{"id":17776,"date":"2011-06-08T11:41:58","date_gmt":"2011-06-08T18:41:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=17776"},"modified":"2021-02-01T01:50:15","modified_gmt":"2021-02-01T08:50:15","slug":"my-favorite-brunette-1947","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=17776","title":{"rendered":"My Favorite Brunette (1947)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;I wanted to become a detective, too. It only took brains, courage, and a gun &#8212; and I had a gun.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Poster-190x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"190\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-17777\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Poster-190x300.jpg 190w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Poster-81x128.jpg 81w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Poster.jpg 314w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 190px) 100vw, 190px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA baby photographer (Bob Hope) mistaken for a private eye is hired by a desperate young woman (Dorothy Lamour) to help her track down her missing uncle (Frank Puglia), who has been kidnapped by a gang of criminals.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Alan Ladd Films<\/li>\n<li>Bob Hope Films<\/li>\n<li>Detectives and Private Eyes<\/li>\n<li>Dorothy Lamour Films<\/li>\n<li>Flashback Films<\/li>\n<li>Lon Chaney, Jr. Films<\/li>\n<li>Mistaken Identities<\/li>\n<li>Peter Lorre Films<\/li>\n<li>Satires and Spoofs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nI was pleasantly surprised to revisit this private-eye spoof, which remains my favorite iteration of this unique comedic genre. Hope and Lamour are in fine form, with Hope flinging his characteristically deadpan one-liners (&#8220;Nutty as a fruitcake, and with all that beautiful frosting&#8221;) left and right, and Lamour remaining appropriately dark and mysterious throughout. It&#8217;s especially fun to see iconic character actors such as Peter Lorre and Lon Chaney, Jr. in respectful, meaty supporting roles &#8212; ones which pay fitting homage to their on-screen personae. Interestingly, part of what makes this film so successful (as pointed out by one contributor on IMDb) is that the storyline (minus Hope&#8217;s one-liners) would probably work just as well if played straight &#8212; a sign of its intelligence and ultimate staying power. Excellent use is made of real-life locales in Monterey, California; apparently the mansion where the criminals reside still exists on the town&#8217;s touristy 17-mile drive. Watch for the refreshing presence of an Asian-American actress (Jean Fong) in a small but pivotal role as a mother in Chinatown who brings her young son to be photographed by Hope; it&#8217;s truly criminal that she wasn&#8217;t given any official credit. Available for free viewing on the Internet Archive. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bob Hope as Ronnie Jackson<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Hope.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Hope-1024x599.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"374\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-17781\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Hope-1024x599.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Hope-128x74.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Hope-300x175.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Hope.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Dorothy Lamour as Carlotta Montay<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Lamour2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Lamour2-1024x599.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"374\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-17782\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Lamour2-1024x599.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Lamour2-128x74.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Lamour2-300x175.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Lamour2.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fun supporting performances<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Chaney.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Chaney-1024x599.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"374\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-17783\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Chaney-1024x599.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Chaney-128x74.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Chaney-300x175.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Chaney.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Lorre.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Lorre-1024x599.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"374\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-17784\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Lorre-1024x599.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Lorre-128x74.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Lorre-300x175.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Lorre.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>A consistently clever satire of private eye flicks<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Satire.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Satire-1024x599.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"374\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-17786\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Satire-1024x599.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Satire-128x74.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Satire-300x175.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Satire.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fine use of location shooting (in Monterey, California)<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Monterey.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Monterey-1024x599.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"374\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-17787\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Monterey-1024x599.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Monterey-128x74.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Monterey-300x175.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Monterey.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Refreshing inclusion of an Asian-American woman (Jean Fong) in a non-stereotypical role<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Asian-Mom.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Asian-Mom-1024x599.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"374\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-17780\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Asian-Mom-1024x599.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Asian-Mom-128x74.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Asian-Mom-300x175.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/My-Favorite-Brunette-Asian-Mom.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Plenty of humorous dialogue:<br \/>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know how much more of this I can take &#8211; you&#8217;ve had me in hot water so long I feel like a tea bag.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, as an all-around good show.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Good Show<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0039645\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1947\/03\/20\/archives\/my-favorite-brunette-typical-bob-hope-film-at-paramount-locket.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thespinningimage.co.uk\/cultfilms\/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=1301&#038;aff=13\">Spinning Image Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/84318\/my-favorite-brunette\/#articles-reviews?articleId=202639\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/my-favorite-brunette\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;I wanted to become a detective, too. It only took brains, courage, and a gun &#8212; and I had a gun.&#8221; Synopsis: A baby photographer (Bob Hope) mistaken for a private eye is hired by a desperate young woman (Dorothy Lamour) to help her track down her missing uncle (Frank Puglia), who has been kidnapped by a gang of criminals. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Alan Ladd Films Bob Hope Films Detectives and Private Eyes Dorothy Lamour Films Flashback Films&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=17776\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17776","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17776","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=17776"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17776\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67645,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17776\/revisions\/67645"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17776"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17776"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17776"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}