Movie Cosmos - Road to Rio

Description:

Scat Sweeney and Hot Lips Barton, two out of work musicians, stow away onboard a ship bound for Rio, after accidentally setting fire to the big top of a circus. They then get mixed up with a potential suicide Lucia, who first thanks them, then unexpectedly turns them over to the ship's captain. When they find out that she has been hypnotized, to go through a marriage of convenience, when the ship reaches Rio, the boys turn up at the ceremony, in order to stop the wedding, and to help catch the crooks.

Top Cast >

Bing Crosby

As Scat Sweeney

Bob Hope

As Hot Lips Barton

Dorothy Lamour

As Lucia Maria de Andrade

Gale Sondergaard

As Catherine Vail

Frank Faylen

As Trigger

Joseph Vitale

As Tony

George Meeker

As Sherman Mallory

Frank Puglia

As Rodrigues

Nestor Paiva

As Cardoso

Robert Barrat

As Johnson

Stanley Andrews

As Capt. Harmon

Harry Woods

As Ship's Purser

Laverne Andrews

As Laverne Andrews

Maxene Andrews

As Maxene Andrews

Patty Andrews

As Patty Andrews

Rolando Barrera

As Bellhop

Arthur Q. Bryan

As Mr. Stanton

Gino Corrado

As Ship's Barber

Franklyn Farnum

As Ship Lounge Extra

Sam Harris

As Ship Lounge Extra

William H. O'Brien

As Ship's Waiter

Frank Ferguson

As Texas Posse Member

George Chandler

As Ship's Steward

Rudolph Andrean

As Specialty Dancer (uncredited)

Tor Johnson

As The Great Samson (uncredited)

Top Crew >

Norman Z. McLeod

Director

A. Earl Hedrick

Art Direction

Hans Dreier

Art Direction

Jack Rose

Writer

Edmund Beloin

Writer

Robert Emmett Dolan

Original Music Composer

Edith Head

Costume Design

Daniel Dare

Producer

Sam Comer

Set Decoration

Ray Moyer

Set Decoration

Ellsworth Hoagland

Editor

Oscar Rudolph

Assistant Director

Gordon Jennings

Special Effects

Harold Lewis

Sound Recordist

Wally Westmore

Makeup Supervisor

Paul K. Lerpae

Special Effects

Walter Oberst

Sound Recordist

Ernest Laszlo

Director of Photography

Reviews:

John Chard (7/10)

Hot Lips, Scat and the hypnotic shenanigan.

Road to Rio is directed by Norman McLeod and written by Edmund Beloin and Jack Rose. It stars Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Dorothy Lamour, Gale Sondergaard and Frank Faylen. Music is by Robert Emmett and cinematography by Ernest Laszlo.

Hope and Crosby star as two vaudevillians, who after setting a circus on fire, stow away on a liner bound for Brazil. Once there they encounter a distressed woman (Lamour) who is being coerced into an unwanted marriage by her scheming guardian.

The fifth in the hugely popular "Road To" series of films, Rio follows the same trajectory as before. For fans such as myself this is OK, other film fans venturing in for a first time look may be a bit bemused by it all. In fairness this one does have a solid story at its core, with hypnotism the dastardly weapon of choice, while McLeod neatly blends the comedy and musical numbers and keeps the pace brisk. Hope gets some well written topical gags to deliver and Crosby croons whilst also getting to do a number with The Andrews Sisters. In support the wonderful Sondergaard turns in another one of her memorable villainess performances, and The Wiere Brothers form part of the narrative to produce great comedic results.

With a blazing first quarter, a jovial middle section and a genuinely hilarious finale, Road to Rio achieves everything a "Road To" fan could wish for. 7.5/10

2020-02-04