Road to Zanzibar (1941)

Director:

Victor Schertzinger

Writers:

Don Hartman (story) and
Sy Bartlett (story) ...

Release Date:

11 April 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

IT'S THAT GLEESOME THREESOME AGAIN! Giving you your worth in mirth! Toping all the fun in "Road to Singapore!" (original print media ad, includes misspelling of "Topping")

Plot:

Stranded in Africa, Chuck and his pal Fearless have comic versions of jungle adventures, featuring two attractive con-women.

Plot Keywords:

Diamond Mine | Carnival | Fire | Africa | Safari

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Bing Crosby	...	Chuck Reardon
Bob Hope	...	Hubert 'Fearless' Frazier
Dorothy Lamour	...	Donna Latour
Una Merkel	...	Julia Quimby
Eric Blore	...	Charles Kimble
Douglass Dumbrille	...	Slave trader
Iris Adrian	...	French soubrette in cafe
Lionel Royce	...	Monsieur Lebec
Buck Woods	...	Thonga
Leigh Whipper	...	Scarface
Ernest Whitman	...	Whiteface
Noble Johnson	...	Chief
Joan Marsh	...	Dimples, helper in Human Cannonball act
Luis Alberni	...	Native booth proprietor
Robert Middlemass	...	Police inspector

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

USA:Passed | Finland:S | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #6869)

Filming Locations:

Imperial County, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Originally, this film was not supposed to be a sequel to Road to Singapore (1940); in fact, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope were not even supposed to be in it. The film was first offered to Fred MacMurray and George Burns, who both rejected it. While assembling a list of contract Paramount stars to offer it to, someone at the studio remembered that "Road to Singapore" had done relatively well, and Hope and Crosby "seemed to work well together", so it was offered to them. The rest, as they say, is history.

Quotes:

Hubert 'Fearless' Frazier: [as they are about to leave with the villan] We're going with them...
Chuck Reardon: We're going with them...
Hubert 'Fearless' Frazier, Chuck Reardon: We're Going With Them.
[an understanding look]
Hubert 'Fearless' Frazier, Chuck Reardon: [Starting the routine] Patty-Cake, Patty-Cake, Baker's Man. Bake A Cake As Fast As you...
[both are hit on the head by a goon. The two fall]
Hubert 'Fearless' Frazier: He Must've Seen The Picture!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Remington Steele: Cast in Steele (#3.9)" (1984)

Soundtrack:

YOU'RE DANGEROUS

The funniest of the "Road" pictures! A comedy classic!

"The Road to Zanzibar" scores in all departments! The interplay between Hope, Crosby, and Lamour is outstanding. A wonderful addition to this trio comes in the form of Una Merkel, playing Lamour's friend. She and Bob Hope made an inspired dream comedy team. Their scenes together are hilarious. Dorothy Lamour displayed a biting comic edge to her lines not usually displayed in her comedies.

The photography is moody, diffuse, reminiscent of von Sternberg's films. A real treat for comedy and cinema fans!