Where There's Life [Blu-ray]

Director: Sidney Lanfield Sidney Lanfield

Overview

Bearing traces of such earlier hits as My Favorite Blonde and The Ghost Breakers, Where There's Life is one of the best of Bob Hope's postwar vehicles. The inimitable Mr. Hope is cast as New York radio personality Michael Valentine, who's poised to marry his long-time fiancee Hazel O'Brien (Vera Marshe). But destiny takes a hand when, in the far-off kingdom of Barovia, King Hubertus II (William Edmunds) is felled by an assassin's bullet. To avoid a revolution, the King's cabinet hurriedly searches for Hubertus' sole heir -- who, according to all reliable sources, is one Michael Valentine. Gorgeous General Katrina Grimovich (Signe Hasso) is dispatched to New York to bring Valentine back to Barovia, while a group of insurrectionists, headed by Krivoc (George Coulouris) and Stertorius (George Zucco), conspire to kill Valentine before he can ever leave American soil. When Valentine is apprised of his royal lineage, he assumes that he's the victim of a practical joke perpetrated by his announcer Joe Snyder (George Zucco). Once he's convinced that it's no joke, Valentine and Katrina scurry about the streets of Manhattan, dodging potential assassins at every turn -- not to mention keeping out of the way of Hazel's muscle-bound policeman brother Victor (William Bendix), who assumes that Valentine is merely trying to weasel out of his wedding. Full of bright dialogue and hilarious gag situations, Where There's Life is vintage Bob Hope.

Product Details

Release Date:	02/01/2022
UPC:	0738329257712
Original Release:	1947
Rating:	NR
Source:	Kl Studio Classics
Language:	English
Time:	1:15:00
Sales rank:	31,426

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Bob Hope	Michael Valentine
Signe Hasso	Gen. Kattina Grimovitch
William Bendix	Victor O'Brien
George Coulouris	Krivoc
Vera Marshe	Hazel O'Brien
George Zucco	Paul Stertorius
Dennis Hoey	Minister of War Grubitch
John Alexander	Herbert Jones
Victor Varconi	Finance Minister Zavich
Joseph Vitale	Albert Miller
Harry von Zell	Joe Snyder
Emil Rameau	Dr. Josefsberg
William Edmunds	King Hubertus II
Leo Mostovoy	Minister of Interior Karakovic
Norma Varden	Mrs. Herbert Jones
Roy Atwell	Salesman
Harland Tucker	Mr. Alvin
Oscar O'Shea	Uncle Phillip
Crane Whitley	Man with Cane
Mary Field	Hotel Maid
Phyllis Kennedy	Hotel Maid
Fred Zendar	Copilot
Rene Dussaq	Officer
Charles Legneur	Officer
Mike Macy	Peasant
George Bruggeman	Aide
George Magrill	Aide
Carl Saxe	Aide
Tom Costello	Aide
John Mallon	Mordian
Charles Cooley	Mordian
Ralph Gomez	Mordian
Dario Piazza	Mordian
Otto Reichow	Mordian
Gene Roth	Mordian
Floyd Pruitt	O'Brien
Tom Coleman	O'Brien
Jack Clifford	O'Brien
William Haade	O'Brien
John Jennings	O'Brien
Pat Flaherty	O'Brien
Buddy Sullivan	O'Brien
Erno Verebes	Peter Gornics
Anthony Caruso	John Fulda
Dorothy Barrett	Model in Window
Edgar Dearing	Desk Sergeant
Ralph Peters	Cop
Jimmie Dundee	Cop
George Lloyd	Cop
Hans von Morhart	Karl
Edwin Chandler	New York Policeman
Eric Alden	Airport Attendant
Len Hendry	Airport Attendant
Guy Kingsford	Mordian Pilot
Lorna Jordan	Salesgirl
Letty Light	Salesgirl
Lucille Barkley	Salesgirl
Brandon Hurst	Floor Walker

Technical Credits

Gordon Jennings	Special Effects
Paul Jones	Producer
Sidney Lanfield	Director

Editorial Reviews

As with so many Bob Hope films, a viewer's reaction to Where There's Life will likely depend upon his/her fondness for the star. Certainly there's little new here in terms of the script. Once again, Hope is placed into a situation rife with misunderstandings and supposed danger, creating a fish-out-of-water scenario that plays up the comedian's likable coward persona. Some of the gags are good on their own, some depend upon Hope's timing and delivery, and some fall flat despite the star's best efforts -- but most are good enough for a chuckle at least, and some provoke guffaws from all but the most ardent Hope-naysayers. Director Sidney Lanfield directs with the knowledge that his star is the show, and plays up the comedian's assets. He keeps the plot jumping, makes sure the jokes have a chance to land and never lets the pace lag. Hope is supported by the ever-dependable William Bendix, playing the kind of not-so-bright character at which he excelled. Bendix's natural stubbornness is also valuable in keeping certain aspects of the plot on track. Signe Hasso is appropriately easy on the eyes, if no great shakes as an actress.