Road to Bali (1952)
Song-and-dance men George and Harold skip out of Australia to dodge a pair of weddings and sign on as deep-sea treasure divers for an island prince. Both fall for Princess Lala as they contend with a giant squid, an erupting volcano, and the prince's scheming cousin, pausing often to address the audience directly.
The sixth of the seven Bob Hope–Bing Crosby “Road” comedies and the only one shot in Technicolor, Road to Bali leans hard on fourth-wall asides and surprise cameos, among them a Humphrey Bogart clip from The African Queen and appearances by Jane Russell and Martin and Lewis. It fell into the public domain when Paramount’s copyright renewal was filed a year too late.
Background
Road to Bali is the sixth of the seven “Road” comedies starring Bing Crosby and Bob Hope, and the only one of the series shot in Technicolor. Like the other films in the series, it follows the two stars as a pair of song-and-dance men who skip out on their obligations, here a pair of impending weddings, and wind up overseas, in this case signing on as deep-sea treasure divers for an island prince, with both falling for the same princess played by Dorothy Lamour.
What to watch for
Watch for the film’s heavy use of fourth-wall-breaking asides, with Crosby and Hope frequently speaking directly to the audience, and for its surprise cameo appearances, including a clip from Humphrey Bogart’s The African Queen and appearances by Jane Russell and the comedy duo Martin and Lewis. Its copyright lapsed when Paramount’s renewal filing came a year too late, which is why this entry in the otherwise still-protected “Road” series circulates freely today while most of the others do not.
