You can probably blame this tepid adaptation for burying interest in Irving Berlin ’s swingin’ satiric musical. (Even his daughter was surprised at its strength after seeing a ‘90s concert revival.) With three of its B’way leads (Victor Moore, Vera Zorina & Irene Bordini) joining Bob Hope in a big Technicolor production, surely someone at Paramount had something more faithful in mind then the usual Hollywood mangling. Alas, with a bare quarter of the score retained, it’s simply a bigger, slower vehicle for the fast rising Hope. There should be plenty of juice in its lighthearted look at political corruption, but only a couple of scenes toward the end (Bob pantomimes putting on a girdle, Bob filibusters) have any life to them.
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