ROAD TO UTOPIA

Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour made seven "Road" films in total and all were great entertainment and worth seeing (except perhaps their last one "Road To Hong Kong" (1962) which is generally agreed was something of a disappointment and not up to the standard of the others). However, "Road to Utopia" was a delight and one of the best. The film is very fast moving with gag following gag, talking animals, Bob Hope's remarks to the camera, and even has comedian Robert Benchley interrupting proceedings to give a running commentary on the film as it progresses! Dorothy Lamour provides the glamour and adds a song or two. Duke Johnson (Bing Crosby) and Chester Hooton (Bob Hope) are struggling entertainers down on their luck who travel to Alaska. Killers Sperry and McGurk steal a vital map showing the location of a gold mine. Our two heroes manage to obtain the map and decide to impersonate Sperry and McGurk which leads them into more trouble than they could have imagined. Along the way they meet saloon singer Sal Van Hoyden (Dorothy Lamour) and as usual both men compete for her charms. With the real Sperry and McGurk hot on their trail plus other assorted villains after them Hope and Crosby get into many tight corners but they still find time for some great songs including "Put It There Pal" which is a typical Hope-Crosby number. As a teenager I would wait eagerly with anticipation for each new Bob Hope picture to arrive at our local cinema. They didn't always come up to expectations but if it was a "Road" picture then I was pretty sure it would be O.K. Bob Hope and Bing Crosby were two of the biggest stars of Hollywood in the 30s and 40s and although the "Road" films never won any Oscars they certainly brought an enormous amount of pleasure to lots of people and can still be enjoyed today.
Favourite lines:
Bob Hope (to Bing Crosby): "I didn't think there was one more way to get the cops after us but you found it".
Hope (to Crosby): "Next time I'll bring Sinatra". (When Bing loses a talent contest on board ship).
Hope (to Crosby): "It may be a mountain to you but it's bread and butter to me".
Hope (to Douglass Dumbrille): "I'll take a lemonade .... in a dirty glass!".
Hope (to audience): "We adopted him!".
For a more detailed look at the "Road" series of films you might be interested in a splendid book by Randall G. Mielke entitled "The Road to Box Office: the Seven Film Comedies of Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour, 1940-1962". I enjoyed it very much as it gives full coverage of all the movies and biographical details on the leading players. Recommended.