The Road to Hong Kong [Blu-ray]

Director: Norman Panama Norman Panama

Overview

In this film, a couple of has-been vaudevillians get mixed up in a spy ring. The Leader is a stuffy villain who wishes to control the world by landing a spaceship on the moon. When the Road Duo falls in with a beautiful spy, a series of comical mishaps ensues.

Product Details

Release Date:	02/17/2015
UPC:	0887090091800
Original Release:	1962
Rating:	NR
Source:	Olive
Sound:	[DTS 5.1-Channel Surround Sound]
Language:	English
Time:	1:31:00

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Bing Crosby	Harry Turner
Bob Hope	Chester Babcock
Joan Collins	Diane
Robert Morley	Leader
Felix Aylmer	Grand Lama
Dorothy Lamour	Herself
Walter Gotell	Dr. Zorbb
Roger Delgado	Jhinnah
Peter Madden	Lama
Alan Gifford	American Official
Robert Ayres	American Official
Robin Hughes	American Official
Julian Sherrier	Doctor
Bill Nagy	Agent
Guy Standeven	Photographer
John McCarthy	Messenger
Simon Levy	Servant
Mei Ling	Chinese Girl
Jacqueline Jones	Lady at Airport
Katya Douglas	Receptionist
Harry Baird	Nubian
Irvin Allen	Nubian
Victor Brooks	Leader's Man
Roy Patrick	Leader's Man
John Dearth	Leader's Man
David Randall	Leader's Man
Michael Wynne	Leader's Man
Peter Sellers	Guest Star
Frank Sinatra	Guest Star
Dean Martin	Guest Star
David Niven	Guest Star
Zsa Zsa Gabor	Guest Star
Dave King	Guest Star
Jerry Colonna	Guest Star
Yvonne Shima	Girl
Camilla Brockman	Girl
Lena Margot	Girl
Sheree Winton	Girl
Edwina Carroll	Girl
Diane Valentine	Girl
April Ashley	Girl
Jacqueline Leigh	Girl
Sein Short	Girl
Lier Hwang	Girl
Michele Mok	Girl
Zoe Zephyr	Girl

Technical Credits

Norman Panama	Director
Melvin Frank	Producer
Ted Samuels	Special Effects
Wally Veevers	Special Effects

Editorial Reviews

Although it's unfortunate that the "Road" series didn't go out on a higher note than that provided by The Road to Hong Kong, it would be wrong to just dismiss Hong Kong as a failure, as many have. It's true that it isn't on the same level as the best of the films in the series, but it's also true that it's just about as good as some of the lesser but more fondly regarded entries. Hong Kong's biggest sins are that it came 10 years too late and that it's a little tired. And, most importantly, that it thought that Joan Collins was a suitable substitute for Dorothy Lamour. Collins tries hard, but she simply doesn't have the appropriate chemistry with her co-stars -- and the 25-or-more years age difference between Collins and the men (no fault of hers) doesn't help matters. Melvin Frank and Norman Panama's screenplay is in the proper tradition, although there are too many misses among the gags, and the tone is a bit too self-referential (even for a "Road" movie.) Bob Hope and Bing Crosby have lost none of their vaunted chemistry, and they play off each other with an ease and camaraderie that is still inspiring. Even when the screenplay is letting them down (as it often does), they make the most of it. And Hong Kong does feature an inspired cameo by Peter Sellars that is nothing short of sensational.