Director: ELLIOTT NUGENT. Original screenplay: Edmund Beloin, Jack Rose. Film editor: Ellsworth Hoagland. Photography: Lionel Lindon. Music composed and directed by Robert Emmett Dolan. Song, "Beside You" (Lamour) by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans. Art directors: Hans Dreier and Earl Hedrick. Set decorators: Sam Comer and John MacNeill. Costumes designed by Edith Head. Make-up: Wally Westmore. Camera operator: Loyal Griggs. Special photographic effects: Gordon Jennings. Process photography: Farciot Edouart. Assistant director: Mel Epstein. Sound recording: Gene Garvin and Harold Lewis. Western Electric Sound Recording. Producer: Daniel Dare. Executive producer: Bob Hope.Copyright 20 March 1947 by Hope Enterprises, Inc. Filmed at Paramount Studios, and released through Paramount Pictures: 4 April 1947. New York opening at the Paramount: 19 March 1947. U.K. release: 24 March 1947. Australian release: 26 June 1947. 7,907 feet. 87 minutes. SYNOPSIS: A photographer assumes the role of private detective and becomes involved in fraud and murder.COMMENT: The private eye spoof certainly forms a fascinating sub- genre of comedy, and "My Favorite Brunette" is one of the best of the breed, thanks mainly to the presence of Bob Hope (the perfect protagonist for this sort of parody) and a superior cast of support players, led by vacationing tough-guy Alan Ladd, is-she-on-the-level Dorothy Lamour, fascinatingly nasty Peter Lorre, not-quite-as-dumb- as-he-looks (but almost) Lon Chaney, real-gone loony Charles Arnt, plus Charles deep-dyed Dingle. A team like this could make even below-par material wondrously amusing, but here the jokes and situations are not only laugh-a- minute hilarious but directed with such style and panache and dressed with such atmospheric production values that it is impossible for viewers either to take their eyes from the screen or allow their ears to miss a single line of all the crackling talk. AVAILABLE on DVD through Alpha. Quality rating: eight out of ten.

As this story opens Ronnie Jackson is in San Quentin prison awaiting his execution; unusually he has been allowed to give an interview to the media. During this interview he tells how he came to be on death row. We learn that Jackson earned a living photographing babies but wanted to become a private eye like Sam McCloud who is in the neighbouring office. Then, while McCloud is away a woman, Baroness Carlotta Montay, comes to the office and mistakes Jackson for the detective; he sees this as an opportunity to show that he can do the job. She is nervous and tells him that her wheelchair bound husband has been kidnapped. Unwilling to say more there she gives Jackson a coded map and her address. When he gets to the address she tells him the missing man is actually her uncle. Jackson is soon in over his head as those responsible for Baron Montay's disappearance try to recover the map and ultimately set Jackson up for the murder that put him in jail.As a fan of film noir I rather enjoyed this gentle send up of the genre. It plays with the expected tropes in a fun manner; we have a slightly ambiguous femme fatale; some dastardly villains and some nice twists. Bob Hope is rather good in the role of Jackson, occasionally he hams it up a little too much but for the most part he is solid and is frequently genuinely funny. Dorothy Lamour is good as Carlotta and Peter Lorre is a lot of fun as Kismet, a rather slimy member of the criminal gang. The central story is good and apart from the added gags most of it could have come from a more traditional film noir. Overall I'd certainly recommend this; it is still surprisingly fresh after seventy years.

This film in one word? Hilarious. The good natured Bob Hope humor is in rare form. Dorothy Lamour, as always, is perfectly cast in this kind of comedic role. I've always thought that she and Hope make a great team on the screen. Although not joined with Bing Crosby in a starring role, the two still manage to pull out a swell comedy along the lines of the "Road" pictures. The story is extremely zany and contains everything from foreign conspirators to a mixed up murder charges. Alan Ladd and Crosby join in the fun for short cameo appearances; with a wisecracking Hope making appropriate notice. Needless to say, if you like a fast talking, joke cracking comedy, this Hope classic is a definite must see.

With a plot of spies and intrigue to hang the one liners on this is nothing but fun all the way.As a solo effort (Without Bing Crosby - who does make a killer appearance eventually) this is one of Bob Hope's best. Every line is delivered just right and he and Dorothy Lamour are great.Every situation is milked for its comedy potential and sure, it's corny - but boy, it don't half work!This is just a wonderful comedy with an edge of excitement and a great send-up of some of the clichés of Film Noir.One to relax and laugh along with - Hope and Lamour at their best!