Road to Morocco

Road to Morocco
April 8, 1943
Paramount
Comedy, Musical
DVD
B-

While this isn't as funny as I remember, it still has its moments.  Yes, it's probably as politically incorrect as Road to Zanzibar, but it has a much lighter touch, and at least there's no cannibalism.  David Butler also directed Playmates, and he's good at blending silly music with a silly plot, as well as lots of then-topical references, e.g. Here Comes Mr. Jordan.  The title song is one of my favorites ever, and even as a kid I delighted in these lyrics:  "Like a complete set of Shakespeare that you buy in the corner drugstore for a dollar ninety-eight/ We're Morocco bound/ Or/ Like a volume of Omar Khayyam that you buy in the department store at Christmas time for your cousin Julia/ We're Morocco bound."

There's more fourth-wall-breaking than in Zanzibar, with that title song referencing Dorothy Lamour and Paramount.   Bing's solos are very good, too, and I like the reprise of "Moonlight Becomes You" done by the trio, with shifting voices!  We've got the usual romantic triangle, but this time Bob gets a great alternate girl: cute, affectionate, and brave Dona Drake.  There's also Anthony Quinn as Lamour's rejected fiance.  And Bob & Bing have a bromance that involves accidental kissing.  There are moments that I'm surprised got past the censors, like Bob saying the word "reefers," and Dorothy's kisses uncurling the toes of Bob's shoes.  (Bing suggests she try kissing his nose and straightening that.)  I really like the sets and costumes.  So why not a higher grade?  Well, there is that political incorrectness, not just about Arabs (much more than in Casablanca) but about "village idiots."  Some of the other jokes bomb, too.  Still, the movie is worth seeing.

Harry Woods, who was gangster Alky Briggs in Monkey Business, is unconfirmed as being in this movie.  Leo Belasco, Monte Blue, Dick Botiller, and Jamiel Hasson were all in Casablanca, which is fitting since Casablanca is in Morocco.  Vivian Dandridge sang in A Day at the Races, and she plays a servant here.  (She's also the voice of "So White" in 1943's infamous cartoon Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs, talk about politically incorrect!)  James Dime was in Go West.  Suzanne Ridgeway was in Citizen Kane and would go on to It's a Wonderful Life.