Road to Morocco

The third, and along with Road to Utopia, probably the best in a series which began in 1940 with Road to Singapore, continued with Road to Zanzibar (1941), Road to Utopia (1945), Road to Rio (1947), Road to Bali (1952), The Road to Hong Kong (1962). Like Webster's dictionary, Bob and Bing are Morocco bound and gagging as they vie, as ever, for Lamour's hand. The Hope persona is here at its most complete - the stud who baulks at the last fence, the sharp talker who always seems to be talking to himself, the complacent wit who depends on our recognition of references, situations, generalised feelings. At base, it's an unsympathetic character - asexual, craven, treacherous - but Hope's skill in timing, and his ability to work cold what is an extended cabaret act, carries him through. Frank Butler and Don Hartman, who also wrote the two earlier Road movies, know their man completely. Crosby is a pleasant foil, and croons 'Moonlight Becomes You' as his party piece.