Off Limits (1953)

"Off Limits" is one of the many comedies that Bob Hope made during his period of prolific 1940s-50s filmmaking. It's above the average of that batch, with a better and more detailed plot. This is one before Hope begins talking to the camera, and it comes across as more natural. Here, he shares the main lead time with Mickey Rooney and Marilyn Maxwell. And, the film has a handful of good supporting players of Hollywood of the 1940s-50s. Stanley Clements plays Bullets Bradley, Norman Leavitt is Chowhound, and Marvin Miller (of TV's 1955- 60 series, "The Millionaire") is Vic Breck. Eddie Mayehoff made only half a dozen movies in his 25-year career, but his character is easily identified from the many appearances he made in TV series from 1946 to 1970. Mayehoff plays the nemesis of Bob Hope's Wally Hogan, the MP who rises from corporal to sergeant to lieutenant to captain during the movie. Legendary world-heavyweight boxing champ Jack Dempsey has some film time, as himself, refereeing two fights in the film. This film isn't loaded with one-liners as many of Bob Hope's movies are, but it has some funny and very good lines. In place of more dialog, it has some very funny situations. A scene toward the end is hilarious. With few words, Hope smashes, paints, breaks, scratches and otherwise ruins a brand new car that he mistakenly takes for the car of a couple of bad guys. Instead it was a gift to a general from his wife. This is a fun film – a rare one in which Hope serves in the military. For several decades, he was the top performer to entertain American and Allied troops in the Armed Forces around the world. Often times, he put on shows for troops in areas that were close to the front lines or under fire (Korea and Vietnam). He was too young to serve in WW I, and beyond service age for WW II. Here are a couple funny lines from the film. For more humorous dialog, check the Quotes section here on the IMDb Web page for this film. Wally Hogan: A zebra's covered with stripes, but underneath he's still a jackass.Wally Hogan: When I was born, the doctor said, "Boil some hot water," and I've been in it ever since.

This movie does NOT focus on the military duties so much but focuses on a guy (Mickey Rooney) in the army, who wants to be a prize fighter and a trainer (Bob Hope) who joined the army to watch another fighter but things go wrong and the trainer (Bob Hope) gets stuck in the army and ends up training the new guy (Mickey Rooney). This was my first time seeing this movie. Next to the Lemon Drop Kid, its going to be my favorite movie with Bob Hope. I am thinking about buying it. Bob Hope really outdone himself, we were all laughing out loud, throughout the movie. Like so many Military comedy movies: Kelly Heroes, Major Payne, No Time for Sergeants, Sgt. Bilko, At War With the Army, just a few Military comedy movies; if you liked these; you're going to love this one.

Hollywood made quite a few military films starring the most ridiculous actors. In "Great Guns", a 300-400 pound 49 year0old Oliver Hardy joins up. And, in "Buck Privates", a 46 year-old Bud Abbott also joins the army. So, the notion of a 50 year-old Bob Hope in the army is ridiculous but not without some precedent. My advice is to completely block this out of your mind--as a case of temporary amnesia will definitely make this better viewing.Now some might also laugh at the notion of the very diminutive Mickey Rooney serving as well in this film. However, he WAS not too old to serve (33) and he actually did serve with some distinction during WWII.The film begins with Hope playing the role of a manager-trainer for the newest boxing champ. He's on top of the world...until his fighter is drafted. Oddly, he, too, decides to join up so can follow his client--though if they both did serve, the chances of them staying together would have been negligible. However, it appears that the boxer's draft notice was all part of a ruse to get Hope out of the way and break his contract with the champ. When this champ is ruled psychologically unfit for service (he seems to have faked being crazy), Hope is stuck in the army while this promising boxer gets a new manager with more clout. Hope is irritated but there is nothing he can do....or is there? In the service he meets a game guy (Rooney) who also wants to become a boxer. However Rooney's platinum blonde aunt (Marilyn Maxwell) insists that he will NOT become a boxer--she didn't want to see him become a punch-drunk idiot. And, because Hope has become smitten with her, he is inclined to agree.Later, when their commander (Mayehoff) hears that Rooney wants to box, he arranges some fights--and Hope is unable to stop it. However, inexplicably, Maxwell's insistence that Rooney not box suddenly vanished and Rooeny begins working his way through the professional boxing ranks. And, when the 'big match' occurs, thugs are determined to do anything to stop Hope from helping his protégé. Will Rooney manage to become the next champ? And what about Hope? Overall this is a reasonably pleasant film with one serious problem--it is well made but not funny. And, considering it's supposed to be a comedy, that is a BIG problem. It's not a bad film--but I never laughed once. So, provided you don't mind its lack of humor, it's a decent enough film. But funny, it ain't.

Not only do Bob Hope and Mickey Rooney deliver enjoyable performances, there is a great character, "Chow Hound" portrayed by Norman Leavitt. Mr.Leavitt is one of those wonderful character actors whose face you have seen a million times but might not remember his name. After watching "Off Limits", you will never forget him. For years I have enjoyed his performances in many "Andy Griffith" and "I Love Lucy" episodes as well as his performance in the feature "The Blue Gardenia" directed by Fritz Lang. Also, he was in one of my all time favorite films, "Harvey" as one of the cab drivers. The cast of "off Limits" should have gone on to make a sequel, it was like watching a charmed ensemble cast movie.