[OT] Bob Hope dead at 100

[Krieg]

Much like that geek with the bowtie and piano who sings political parodies at all the big washington events, I've never understood in even the slightest what Bob Hope's appeal to others was.

It's mainly because most of us only saw him over the age of 65. When he was younger, he was much funnier...and topical.

 

[Teflon Billy]

....I've never understood in even the slightest what Bob Hope's appeal to others was. I guess my sense of humor is Hope-deficient, cause I just didn't get it.

Nonetheless, he busted his butt for a lot of years entertaining troops and raising funds for charity, so I did respect his dedication.

Wherever you are Bob, good golfing!

Well, that pretty much sums up what I was going to post.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

Ghostbreakers is my favorite of his films. Fun, spooky, and Hope plays his usual heroic coward character, but has more of a backbone than many of the characters in his later films. Plus, it has a spectacular opening shot of a blacked-out New York beset by a thunderstorm.

He's a great talent, and is missed.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

Well, that pretty much sums up what I was going to post.

He was brilliantly funny in a number of films; Ghostbreakers, which I mentioned above, and another is The Princess and the Pirate. At his sharpest, he was unequalled. His persona in his best films would be echoed by people like Bill Murray today.

 

[Felix]

I always liked Casanova's Big Night. That might have been the first Hope movie I ever saw; it's still my favorite.

 

[William Ronald]

May Bob Hope rest in peace and may his family and friends be comforted at this sad time.

Many of his earlier films were indeed funnier than some of the later specials. However, Bob Hope strongly supported the USO and also worked with numerous charities. I have heard that he helped establish a community for Air Force widows in Florida as well as help save a theater in Elton, the town where he was born.

PowerWordDumb: The person you are thinking of is Mark Russell.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

It's mainly because most of us only saw him over the age of 65. When he was younger, he was much funnier...and topical.

Yes, exactly. Not enough people have watched his movies and performamces of the 30s and 40s, when he was sharp as a tack. His best work took place probably from about 1938 to, oh, around 1950. I prefer much of his film work in the 1940s, but he did some great radio work. Watching his specials and movies of the 1960s and later really isn't a good indicator of just how good he was in his heyday.

 

[NoOneofConsequence]

"You know, when I flew in today they gave us a 21 gun salute...and three of them were ours!"

from a performance given to entertain troops in Vietnam

Bob must surely be the perfect example of a man who served his country the best way he knew how, by supporting those who served it with their lives. A small part of the beauty of the world has been diminished today.

But still, I'm thankful we got to have him with us for a century.