PARIS HOLIDAY

US, 1958, 103 minutes, Colour.
Bob Hope, Fernandel, Anita Ekberg, Martha Hyer, Andre Morell.
Directed by Gerd Oswald.

Paris Holiday is a colourful Bob Hope vehicle. He is his usual self - an actor going to France for a script, full of wise-cracks, pseudo-heroism and cowardly remarks. It is the kind of film that Bob Hope fans enjoy. His is supported by French comedian Fernandel, a popular figure in French comedies and especially in the fifties' series of Don Camillo films. The team works well. Anita Ekberg lends her imposing presence as a spy villainess. There are attractive French locations and the whole film is a frothy Bob Hope comedy.

1. An entertaining Bob Hope comedy? His being teamed with Fernandel? The Paris backgrounds, comedy styles, espionage?

2. The particular style of Bob Hope's comedy - the wisecracks, the ambiguous situations, the jokes on the American hero? How well did they blend with Fernandel's music hall style, miming and imitations? The support of Anita Ekberg with her inflated style of sexuality? Martha Hyer as the straight heroine? A humorous blend?

3. The value of the colour photography, widescreen, atmosphere of Paris? The special effects especially the car chases, and the helicopter ride?

4. The plausibilities and implausibilities of the plot: the introduction of the four characters with their explanations of themselves, Bob Hunter's quest for the script, Ann Mc Call and her work at the embassy, Fernandel and his successful tour of America, Zara and her explanation of her role in espionage? The comic side, the film industry and theatre, the background of the group with the false money etc? The humour of the serious side of murders, madness?

5. Bob Hunter and the satire on the American film star, the American hero, coward as well an hero? Romance? The support of Fernandel? The character of Zara as the typical vamp spy, her searching of Bob's cabin, her coincidental presence, her threatening him and then change of heart? Ann Mc Call as the intrepid American heroine?

6. The supporting characters of the crew of the ship, the embassy staff, the villains, the playwright who was murdered and his insight into the crooked speculation with money?

7. Comment on the quality of the verbal humour, the playing with language and English and French? The humorous and farcical situations? The crises situations especially with the helicopter? The asylum sequences, the court case?

8. What does this kind of film presuppose in its audience as regards humour, the foibles of human nature, right and wrong, good prevailing? An entertaining comedy?