Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

The Paleface

Play trailer Poster for The Paleface Released Dec 24, 1948 1h 31m Western Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
100% Tomatometer 9 Reviews 64% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Calamity Jane (Jane Russell) is working undercover for the U.S. government, trying to capture a gunrunner named Terris (Robert Armstrong) in exchange for a pardon for her previous misdoings. But when Jane's partner is killed, she takes up with bumbling dentist Painless Peter Potter (Bob Hope) and passes him off as a gifted gunslinger. When Jane is captured by a tribe of Native Americans, however, Potter finds that he actually has to play the hero that Jane has painted him to be.
Watch on Fandango at Home Stream Now

Where to Watch

The Paleface

Critics Reviews

View More (9)
Bob Thomas Associated Press Cheerful nonsense. Jun 20, 2019 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Hope milks his coward routine for maximum impact; Russell is also terrific. Rated: 3/4 Jul 20, 2020 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com The plot is slender and silly, but Bob Hope and Jane Russell have some good moments in a comedy that was very popualar and led to an equally popular sequel. Rated: B- Feb 14, 2011 Full Review Steve Crum Kansas City Kansan Funny Hope western farce, but inferior to its sequel "Son of Paleface." Rated: 4/5 Oct 16, 2004 Full Review Bob Bloom Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN) Hope at his peak; Russell in top form; a winner. Rated: 3/5 Nov 6, 2002 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews This Technicolor western spoof is probably Bob Hope's finest film role. Rated: B- Aug 15, 2002 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More (63)
Kyle M Relatively influential in this questionable western galloping on simplicity that is only eventful when noting Jane Russell’s disgruntled humbleness reacting to Bob Hope’s amusing comedic form that’s stirred decent laughs. (B) Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/19/25 Full Review William L Politically rather poorly aged, The Paleface leans too heavily on Hope's shoulders to really remain solid in the modern day. He's plenty energetic and goofy as dentist-turned-wannabe-hero 'Painless' Potter who gets into a number of predictably unfortunate situations, often benefiting from lucky timing or the benevolently violent Calamity Jane (Russell), but as a spoof Western even Hope in his prime finds it difficult to drag an entire 90 minute feature film that provides little else to support him. The plot is appropriately silly but occasionally lacks engagement, dragging out some scenes well past their welcome (like Potter's slow walk down the street to a showdown), and the film wears its technical age on its sleeve. For its time (given the content of Westerns of the period), you can easily see The Paleface earning its status as a popular hit, but its better qualities can't really bring it to the status of a classic in the modern day. (2.5/5) Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 04/21/21 Full Review s r 1001 movies to see before you die. I enjoyed the sequel much better, but I suppose this is also better than most Bob Hope shows. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member The best movie song ever sung: Buttons and Bows! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member jane Russell digs in as calamity jane and bob hope blunders along as "Painless" the out of depth dentist in this maybe good for its time but now dated screwball comedy Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Audience Member Bob Hope. Bob Hope? Bob Hope! That was going to be the entire review - but it's probably misleading. Instead, this pairing of Hope and Jane Russell in a spoof of Westerns is only middling at best with a few funny lines. Apart from the racist nature of the plot (par for the course at the time), the film really is so family friendly as to not really be comedy at all. Indeed, I think you could substitute Daffy Duck for Hope and the film would play the same (except perhaps Daffy is more subversive at times). Writer Frank Tashlin apparently so disliked what Norman Z. McLeod did with his script, that he opted to make the sequel (Son of Paleface) himself, before moving on to work with Jerry Lewis. I haven't seen the sequel and I haven't built up my courage for Lewis yet. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Paleface

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW
Goin' South 69% 50% Goin' South Watchlist Rachel and the Stranger 67% 64% Rachel and the Stranger Watchlist My Favorite Brunette 75% 69% My Favorite Brunette Watchlist My Little Chickadee 93% 64% My Little Chickadee Watchlist Son of Paleface 91% 80% Son of Paleface Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis Calamity Jane (Jane Russell) is working undercover for the U.S. government, trying to capture a gunrunner named Terris (Robert Armstrong) in exchange for a pardon for her previous misdoings. But when Jane's partner is killed, she takes up with bumbling dentist Painless Peter Potter (Bob Hope) and passes him off as a gifted gunslinger. When Jane is captured by a tribe of Native Americans, however, Potter finds that he actually has to play the hero that Jane has painted him to be.
Director
Norman Z. McLeod
Producer
Robert L. Welch
Screenwriter
Edmund L. Hartmann, Frank Tashlin
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount Pictures
Genre
Western, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 24, 1948, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 10, 2017
Runtime
1h 31m
Most Popular at Home Now