Fancy Pants1950

Fun fact: Bob Hope is actually a limey. Born in London in 1903. That’s somewhat relevant as here he plays a British gentleman’s gentleman. Sort of. The initial premise is that an Englishman with no estate or family of his own hires an actors troupe to play his family, including one certain Butler by the name of Humphrey portrayed by Mr. Hope. And all to entertain a well-to-do but rough-edged American heiress. That premise is much more interesting than the real one, which has the American girl and her mother taking Humphrey back to their New Mexico home for some reason or other.  Cowboy hijinks ensue.  For me, the best part was near the end when President Teddy Roosevelt showed up. I love Teddy Roosevelt and I love seeing him in movies and things. But overall, the plot is just too convoluted, and it seems like we are just supposed to laugh at the British for being British and the Southwesterners for being Southwesterners.  Another one that’s not too funny but great sets and costumes. I like some of the beginning and some of the end, but overall, it’s a miss. And for a Bob Hope movie taking place in the West, both paleface movies have this beat by 1000%.