Son of Paleface (1952)
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88% of critics liked it
(8 reviews) -
73% of users liked it
(1,781 ratings)
A sequel to Bob Hope's 1948 box-office success The Paleface, 1952's Son of Paleface is a superior product in every way, thanks largely to the spirited, creative direction of Frank Tashlin. Hope is cast as Junior Potter, a Harvard-educated dude who heads West to claim the inheritance left him by his… More A sequel to Bob Hope's 1948 box-office success The Paleface, 1952's Son of Paleface is a superior product in every way, thanks largely to the spirited, creative direction of Frank Tashlin. Hope is cast as Junior Potter, a Harvard-educated dude who heads West to claim the inheritance left him by his gunslinger father. Much to his chagrin, Junior discovers that his dad has left him nothing but debts. To stave off Potter Sr.'s angry creditors, Junior pretends that his father has salted away a fortune somewhere in the hills. This arouses the attention of curvaceous saloon owner Mike (Jane Russell), who doubles as a mysterious masked bandit known as The Torch. Meanwhile, Roy Rogers (playing a federal agent named Roy Rogers) keeps tabs on Junior, hoping that he'll lead him to The Torch and her gang. True to form, ex-cartoonist Tashlin fills the screen with a wealth of inventive sight gags and inside jokes: Cecil B. DeMille shows up as a photographer in one scene, while in another, Hope, about to embark on the film's wild climactic chase sequence, shoos away a couple of vultures wearing bibs, warning them that "You'll make the whole thing look impossible." Our favorite scenes: Hope's Wile E. Coyote-like reaction to a particularly potent drink, and his bedroom scene with Roy Rogers' wonder horse Trigger. And don't forget the film's slightly risque punch line "Let's see them top that on television," (you have to be there). Songs in Son of Paleface include "You Are My Valley of Sunshine," "Four-Legged Friend," "Wing Ding Tonight," "What A Dirty Shame," and a reprise of The Paleface's Oscar-winning "Buttons and Bows," performed by Hope, Russell and Rogers. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Rating, Runtime
- Unrated, 1 hr. 35 min.
- Directed By
- Frank Tashlin
- Genres
- Classics, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1952 Wide
- On DVD
- Nov 21, 2000
Critic Reviews
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Paul Brenner, Filmcritic.com
smashes it out of the ball park
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
One of the rare sequels that is clearly better than the original.
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Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
A solid Western spoof, but not as funny as the original.
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Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Wild, cartoonish comedy. Possibly Hope's masterpiece.
Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Featured Audience Ratings
Cast
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Bob Hopeas Junior Potter -
Jane Russellas Mike -
Roy Rogersas Roy Barton
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Bill Williamsas Kirk -
Lloyd Corriganas Doc Lovejoy -
Paul E. Burnsas Ebeneezer Hawkins
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