A Masterpiece of Murder

As long as the material is not objectionable, film fans would rather their favorites continue to make a film or 2 no matter how bad they are.When you're used to seeing them for so many years, you miss them if they give up, and that's one thing Bob Hope never did! Unfortunately he had only one major film role in 16 years before Masterpiece of Murder, and that was in 1972. His other work of course was TV in which he was always active. And because of that, this 1986 movie suffered because he was just so used to his rapid fire quips which didn't require any real acting that in the movie he didn't act. The rest of the cast, in particular his co-star Don Ameche(who stayed active in films)came off very well in the acting department. The story is interesting too, it's just Bob that makes the movie poor overall. There are some isolated moments that are OK, but it just remains a curiosity piece. It must have been frustrating for Hope, though, and yet it shows that persistence pays off. After Cancel My Reservation(1972) Bob was going to co-star with Bing Crosby in The Road to the Fountain of Youth. Then it was shelved of course because of Crosby's death. Then there was the cameo only in The Muppet Movie(1979). Next was going to be the film Menage a Trois with David Niven, but that was cancelled. After that, The Walter Winchell Story was announced. Hope said he had to put on some wait for the role. Then that was cancelled as well. Then there was going to be a TV biography feature. Cancelled! Only another cameo was available with Spies Like Us(1985). He probably thought Masterpiece of Murder would never be completed either! This movie(which seems to have gotten only one late night repeat showing)shouldn't be looked on as a failure, but as an accomplishment of Mr. Hope's to star in ONE MORE MOVIE!

Well, it's not a masterpiece of a movie. It has two or three funny lines and that's it. The rest is boredom in the company of a few big names and recognizable faces from many other movies: Bob Hope, much better in other younger movies, Don Ameche, Claudia Christian, Ann Francis, Kevin McCarthy, Frank Gorshin. Stella Stevens, herself a reason enough to see the film, no longer looks like she did 20-25 years before, the film is from 1986 and she was born in 1938. Some women are still sexy at 48, but she looks like 68. I'm not mean, I fell in love with her when I saw her in "The Ballad of Cable Hogue (1970), when she was 32. One of the last films directed by Charles S. Dubin, which has no masterpiece among the films made. No stars from me.

MFTV artifact that confirms how clueless Bob Hope, his agents and that generation of entertainers were to the evolving world of entertainment. There is a contempt for the audience in evidence here. Hope hadn't been funny since the 50s. He persisted making movies more formulaic and lazy than Elvis Presley's. His only mftv movie was a slight departure from formula but not an advance. I was 33 yo when this aired and it depressed me in a depressing era.

I believe this is Bob Hope's last full feature movie. It was an enjoyable romp. Brought back the days of good old Bob Hope playing a private eye or stuck in some comedy/mystery. Good film for nostalgic reasons. Lots of cameos and support by TV and film favorites. They even threw in Jamie Farr. HA!