Road to Singapore (1940)

100% of critics liked it
(9 reviews)
68% of users liked it
(3,354 ratings)

The story goes that such stars as Fred MacMurray, Jack Oakie and Burns & Allen had turned down The Road to Singapore before the leading roles went to Bing Crosby and Bob Hope. More conventionally structured than future "Road" efforts, the film casts Crosby as Josh Mallon, the irresponsible son of… More The story goes that such stars as Fred MacMurray, Jack Oakie and Burns & Allen had turned down The Road to Singapore before the leading roles went to Bing Crosby and Bob Hope. More conventionally structured than future "Road" efforts, the film casts Crosby as Josh Mallon, the irresponsible son of shipping magnate Joshua Mallon IV (Charles Coburn). Though the elder Mallon wants his son to enter the family business and marry longtime fiancee Gloria Wycott (Judith Barrett), Josh would rather pal around with his carefree sailor buddy Ace Lannigan (Bob Hope). On the eve of his wedding, Josh escapes with Ace to Singapore, where the two of them cook up a get-rich-quick scheme involving a highly unreliable spot remover. The boys' friendship is strained when they both fall in love with cabaret dancer Mima (Dorothy Lamour), who is on the lam from her jealous partner Caesar (Anthony Quinn). Hiding out from the authorities, the three protagonists wind up in the midst of a native ceremony, where Ace and Mima rescue Josh from a hasty marriage to a local temptress. When Gloria shows up to drag Josh back to the altar, Mima nobly gives him up, pretending to be in love with Ace. Eventually, however, big-hearted Ace realizes that Mima belongs with Josh, and thus concocts another scheme to lure his pal back to the Far East. Though many of the earmarks of the "Road" series are evident in Road to Singapore (the "patty-cake" bit, the presence of such guest stars as Hope's radio stooge Jerry Colonna, etc.), the film lacks the spontaneous quality of the later Hope-Crosby-Lamour starrers. Even so, it's an awful lot of fun, especially when Bob and Bing team up on the novelty number "Captain Custard" and Dorothy croons her requisite "moon and stars" romantic ballads. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 26 min.
Directed By: Victor Schertzinger
Genres: Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1940 Wide
On DVD: Mar 5, 2002

Critic Reviews

James Plath, Reel.com
The Road picture that started it all isn't the funniest, but Hope and Crosby are still fun to watch.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
The first 'Road' picture has its undeniable charms, but isn't as wild as the later entries.
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
Hope and Crosby still a bit rough around the edges.

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

The first "Road" movie is enjoyable and fun for the most part, but there are some bumps on this road trip. The sequels offer more of the same, but some are funnier than others, and most are funnier than this one.
xGary X

Sea faring buddies Hope and Crosby dodge marriage vows and set up house together on a remote island paradise, until beautiful gypsy girl Dorothy Lamour appears and upsets their domestic bliss. This is one of those old style Hollywood films that seems hilariously naive by today's… More
Sea faring buddies Hope and Crosby dodge marriage vows and set up house together on a remote island paradise, until beautiful gypsy girl Dorothy Lamour appears and upsets their domestic bliss. This is one of those old style Hollywood films that seems hilariously naive by today's standards. A pair of men who don't want to get married to glamorous women so they decide to live (and sleep!) together...okaaaay then! This was the first of their collaborations and so the formula hasn't quite found its feet; Hope is more of a sidekick to main man Crosby (even appearing below Dorothy Lamour on the credits) and so the screwball banter of their later outings is sorely missing. In fact there are far more songs than jokes so it can be seen more as a romantic musical than a straight comedy. There's not much in the way of plot either, but if you're in the mood for old school, undemanding fluff decorated with some 40s Hollywood glamour (involving some lovely costumes by Edith Head) and a few chuckles, this adequately fits the bill.

Cast

            Bing Crosby as Josh Mallon

            Dorothy Lamour as Mima

            Bob Hope as Ace Lannigan

            Charles Coburn as Joshua Mallon IV

            Judith Barrett as Gloria Wycott

            Anthony Quinn as Caesar

            Jerry Colonna as Achilles Bombanassa

            Johnny Arthur as Timothy Willow

            Pierre Watkin as Morgan Wycott

            Miles Mander as Sir Malcolm Drake

            Pedro Regas as Zato

            Kitty Kelly as Sailor's wife

            Roger Gray as Father

            Benny Inocencio as Native Boy

            Gloria Franklin as Ninky Poo

            Carmen D'Antonio as Native Girl

            Paula DeCardo as Native Dancing Girl

            Elvia Allman as Homely Girl

            Bobby Barber as Dumb-Looking Little Man

            Monte Blue as High Priest

            Harry C. Bradley as Secretary

            Don Brodie as Fred

            Arthur Q. Bryan as Bartender

            Edward Gargan as Bill

            Greta Granstedt as Babe

            Grace Hayle as Chaperone

            Richard Keene as Cameraman

            Helen Lynd as Society girl

            Fred Malatesta as Native Policeman

            Belle Mitchell as Shopkeeper

            Robert E. O'Connor as Immigration Officer

            Marguerita Padula as Proprietress

            Gaylord "Steve" Pendleton as Gordon Wycott

            Cyril Ring as Ship's officer

            Robert St. Angelo as Native Policeman

            Richard Tucker as Ship's Officer

            Claire James as Girl at Party

            Jack Pepper as Columnist
See full cast