BEAU JAMES (1957)

After two decades under contract, Bob Hope’s last three Paramount films tried a semi-dramatic pivot from his signature cowardly comic act.  But where the first two (THE SEVEN LITTLE FOYS; THAT CERTAIN FEELING) either tamed or optimized the Hope ‘quip reflex’ inside the storyline, this last attempt (modeled closely on FOYS* from the same writer/director) can’t figure out how to use it as an element of characterization & storyline without taking a beating from Bob’s habitual comic tics.  Pretty good characterization & storyline, too: the Rise & Fall of New York’s corruptible, bon vivant Mayor Jimmy Walker.  Under Melville Shavelson, directorially regressing since his debut on FOYS, 1920s period detail is sketchy and staging awkwardly square, but his politicos are nicely cast with Tammany Hall graft repped by Paul Douglas and Republican conscience by Darren McGavin.  Alexis Smith also fine as his go-along estranged wife.  But Vera Miles all wrong as nice gal pal/later B’way glamster Betty Compton.  Technically, the film is also something of a shambles with loads of lousy process work.  (And from the best rear projection department in town, run by the legendary Farciot Edouart, a man who supposedly refused to pass on the tricks of his trade.  Did he delegate the assignment?)  Just enough of the real story comes thru to hold your interest, but this shoulda/coulda been a lot better.

ATTENTION MUST BE PAID: *So closely they even try to match the earlier film’s guest-celebrity turn.  In FOYS, Hope’s Eddie Foy duos with James Cagney’s George M. Cohan.  Here, it’s a double act with old Jimmy Durante as . . . young Jimmy Durante!  Plus Jack Benny & George Jessel showing up briefly as their younger selves.

CONTEST: Though he lost his first election against Walker, Fiorello LaGuardia eventually became New York’s most iconic mayor (‘33 - ‘45).  And with a Pulitzer Prize winning musical about him by FIDDLER ON THE ROOF team Jerry Bock/Sheldon Harnick that grabbed two scenes from this film as song highlights on stage.  Name them to win a MAKQUIBS Write Up of any easy to get (!) streaming movie of your choice.