Sorrowful Jones/The Paleface (DVD, 2002)

This DVD in the Bob Hope Tribute Collection includes two classic Hope pictures, Sorrowful Jones (1949) and The Paleface (1948), both of which are very funny and enjoyable.

Sorrowful Jones is based on a Damon Runyon story (as was Hope's 1951 movie The Lemon Drop Kid) about a Broadway bookie who is stuck with a young girl as a marker for her father's bet. When Dad is knocked off by a gangster, it's up to Hope and nightclub singer Lucille Ball to care for the child. The gangster adds to Hope's problems by titling his best horse in the little girl's name and planning to fix the horse's final race.

This movie is full of heart and comedy. It's got the distinctive, memorable characters and dialogue for which Runyon was known, and Hope and Ball give excellent performances. They make a very good pair, because Lucy has the ability to stand up strongly to Bob's antics. She's a great foil to him. Hope is in top form and deftly handles both the jokes and the more serious scenes. My favorite moment is Bob smuggling the horse into a hospital and losing the animal on the elevator.

The Paleface (1948) is a comedic western with Hope as cowardly dentist "Painless" Peter Potter and Jane Russell as Calamity Jane. Jane is charged with the mission to investigate the smuggling of explosives to the Indians. To maintain her cover, she espouses Potter and joins a wagon train taking them to the town where she can meet her contact. "Painless" is oblivious to her true identity, objective, and abilities. When Indians attack, he thinks he is shooting them all dead, but actually his shots go amiss and Jane is taking them down!

This is an entertaining picture which gives Hope plenty of opportunities to showcase his talent. I like that it's not as silly as its sequel, Son of Paleface, though many people prefer the latter movie. The Paleface introduced the song "Buttons and Bows," which Bob sings well while playing the accordion and distractedly steering his wagon straight into Indian country. Jane Russell is not one of my favorites, but she is good at portraying the tough Calamity Jane and bossing around "Painless."

I recommend this DVD to fans of Bob Hope and to everyone who likes classic comedies.