ROAD TO BALI (1952)
Article 2016 by Dave Sindelar
Viewing Date: 9-21-2006
Posting Date: 2-18-2007
Directed by Hal Walker
Featuring Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour

Two entertainers get involved with natives who are after a box of jewels.

Yes, it’s another Hope/Crosby road movie, and if you’ve seen one of them, you know the basic routine. In this one, the fantastic aspects are a little more prominent; in particular, there is a giant squid that threatens Bob Hope when he’s deep sea diving. There’s also a magic flute that causes women to appear out of baskets (including Jane Russell at one point), a couple of men-in-gorilla-suits (one of which, playing a female gorilla, takes a bit of a liking to both Hope and Crosby) and a native tribe of headhunters who worship a volcano. Other cameos include Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Humphrey Bogart (who appears in a clip from THE AFRICAN QUEEN) and Bing’s brother Bob Crosby, who gets a shot in the movie. Like the other Road movies, this is amusing fun.