My Favorite Spy

Audience Reviews

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Matthew D Hedy Lamarr is to die for with glamour and humor! Director Norman Z. McLeod's romantic espionage comedy My Favorite Spy (1951) is very cute. McLeod goes full film noir on his stylish direction and playful use of spies in love for quick laughs. I like that McLeod basically lets Bob Hope go wild and do what he wants to make each scene funnier than the last. Writers Jack Sher and Edmund L. Hartmann came up with dozens of gags and romantic gestures. They pull off a complex spy narrative full of espionage and subterfuge. My Favorite Spy gets funnier every scene with Bob Hope's ridiculously charming performance alongside the dreamy Hedy Lamarr! American comedian and actor Bob Hope is hilarious as comedian turned American spy Peanuts White pretending to be the evil and dashing spy Eric Augustine. His quick witty delivery and absurd physical comedy make for a highly entertaining hero. He can easily do the comedy aspects, but I also enjoyed seeing Bob Hope try to be a dashing romantic and suave spy. He'll convincingly kiss Hedy, then run through some piano tunes for a gag. Austrian actress and legendary inventor Hedy Lamarr is gorgeous, intelligent, cool, romantic, and funny as secret spy Lily Dalbray. She nails a sly speech pattern and alluring manner for Lily that makes her all the more glamorous. How can you not adore Hedy's magical singing and easy comedic timing. She makes flirting so dreamy. Costume designer Edith Head gives her the most divine dresses and fancy evening gowns. Her sparkling dresses are amazing like her music box broach. Her slim figure and lovely face are enchanting like her refined comedic delivery. Makeup artist Wally Westmore gives Hedy these dark curls and dark lipstick to bring out her fair skin and bright smile. Francis L. Sullivan is great as the booming voiced villain Karl Brubaker. He's a fun foil opposite Hope and Hedy. Arnold Moss is a riot as the agent in disguise as Augustine's valet Tasso. Iris Adrian's pretty Lola is a ton of fun. John Archer's Henderson, Luis Van Rooten's Rudolf Hoenig and Stephen Chase's Donald Bailey are good as the supporting suspects. Morris Ankrum's stern General Frazer is a blast. Angela Clarke is excellent as the Gypsy Fortune Teller contact. Editor Frank Bracht some smooth cuts just like cinematographer Victor Milner's slick panning shots around rooms. Their sharp craftsmanship makes 93 feel like a breeze. The bright lighting illuminates scenes and Hedy's face is dazzling. The shadowy film noir art direction from Hal Pereira and Roland Anderson is so striking. Set decorators Sam Comer and Grace Gregory dress up sets to look like Tangiers, Morocco. Special effects artists Gordon Jennings do really clever practical stunts for Bob Hope's gags. Composer Victor Young's resplendent film score is a lovely symphony. I particularly love the pretty French romance song for Hedy Lamarr's singing ballad. Sound designers Gene Garvin and Gene Merritt capture clear speaking and singing voices. In all, Bob Hope and Hedy Lamarr delight and dazzle in My Favorite Spy. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/29/23 Full Review Steve D Tries too hard to be funny and fails. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 06/23/23 Full Review Audience Member Enjoyable Bob Hope has him playing a comedian who's recruited to take the place of a dead spy whom he greatly resembles. Hedy Lamarr is Hope's very likable love interest, which is the main reason I watched the film. I've compared Jennifer Anison to Hedy Lamarr, both were incredibly popular in their time and both were considered among the most beautiful women in the world, but I'll venture to say that Aniston continues to appear in middling to low quality of films like this (i.e. "Horrible Bosses" or "The Bounty Hunter") which will be destined to be forgotten 20-30 years from now. But I digress. "My Favorite Spy" isn't Hope's best vehicle, but it's probably on of the better ones. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member the best of the 3 'my favorite..." pix featuring the comedy of bob hope plus hedy lamarr Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member It moves slow and it's not very funny. Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Audience Member Am watching this now. One of my favorites! Bob Hope is his usual silly and sly self, and Hedy Lamarr is GORGEOUS! Good, fun, film with a classic slapstick ending. Highly recommended! Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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