1h 33min | Biography, Comedy, Drama | 1 June 1955 | Color, WS
Director: Melville Shavelson
Stars: Bob Hope, Milly Vitale, George Tobias.
Nick Castle ... choreographer
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048604/
Recorded in VistaVision, but this print is not WS.
In the Tap! Appendix for James Cagney, Bob Hope.
Narrated by Charley Foy; sounds just like Eddie, Jr., which is probably just like the father.
The biggest joy in this film is ch5, where JC dances, reprising his role as George M. Cohan from Yankee Doodle Dandy ('42). He's still in great form, doing familiar steps in his unique style. Then BH competes, and they dance together. When they do, JC comes across as the more precise of the pair, but BH might be playing his character. He certainly can dance. Old-school, but good, both tapping and traveling.
Otherwise the film is just ok. I did enjoy the song Nobody, written by Bert Williams; I think I've seen/heard him perform it.
Songs performed (10 chapters, menu, but not song-annotated or numbered):
- ch1. I'm the Greatest Father Of Them All, Sung and Danced by Bob Hope and The Seven Little Foys
- ch2. Nobody, Sung by Bob Hope, assisted by Milly Vitale
- ch4. I'm Tired, sung by BH
- ch5. Yankee Doodle Dandy, Danced by James Cagney
- ch5. The Irish Washerwoman, Danced by Bob Hope
- ch5. Mary's a Grand Old Name, Danced by James Cagney and Bob Hope
- ch6. Smiles, Sung by Lydia Reed and Linda Bennett
- ch7. Row, Row, Row, Sung by Lydia Reed and Linda Bennett, Danced by Bob Hope and The Seven Little Foys
- ch7. Chinatown, My Chinatown, Performed by Bob Hope and The Seven Little Foys
- ch8. I'm the Greatest Father Of Them All, Sung and Danced by Bob Hope and The Seven Little Foys
- ch9. Smiles, Sung again by Lydia Reed and Linda Bennett
Paramount, dir. Shavelson; 7-
