Monday, October 12, 2009

The "Road" Movies A to Z

We interrupt the 31 Days of Halloween for an alphabetical tribute to the Bing Crosby-Bob Hope Road movies. Starting at the top:

A - Alaska (the setting for Road to Utopia); The African Queen clip used in Road to Bali when the boys "see" Bogey.
B - Robert Benchley, who narrates Utopia; "But Beautiful" the big hit song from Road to Rio.
C - Cannibals who want to eat Bob in Road to Zanzibar; Crosby, of course.
D - Deep sea diving, the boys' occupation in Rio; Duke, Bing's name in Utopia.
E - "The End" credit that Bob tries to prevent from ending Bali before he gets the girl.
F - Fearless Frazier, Bob's name in Zanzibar.
G - Gorilla that likes to blow out matches in Zanzibar.
H - Hong Kong and Hope are the obvious choices, but there's also the hypnosis used on Dorothy in Rio.
I - "It's Anybody's Spring", song performed by Bing in a shipboard talent show. He loses to an organ grinder and a monkey, prompting Hope to remark about bringing Sinatra on the next Road trip.
J - Josh, Bing's name in Road to Singapore.
K - Prince Ken Arok, the bad guy in Bali.
L - Lamour, of course. But also Aunt Lucy, played by Bob in a flashback in Road to Morocco.
M - "Moonlight Becomes You" the hit ballad from Morocco; the moon where Bob, Bing, and Joan Collins land at the end of Road to Hong Kong.
N - David Niven, who has a cameo in Hong Kong.
O - Orville, Bob's first name in Morocco, though he goes by his nickname "Turkey."
P - The "patty-cake" bit originated in Singapore that the boys use when an escape is needed; the Paramount mountain that makes a surprise appearance in Utopia...which also features Dorothy singing her hit song "Personality" (later, sadly, used by Wesson Oil).
Q - Anthony Quinn, who played villains in both Singapore and Morocco.
R - Rio!
S - Singapore!
T - Talking animals: camels in Morocco, fish and bears in Utopia. Bing's hit "To See You is to Love You" from Bali, which Hitchcock used in Rear Window.
U - Utopia!
V - Volcano in Bali; Jimmy Van Heusen, who co-wrote all the songs.
W - Whiskers worn by the boys in Utopia; the Woody Woodpecker cartoon "Alley to Bali" that spoofs Road to Bali.
X - The XL squid from Reap the Wild Wind that appears in Bali.
Y - "You're Dangerous" sung by Dorothy in Zanzibar.
Z - Zanzibar...a fitting way to end this list!

9 comments:

  1. Goods Job Rick. I have most of the road films on DVD.

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  2. Would you believe that, as a newlywed, my husband wouldn't let me go to sleep until I could list the seven "Road" movies? This entry made me smile and laugh at loud. What fun, Rick!

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  3. I haven't seen all of the ROAD movies, but this thorough and entertaining list is sure making me want to check them out! Thanks much, Rick.

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  4. Toto,I assume your husband asked for them in the correct order too. LOL.

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  5. I love the road movies. Bing and Bob...

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  6. Rick, i have seen a couple of "on the road " movies.. i thought they were awesome.. fun post.

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  7. Rick you could have Peter Sellers for S too. His "Bit" in Road to Hong Kong is classic. " Ok man lets play some jazz"."

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  8. I adore the Road movies. Can't get enough of them. Clever blog, Rick.

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  9. I'm a huge fan of the Road movies, and this post is both informed and hugely entertaining! I might have added in the "C" section "Captain Custard", the hilarious song they sing in "Road to Singapore". (Side note: Bob Hope is particularly handsome and downright sexy in this Road entry!)

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