Road to Singapore

Road to Singapore.
1940 Paramount Pictures, owned and distributed to home video by Universal Pictures.
Starring: Bing Crosby, Dorothy Lamour, Bob Hope, Charles Coburn, Judith Barrett, Anthony Quinn, Jerry Colonna
Director: Victor Schertzinger
Part of the On the Road with Bob Hope and Bing Crosby Collection, available at Amazon.

The first of the "Road to..." movies starring Hope, Crosby and Lamour.

Best friends Josh (Crosby) and Ace (Hope) have returned to the U.S. after being away at sea for a long time. After witnessing their fellow sailors being treated like dirt by their wives and girlfriends, Josh and Ace vow never to get involved with women again. This promise is tested immediately, after Ace is nearly dragged off by the family of a former flame who are demanding that he marry the girl. Also, Josh finds himself at odds with his fiancee Gloria (Barrett) and his father's (Coburn) wishes that he take over the family business.

Josh and Ace are late to an engagement party (they were busy fishing), and Gloria's brother starts a drunken fistfight with a news reporter present. After news of the brawl hits the papers, Josh and Ace jump a ship headed towards Hawaii, intending to travel to Singapore. The boys only make it as far as the island of Kaigoon before they run out of money, and they rescue Mima (Lamour) from her dance partner Caesar (Quinn). Before long, Mima is running Josh and Ace's lives, and they try several different schemes to make some quick money.

And before long, both Josh and Ace realize they're both in love with Mima...although she only truly loves Josh. Also, Josh's father and Gloria are enroute to Kaigoon to bring Josh back to America so he can face his responsibilities. And Caesar is out to get even with the boys in any way he can!

Recommended film.