Matialth Good concept, poorly executed.

Sexyloutak Absolutely the worst movie.

Stoutor It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

Roman Sampson One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Jem Odewahn Fun comedy that showcases the talents of legend Bob Hope, filmed in gorgeous Technicolour. He's the cowardly tenth-rate travelling player who finds himself in a crazy situation he never would have dreamed of, involving pirates and pretty girls. The main girl in question is the ravishing-in-colour Virginia Mayo, who plays the Princess of the title. It's a credit to her that she displays plenty of spunk in personality as well as spunky legs. Sometimes this film, and Hope, takes a few missteps, thinking it's more witty and clever than it actually is, and some gags run too long, but it's still good entertainment. I like Bob Hope's style, I need to check out some of those "Road" movies he did. Supporting cast includes Walter Brennan, Victor McLaglen and Walter Slezak (displaying more skin than is desired...unlike Miss Mayo!). The moral of the story? Watch out for bit players from Paramount!

Robert J. Maxwell This is a splashy Technicolor comedy with Bob Hope as an impersonator on the run, Virginia Mayo as a kidnapped princess, Victor McLaglan as "The Hook", and Walter Slezak as the ruler of an island that serves as a pirate's rest stop.It should be funnier than it is, and I was trying to figure out why it doesn't come off more satisfactorily than it does. It's certainly fast enough. Everyone seems to be running around, bellowing, and there are explosions and multiple sword fights, and a few minutes of romance. But it's not funny for the same reason that "Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd" isn't funny anymore. It's a child's idea of comedy in that it lacks any sophistication. I don't mean to be supercilious but kids laugh at things that don't demand much of them. Somebody takes a pratfall and a fifth-grader laughs. Kids don't need to know anything other than what they see happening on the screen.What made the Road movies so funny was that there were pauses so that the audience could take a breath while Bing Crosby crooned a silly tune to Dorothy Lamour. And Hope and Crosby were constantly trying to outwit each other in ways both shameless and sly. When they had a friendly embrace and picked each other's pockets at the same time, we could identify with them, or at least with their desires. There was somebody for a grown up to ROOT for on the screen.The Road team had a different set of writers -- Panama and Frank -- and they were better at giving Hope gags than the writers of "The Princess and the Pirate." Hope is given a couple of anachronistic wisecracks -- "made in Japan, eh?" -- but they don't save the day because the rest of the movie propels us at warp speed through the ludicrous plot. One of the more amusing scenes is a minor rip-off from the Marx Brothers' "Duck Soup." What's missing is the easy banter between Hope and Crosby, the more delicate touches provided for them. ("Delicate", here, being a relative term.) Hope on his own could be hilarious, as he was in "They Got Me Covered." Danny Kaye was making movies in this period that were just as funny and, like Hope, he always played the same character, but it was a different character: the shy, neurotic schlub. Hope always played the same part in the 1940s too -- the sniveling, greedy, libidinous coward -- but nobody was better at it. Woody Allen borrowed some of Hope's mannerisms for his own performances.If you give Hope the right settings and the right gags he runs with the ball like nobody's business. But this part could have been done by almost any comic actor, maybe Red Skelton. "The Princess and the Pirate" was released in 1944. Hope had some splendid movies ahead of him. In the 1960s he was churning out one turkey after another. I suppose he must have enjoyed working. He surely didn't need the money by then. When he finally quit, he played golf, continued to make his well-known USO tours to troops overseas, and lived to a respectably old age. Not at all a bad career.

Neil Doyle This one is so much better than Hope's later romp in the swashbuckling genre called CASANOVA'S BIG NIGHT.VIRGINIA MAYO displays comic flair as Princess Margaret, the lovely Technicolor photography doing her full justice as the costumed princess running away from the villains with the cowardly Sylvester the Great (BOB HOPE) at her side. Hope is at his comic best, delivering every line with the sort of casual flair for comedy that served him so well during his early years at Paramount.But having the most fun are VICTOR McLAGLEN as the hook-bearing pirate with a devilish gleam in his eye; WALTER BRENNAN as the maniacal, half-witted pirate called Featherbrain who relishes every scene and gives one of his best supporting role performances; and WALTER SLEZAK as the wicked man who wants the treasure map and Mayo for his own.Not to be outclassed by these comic performances, we also have HUGO HAAS as the cabaret owner who shares some priceless one-liners with Hope who auditions for a job in his cabaret. The drinking scene is one of the highlights of the film.Directed at a frantic pace by David Butler, this is one of Hope's most enjoyable romps and it's all dressed up in fancy Technicolor and lavish sets and costumes.Not to be missed, if you're a Hope fan.

Find_The_Light I want to thank Robbolini for reminding me of that excellent line from the movie, one of my favorite Bob Hope lines ever! What can you say about this movie, A TRUE CLASSIC, A GEM, HILARIOUS? Yes all of these.Bob Hope proves he's the King of Comedy with a truckload of his classic one liners, as the cowardly SYLVESTER THE GREAT, by chance runs into the runaway Princess, Margaret, portrayed by the BEAUTIFUL VIRGINIA MAYO.Walter Slezak as Governor La Roche & Victor McLaglen as the HOOK are trying to get Ms. Mayo & Bob runs interference with help of Walter Brennan, ie Featherhead...the plot is funny & entertaining, as is the scene in the bar when Bob is forced to drink a few "short beers", which are actually pitchers of beer...All the bad guys want Virginia Mayo, ie Princess Margaret & the map for the buried treasure...the film culminates with an awesome climax & a twist ending! BOB HOPE AT HIS ABSOLUTE BEST, A MUST SEE CLASSIC!