters: Crosby as a millionaire's son whose happiest being away from responsibility; an Lamour the native girl who teams up with a dancer (Quinn) following the death of her parent. There's not much background pertaining to Hope's character except for being a sidekick who fails in specializing in medicine shows. He shows the sentimental side to his nature in one somber moment between him and Lamour, quite unusual for a Hope comedy. The major ingredient SINGAPORE has that would be used in most subsequent films is Hope and Crosby's "paddy cake" routine, and of course Lamour enacting as their straight woman. During its cable TV era, SINGAPORE was shown on American Movie Classics (1992-2000) before traveling over to Turner Classic Movies where it made its debut August 3, 2004. TCM also has in its library a 1931 Warners drama bearing the same title starring William Powell but that ROAD TO SINGAPORE bears no resemblance to this edition. Over the years MCA Home video distributed it to home video in the 1990s before shifting this and the series to DVD. Regardless of being the lesser item in the series, ROAD TO SINGAPORE, which will never have the distinction of becoming part of American Film Institutes "100 Greatest Comedies" as ROAD TO MOROCCO (1942) did, but is one relatively known as the movie that started it all with Crosby, Hope and Lamour and their journey to adventure into comedy, music and romance. (***)

MartinHafer This is the first "Road Picture" starring Bob Hope and Bing Crosby and it's a bit unlike the others because of the number of songs and the more serious nature of the story. All the Hope-Crosby films had musical numbers, but ROAD TO SINGAPORE had just too many--especially the big production numbers that studios absolutely loved during this era. Try watching the early Abbott and Costello films and you'll see what I mean! This along with less comedy make this an enjoyable film but not among the better films in the series.The film begins with Bing Crosby having an absolutely awful life. He comes from an immensely wealthy family and a hot rich lady is aching to marry him--so naturally he runs from this as fast as humanly possible! I personally thought his character was certifiably insane, but no one else seemed to think this! Anyway, he and his good buddy (Bob Hope) disappear just before Crosby's wedding and they set out for a place where they can sit around doing nothing. This search for nothing leads them to Singapore, though some of the native dress and culture seems very strangely out of place. What also seems a bit out of place is Dorothy Lamour, though she later explains that her parents were not from Singapore, so at least the producers recognized that making her Southeast Asian would not work.While Crosby and Hope are avowed bachelors who like the simple life, naturally they both soon are taken with wonderful Dorothy and her sexy ways. Just before Crosby makes his move and asks Lamour to marry him, up pop Crosby's dad (Charles Coburn) and his hottie fiancée (Judith Barrett). Considering everything, guess which one smooth ol' Bing chooses in the end? Overall, while not a great film, its simple end easy-going style is very endearing and the characters are quite likable--even if Bing is insane!! Try ROAD TO ZANZIBAR or ROAD TO MOROCCO and you'll find a similar film but with a bit wackier sensibilities and more laughs.By the way, compared to later films of the series, Bob Hope's character is a lot tougher here. In later films, he's a confirmed coward.