Bob Hope is forced into doubling for an elite assassin and ends up falling in love with Heddy Lamar in My Favorite Spy. New to Blu-ray from Kino Lorber.
The Film
My Favorite Spy is kind of sterling example of what made Bob Hope a truly great comedic superstar. The lampooning of the espionage genre made so famous by Curtiz, Lang, and of course, Hitchcock is something that Hope has done before (see My Favorite Blonde) but here it’s not the mistaken identity version but the must take the identity of someone else for the good of the country. The humor and charm come out of Hope’s rapscallion, and frothiness towards his intended target Heddy Lamar.
Peanuts White (Hope) is a vaudeville performer that just has the misfortune to look exactly like elite spy and assassin Eric Augustine (also Hope). The US Government and President Harry S. Truman convince White to take on Augustine’s identity to get a secret batch of microfilm (is there any other kind). White must charm, intimidate, and wrestle the enemies of the state in Tangier … only White is as competent a spy as he is as a performer (that is to say not at all. Soon he comes under the scrutiny of not only the lovely but dangerous Lily Dalbray (Lamar) but also the mastermind Brubaker (Francis L. Sullivan) and the real Augustine.
The film directed by Norman Z. McLeod is the very definition of a high-profile studio-produced blockbuster entertainment. It’s gorgeously mounted in every respect. Though it is studio-bound and Californias can easily tell Malibu (of the era) for Tangiers, the work here is as polished as a Hope starrer was. Everything from Victor Milner’s luminous photography to Edith Head’s (yes, Edith Head) stunning costuming there’s a polish to every aspect of the production that marvels.
The main attraction though is Hope and Lamar. Hope is great here but it’s Lamar that steals the show. Hope was always second fiddle to his gorgeous and talented leading ladies, even if he and the writers never knew. Lamar happens to be possibly the very best of his leading ladies playing the extremely capable and confident spy. One would go as far as to say that Lamar was the template for the best of the females’ leading ladies of spy films.
My Favorite Spy is one of the best of Hope’s filmography.
The Transfer
Kino Lorber has been provided with a beautiful transfer. The Black and White image is clear with wonderful subtle contrast levels and black detail – which thankfully doesn’t crush the blacks in any way. One will be shocked at how great it looks. There is nary a scratch or speck of dirt present through the entire runtime of the film. The only way that the film could look even more strikingly is if Kino was to release a 4K disc.
The Extras
They include the following;
NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian/Writer Julie Kirgo and Writer/Filmmaker Peter Hankoff
Trailers
The all-new Audio Commentary by Film Historian/Writer Julie Kirgo and Writer/Filmmaker Peter Hankoff opens with their bondafides and dives into a discussion of Paramount and their production of comedies. Some of the details include the trilogy of Bob Hope films – My Favorite Blonde, My Favorite Brunette, and My Favorite Spy; the work and personal history of director Norman Z. McLeod – including multiple Marx Brothers and Hope films; how Hope ascended into one of the biggest stars of the era – including his radio show, TV Specials, and USO work; a discussion of the various screenwriters that worked on the film and their work outside of the film – Edmund L. Hartmann, Jack Sher, Hal Kanter, Lou Breslow, and Edmund Beloin; a discussion of Edith Head’s costume design; a discussion of the interesting and tragic personal life and career of Heddy Lamar; a discussion of the personal life and career of Bob Hope – and the lasting impression he made on specific generations including during from the Vietnam War forward; the work of Cinematographer Victor Milner; a larger discussion of the various actors and their personal/professional lives that appear in the film; and much more. Kirgo and Hankoff provide a fascinating commentary track that provides depths of Hollywood Lore and Anecdotes that those familiar and unfamiliar with Hope and Lamar and their careers and personal lives.
Rounding out the special features are trailers for My Favorite Blonde (2:17); Where There’s Life (1:57); The Ghost Breakers (2:15); Never Say Die (0:55); The Female Animal (2:10)
The Final Thought
My Favorite Spy is a light-on-its-feet comedy. Kino Lorber has given us an edition with excellent sound, pictures, and extras. Recommended!!!
