Nothing But the Truth

The third and final teaming of Bob Hope and Paulette Goddard occurred with Nothing But The Truth, an ancient Broadway chestnut by James Montgomery that ran for 332 performances in 1916-17. There were two previous films made of this comedy, one in Sweden and the other in France.

As this was done during World War I, I'm betting that a great deal had to be modernized to get it up to 1941 speed. It must have been quite the stage farce in its day. It bares a great deal of similarity to No No Nanette and that shouldn't surprise because the guy who produced it on Broadway was the same Harry Frazee who sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees from the Red Sox to get the dough.

Just as Nanette was on a 24 hour bet to not say yes, Bob Hope is on a bet with Edward Arnold, Glenn Anders, and Leif Erickson to tell Nothing But The Truth from 4 pm. to 4 pm. It's a little sticky though because Hope didn't bet with his money, he bet with Paulette Goddard's and Goddard is Arnold's niece. To make sure Hope hews to the truth, the three men stick to him like flypaper, even as they're all invited to spend time on Clarence Kolb's yacht.

The bulk of the film takes place on the yacht and I imagine it was the same on stage. Glenn Anders's wife Rose Hobart is there and so is his mistress Helen Vinson which gives him a scary moment or two. All in all it's rather impossible to describe the proceedings, but the lines and situations come out of nowhere.

Funniest performance in the film for me is visiting psychiatrist Leon Belasco who catches Hope in a few compromising positions and is ready and willing to offer his services to what will be a fascinating patient.

But the whole cast does well and Paramount did well by the box office with Nothing But The Truth. It holds up very well today and could even use a remake. I can see Steve Martin doing a modern version.

This is Hope's and Goddard's third and final comedy together. Similar to the musical NO, NO NANETTE it is the story of Hope who makes a bet he can say the truth for twenty-four hours. If he is successful, he wins a large sum of money that he has lost, given to him for safe keeping by Paulette.

In the attempt to get him to say the truth there are all sorts of situations and people who become involved with his escapades.

TRUTH is a wonderful screwball comedy, directed by Elliott Nugent, and the team of Hope and Goddard, fresh from CAT AND THE CANARY and THE GHOST BREAKERS, all big hits, once more brought the two stars together. They worked well together and were both by now reaching the top of their careers.

The story, however, didn't do much. Much too much the same thing about tricking Hope to say the truth. Some funny scenes where Hope, in drag, tries to sneak out of Goddard's state room on board the yacht they were guests. Some funny scenes between Hope and Willie Best, that wonderful black actor, fresh from their work together in GHOST BREAKERS, as Hope's sidekick.

Also in the cast are Edward Arnold and Leif Erickson.

This 1941 Paramount comedy is available on VHS.

Bob Hope, paulette goddard! Both giant stars from the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s. Fundraising shenanigans! Mister big shot ralston promises gwen big bucks if she can hit the fundraising goals. But behind the scenes, he works against her. Can steve bennett outwit those trying to trick him? None of it really makes sense, but just go with the story. And it does... sort of. Released october, 1941, just prior to world war two. Keep an eye out for clarence kolb... he was always the scheming, evil, bad guy in the background. It's pretty good. Directed by elliott nugent. Hope had already had big success with his films, quick thinking on his feet.

Bob Hope swears he will tell "Nothing but the Truth" in this 1941 comedy also starring Paulette Goddard, Edward Arnold, Helen Vinson, Leif Erickson, and Willie Best. This was Hope's and Goddard's third film together. They made a good team.

Hope plays a broker, Steve Bennett, who agrees to invest Goddard's money for a charity and double it. He's not sure how to do it until he gets into a discussion with his fellow brokers about lying versus telling the truth. Steve feels the same things can be accomplished by the truth rather than lying. He puts up his $10,000 to bet that he can tell the truth for 24 hours.

It's not going to be easy, and seeing Hope forced to tell the truth in social situations is pretty funny. When he is asked if a matronly woman looks 30, he answers in Spanish but eventually is forced to translate -- to paraphrase, no way can she look 30. When his fellow brokers find a sexy black nightgown in his apartment, Steve admits it's his from a college show.

Most of the film takes place on a yacht, where, thanks to truth-telling, there is a lot of misunderstanding, hiding, and sneaking around.

Hope is cute and funny, and Goddard is gorgeous and vivacious. Entertaining film, based on a play from the World War I era.

Nothing But The Truth with Bob Hope became Liar Liar with Jim Carrey in the '90's, I know which I prefer. Carrey's take was a slicker more professional affair but too syrupy for my taste; this hasn't got the syrup but unfortunately it also hasn't got enough gags in it either.

The gang was all there: Hope, Goddard and Best, surrounded by Edward Arnold and some of the best supporting actors/actresses around in a film directed by Elliot Nugent with high Paramount production values in attendance. The story itself takes over, with some great possibilities in it (as Carrey exploited) but it's so wordy that ultimately the whole thing backfires. Too many plot or behavioural explanations stopped any flow and make the 90 odd minutes seem a mite too long a running time. Be warned if you're a sensitive soul - the racial stereotypes are out in force from the first to the last minute.

Having said all that, I've seen it a couple of times now and enjoyed it thoroughly. The only problem is I don't feel I'll be able to watch it again too soon, rule no. 1 being Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder!