9/10
Hope at his best
1 January 2015
Always loved this movie since I saw it on television when I was 14. It doesn't have a very convincing, or even good, script but it's still extremely entertaining, not only because of Bob Hope. There are some scenes without him that are quite on the spot, like that one where the Nazi, Fascist and Japanese sabotage heads meet in order to get a stenographic notebook transcribed:

the Nazi guy (played by Otto Preminger who directed "Laura") calls for his expert: "Send in Schulz!" Schulz enters immediately and is greeted by the words "What delayed you?"

As Schulz can't read the notebook, the Fascist guy calls for his expert: "What is needed is a fine Italian hand! Send in Mr. Testori, please. We do things differently!" Testori enters and is hearty greeted but gets a blow on the head and a dressing down when he too can't read the notebook.

Then the Japanese guy calls for his expert, Hawara, a humble servant of the Emperor who knows all stenographic systems. He's not greeted at all ("Transuration, purease.") but he can explain that the notebook is written in a system of its own (and is subsequently reproached for this information).

There is some suspense in it too, and a memorable killing of an airhead sing-and-dance girl on stage by the throwing of a knife inserted in some kind of cotton ball. (The Fascist guys previously warned her: "Remember, an empty head is better than no head at all!").
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