Kino Lorber’s Blu-Ray edition of My Favorite Spy is out now
Bob Hope is forced into doubling for an elite assassin and ends up falling in love with Heddy Lamar in My Favorite Spy. New to Blu-ray from Kino Lorber.
The Film
My Favorite Spy is kind of sterling example of what made Bob Hope a truly great comedic superstar. The lampooning of the espionage genre made so famous by Curtiz, Lang, and of course, Hitchcock is something that Hope has done before (see My Favorite Blonde) but here it’s not the mistaken identity version but the must take the identity of someone else for the good of the country. The humor and charm come out of Hope’s rapscallion, and frothiness towards his intended target Heddy Lamar.
Peanuts White (Hope) is a vaudeville performer that just has the misfortune to look exactly like elite spy and assassin Eric Augustine (also Hope). The US Government and President Harry S. Truman convince White to take on Augustine’s identity to get a secret batch of microfilm (is there any other kind). White must charm, intimidate, and wrestle the enemies of the state in Tangier … only White is as competent a spy as he is as a performer (that is to say not at all. Soon he comes under the scrutiny of not only the lovely but dangerous Lily Dalbray (Lamar) but also the mastermind Brubaker (Francis L. Sullivan) and the real Augustine.
The film directed by Norman Z. McLeod is the very definition of a high-profile studio-produced blockbuster entertainment. It’s gorgeously mounted in every respect. Though it is studio-bound and Californias can easily tell Malibu (of the era) for Tangiers, the work here is as polished as a Hope starrer was. Everything from Victor Milner’s luminous photography to Edith Head’s (yes, Edith Head) stunning costuming there’s a polish to every aspect of the production that marvels.
The main attraction though is Hope and Lamar. Hope is great here but it’s Lamar that steals the show. Hope was always second fiddle to his gorgeous and talented leading ladies, even if he and the writers never knew. Lamar happens to be possibly the very best of his leading ladies playing the extremely capable and confident spy. One would go as far as to say that Lamar was the template for the best of the females’ leading ladies of spy films.
My Favorite Spy is one of the best of Hope’s filmography.
The Transfer
Kino Lorber has been provided with a beautiful transfer. The Black and White image is clear with wonderful subtle contrast levels and black detail – which thankfully doesn’t crush the blacks in any way. One will be shocked at how great it looks. There is nary a scratch or speck of dirt present through the entire runtime of the film. The only way that the film could look even more strikingly is if Kino was to release a 4K disc.
The Extras
They include the following;
The all-new Audio Commentary by Film Historian/Writer Julie Kirgo and Writer/Filmmaker Peter Hankoff opens with their bondafides and dives into a discussion of Paramount and their production of comedies. Some of the details include the trilogy of Bob Hope films – My Favorite Blonde, My Favorite Brunette, and My Favorite Spy; the work and personal history of director Norman Z. McLeod – including multiple Marx Brothers and Hope films; how Hope ascended into one of the biggest stars of the era – including his radio show, TV Specials, and USO work; a discussion of the various screenwriters that worked on the film and their work outside of the film – Edmund L. Hartmann, Jack Sher, Hal Kanter, Lou Breslow, and Edmund Beloin; a discussion of Edith Head’s costume design; a discussion of the interesting and tragic personal life and career of Heddy Lamar; a discussion of the personal life and career of Bob Hope – and the lasting impression he made on specific generations including during from the Vietnam War forward; the work of Cinematographer Victor Milner; a larger discussion of the various actors and their personal/professional lives that appear in the film; and much more. Kirgo and Hankoff provide a fascinating commentary track that provides depths of Hollywood Lore and Anecdotes that those familiar and unfamiliar with Hope and Lamar and their careers and personal lives.
Rounding out the special features are trailers for My Favorite Blonde (2:17); Where There’s Life (1:57); The Ghost Breakers (2:15); Never Say Die (0:55); The Female Animal (2:10)
The Final Thought
My Favorite Spy is a light-on-its-feet comedy. Kino Lorber has given us an edition with excellent sound, pictures, and extras. Recommended!!!
Kino Lorber’s Blu-Ray edition of My Favorite Spy is out now
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