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Casanova's Big Night
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Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9786300215542
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
ISBN: 6300215547
Label: Paramount
Languages: English (Original Language), Analog
Manufacturer: Paramount
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Paramount
Release Date: February 26, 1992
Running Time: 86 minutes
Studio: Paramount
Theatrical Release Date: April 17, 1954
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Editorial Review:
Bob "Orson Welles" Hope is at the top of his game in this 1954 Technicolor laugh-fest co-starring Joan Fontaine and Basil Rathbone. Hope plays Pippo Popolino, Casanova's tailor, who finds himself standing in for the great lover after the real Casanova (played by Vincent Price) leaves town to avoid paying his debts. Enlisted by an overzealous mother-in-law to test the true love of her daughter-in-law-to-be, Hope must capture the prized petticoat and help avert a civil war to boot. Years before he wore out his welcome in countless TV specials, Hope is a marvel here, perfecting his neurotic and vain coward persona while enganging in some pretty inspired slapstick. It's easy to forget that in 1954 this was pretty edgy stuff. It's no wonder a young Woody Allen idolized him. --Kristian St. Clair
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Casanova's Big Night
This movie is towards the end of Bob Hope's "golden age" but it's still an entertaining movie. He plays Pippo who is the assistant to Casanova's tailor. Hope assumes the role of Casanova which leads to many complications that Pippo is not able to handle. Vincent price makes an unbilled appearance as Casanova. Basil Rathbone is great as the real Casanova's valet &, therefore, valet to Pippo's Casanova. It's a unusual comedic role for him that he is suited for; Rathbone's most famous roles being Sherlock ... Read More
Rating: - Plenty of fun, but ...
This movie is LOTS of fun. The pace is great, the lines are delivered well (and some of them are very funny and others are subtlely risque), the gags are wonderful (I love it when Hope dances with the Doge). There's also a wonderful motif having fun with Hope's role - the use of cloth, especially whenever Hope is around, shows up over and over. When Francesca is fighting with the sword, Hope waves a red cape.
My only objection is the ending. There is no ending. Actually, the movie gives ... Read More
Rating: - Good, pre-"Chrysler Theater" Bob Hope!
This was a movie Bob did while he was still hungry, using his reliable wise-cracking coward character as Pipo Popolino, a tailor's assistant in 18th century Venice. Enamored of a baker played by Joan Fontaine, Pipo masquerades as the legendary Casanova to steal a kiss, when it turns out that Casanova is being pursued by creditors and has skipped Venice completely to escape them. To appease the creditors, everybody Casanova owes money to, Fontaine included, force Pipo to continue his masquerade as the storied ... Read More
Rating:  - What a fun movie!
I loved this movie! Just so much fun. Swashbuckling goodness in a comedy is always a good thing. It was fun to watch Joan Fontaine with a sword. Sets & costumes were excellent, the acting was very good. Loved Bob's humor, always do. I also recommend these other Bob Hope movies:
The Princess & The Pirate
Monsieur Beaucaire
The Road to Rio
Rating: - Typical Bob Hope, but very funny
This was never going to win any Oscars as a high minded production or awards for historical accuracy. But if you like Bob Hope style comedy it's certainly good for a laugh. Don't expect it to be too naughty - most of the humour is either innocent or indirect even by 1950's standards.
I was reminded of this old Bob Hope farce when I watched the version of "Casanova" which came out in 2005 with Heath Ledger and Jeremy Irons.
If you enjoyed the modern version you will almost certainly ... Read More
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