The Princess and the Pirate (1944)

75% of users liked it
(1,429 ratings)

Bob Hope is in top form in this Technicolor parody of pirate pictures, doing his best vaudeville shtick as an inept performer trying to save princess Virginia Mayo from the evil clutches of governor Walter Slezak and pirate Victor McLaglen. It's all ridiculous fun, of course, but if you're a fan of… More Bob Hope is in top form in this Technicolor parody of pirate pictures, doing his best vaudeville shtick as an inept performer trying to save princess Virginia Mayo from the evil clutches of governor Walter Slezak and pirate Victor McLaglen. It's all ridiculous fun, of course, but if you're a fan of Hope, you never tire of his self-effacing gags and double-entendres. His out-of-place show biz jabs were always clever, and they're all the funnier in this period setting--particularly the Bing Crosby jokes. But Walter Brennan nearly steals the film as a wacky pirate scheming to steal buried treasure, and tattooing the map on Hope's chest. Yet the two best routines are when Hope tries to conceal his chest while taking a bath with Slezak, and when he tries to impersonate McLaglen as "the Hook." --Bill Desowitz

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 34 min.
Directed By: Sidney Lanfield, David Butler (I)
Written By: Everett Freeman
Genres: Kids & Family, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Nov 17, 1944 Wide
On DVD: May 17, 2005

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A typical affable and middling Bob Hope comedy.
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
It's the kind of film that will cause people who aren't familiar with the Hope historical comedies to check out all the rest.

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Featured Audience Ratings

moon r

Wacky fun as The Great Sylvester,The Man With Seven Faces, sort of a early travelling performance artist, gets caught up with bloodthirsty pirates and a beautiful woman on the infamous Spanish Main. "Haven't you got any backbone, the girl asks our intrepid hero. "Yes,… More
Wacky fun as The Great Sylvester,The Man With Seven Faces, sort of a early travelling performance artist, gets caught up with bloodthirsty pirates and a beautiful woman on the infamous Spanish Main. "Haven't you got any backbone, the girl asks our intrepid hero. "Yes, but not like you have", is the quick reply. Innocuous entertainment with the obligatory cameo at the last few frames ... guess who?
AJ V

One of my favourite Hope movies, it's hilarious, and I love the ending. I highly recommend it if you're a fan too.
xGary X

Old Bob Hope films were always amongst my favourites growing up, and this is one of his funniest. He plays Sylvester The Great, man of seven faces ("I travel a lot. With my act, it's safer!") who saves runaway princess Virginia Mayo from the clutches of evil buccaneer… More
Old Bob Hope films were always amongst my favourites growing up, and this is one of his funniest. He plays Sylvester The Great, man of seven faces ("I travel a lot. With my act, it's safer!") who saves runaway princess Virginia Mayo from the clutches of evil buccaneer The Hook. The gags flow thick and fast, complete with Hope's usual self-deprecating one liners, loads of slapstick and sight gags; if you imagine Pirates Of The Caribbean done by the Marx brothers, you're in the right ball park. Walter Brennan is hilarious as a crazy old pirate and Mayo is very easy on the eye in the classic tradition of old style Hollywood glamour. It still makes me laugh out loud pretty much non-stop after all these years and is the kind of classic comedy that appeals to every age.
monty h

Bob Hope at his best. Virginia Mayo drop dead gorgeous. Funny as can be. Slyvester: "I'll chop off his liver! Say, that might be pretty good, chopped liver".

Cast

            Bob Hope as Sylvester Crosby/"Sylvester the Great"

            Virginia Mayo as Princess Margaret/"Margaret Warbrook"

            Walter Brennan as Featherhead

            Walter Slezak as Gov. La Roche

            Victor McLaglen as The Hook

            Marc Lawrence I as Pedro

            Hugo Haas as Cafe Owner

            Maude Eburne as "Boar's Head Inn" Landlady

            Adia Kuznetzoff as Don Jose

            Brandon Hurst as Mr. Pelly

            Tom Kennedy as Alonzo

            Stanley Andrews as Captain of The Mary Ann

            Robert Warwick as The King

            Ernie S. Adams as Citizen

            Betty Alexander as Goldwyn Girl

            Richard Alexander as Holdup Man

            Ted Billings
            
            Al Bridge as Pirate

            Betty Caldwell
            
            Jack Carr as Bartender

            Vic Christy
            
            Ralph Dunn as Murderous Pirate

            James Flavin as Naval Officer

            Rondo Hatton as Gorilla Man

            Weldon Heyburn as Palace Guard

            Al Hill as Pirate

            Colin Kenny as First Mate Mary Ann

            Mike Mazurki as Pirate

            Art Miles
            
            Lillian Molieri
            
            Frank Moran
            
            Kay Morley
            
            Edward Peil Sr. as Palace Guard

            Dick Rich as Pirate

            Bert Roach as Drunken Pirate's Companion

            Constantine Romanoff
            
            Edwin Stanley as Captain of the King's Ship

            Sammy Stein as Black Jack Thug

            Ray Teal as Guard

            Tom Tyler as Lieutenant

            Crane Whitley as Soldier

            Francis Ford as Drunken Pirate

            Alma Carroll
            
            Bobby Hale as Citizen

            Dutch Hendrian as Heckler

            Ruth Valmy as Handmaiden

            Stewart Garner
            
            William Hunter
            
See full cast