Bob Hope: The Tribute Collection

Love that Bob! Forget the lame TV specials. Agree or disagree with his politics. The 10 movies included on this eight-disc collection ($19.98 each, except for the two double features, priced at $24.98 each) are a reminder of what a peerless comic actor Hope was in his prime. Born in England, Hope began life as Leslie, but later changed his name to "Bob" because it was more "just folks." His screen persona, polished during his years on the vaudeville stage, was that of a bold and brash crack-meister, whose swagger instantly vanished in the face of danger or a beautiful woman. Two of the essential discs in this collection are the best "Road" films (in which Hope played Bing Crosby's hapless foil): Road to Morocco and Road to Utopia (in which milquetoast Bob, forced to impersonate a feared killer, utters the immortal barroom request, "Give me lemonade…in a dirty glass"). Other must-owns are The Ghostbreakers and former Warner Bros. animator Frank Tashlin's western spoof The Paleface. The collection also includes two double-feature discs--1) College Swing and The Big Broadcast of 1938 (which costars W.C. Fields, and includes Hope's signature song, the wistful "Thanks For the Memories"), and 2) Star Spangled Rhythm paired with one of his best, My Favorite Blonde (which contains a priceless "couldn't be him" cameo by Crosby). Rounding out the collection are the first two "Road" films: Road to Zanzibar and Road to Singapore. Extras include interviews, the WWII-era short "Victory Caravan," sing-alongs, and photo galleries. Highly recommended. (K. Lee Benson)