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Bob Hope, Jane Russell, Robert Armstrong, Iris Adrian, Robert "Bobby" Watson ... see more see more... , Jackie Searl , Joseph Vitale , Charles Trowbridge , Clem Bevans , Jeff York , Stanley Andrews , Wade Crosby , Iron Eyes Cody , John Maxwell , Tom Kennedy , Henry Brandon , Francis McDonald , Frank S. Hagney , Skelton Knaggs , Olin Howland , George Chandler , Nestor Paiva , Eric Alden , Carl Andre , Trevor Bardette , Oliver Blake , Stanley Blystone , Al Bridge , Paul E. Burns , Lane Chandler , Charles Cooley , Edgar Dearing , Dick Elliott , Billy Engle , Margaret Field , Jo Gilbert , Dorothy Granger , Harry Harvey , Al Hill , Earl Hodgins , Bob Kortman , Ethan Laidlaw , Babe London , Ted Mapes , Kermit Maynard , Sharon McManus , John Miller , Sid Saylor , Arthur Space , Houseley Stevenson Sr. , Maria Tavares , Loyal Underwood , Duke York , Chief Yowlachie , Hall Bartlett , Charmienne Harker , Marilyn Gladstone , June Glory , Betty Hannon

Bob Hope's Technicolor western spoof The Paleface was one of the comedian's biggest box-office hits. Hope plays Painless Potter, a hopelessly inept dentist who heads west to seek his fortune. Meanwhil... read more read more...e, buxom female outlaw Calamity Jane (Jane Russell) is engaged in undercover work on behalf of the government, in the hopes of earning a pardon for her past crimes. Jane is on the lookout for notorious gun-runner Robert Armstrong. To put up an innocent front, Jane marries the befuddled Potter, then keeps the criminals at bay by convincing everyone that Potter is a rootin'-tootin' gunslinger (actually, it's Jane who's been doing all the shooting). Armstrong, who has been selling guns to the Indians, arranges for Jane to be captured by the scalp-hungry tribesmen, but Potter comes to the rescue. Somewhere along the way, Bob Hope and Jane Russell get to sing the Oscar-winning Jay Livingston/Ray Evans tune "Buttons and Bows". There are many hilarious moments in The Paleface, but screenwriter Frank Tashlin felt that director Norman Z. McLeod failed to get the full comic value out of his material. To prove his point, Tashlin directed the side-splitting sequel, Son of Paleface (1952), which once more teamed Hope and Russell. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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64% liked it

2,549 ratings

Critics

100% liked it

8 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 31 min.

Directed by: Norman Z. McLeod

Release Date: December 24, 1948

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DVD Release Date: March 5, 2002

Stats: 96 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (96)

  • DrLappos
    February 26, 2009
    DrLappos
    Alright I know I know but you just have to love theses schmooltsy wannabe westerns.....The singing was great and Russell was a seriously gorgeous laydee....
  • HuskersNC949597
    March 31, 2011
    HuskersNC949597
    The fact that it was written by cartoon guru Frank Tashlin explains a whole lot. Stupid as hell, but Bob Hope's vaguely racist antics at the end about make the whole thing worthwhile.
  • yomisso
    January 17, 2010
    yomisso
    Bob Hope was hilarious, and Jane Russell was good at her spot. It was just a bit silly, but still enjoyable.
  • notspam555
    May 30, 2009
    notspam555
    I have to admit that I found most of Bob Hope's vehicles lame, including all of the "Road" movies; whereas some of his other, earlier Paramount stuff from the late '30s and early '40s (The Cat and the Canary; My Favorite Blonde) are pretty good.

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Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy
February 14, 2011
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

The plot is slender and silly, but Bob Hope and Jane Russell have some good moments in a comedy that was very popualar and led to an equally popular sequel. Full Review

Steve Crum
October 16, 2004
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan

Funny Hope western farce, but inferior to its sequel "Son of Paleface."

Bob Bloom
November 6, 2002
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

Hope at his peak; Russell in top form; a winner.

Dennis Schwartz
August 15, 2002
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

This Technicolor western spoof is probably Bob Hope's finest film role. Full Review

Ken Hanke
July 30, 2002
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Hope at his best, but he went it one better with SON OF PALEFACE

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Bosley Crowther
March 25, 2006
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
July 30, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Nell Minow
April 24, 2004
Nell Minow, Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

No review available.

Philip Martin
July 26, 2002
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

No review available.

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The Paleface Trivia

  • Don Knotts "Shakiest Gun in the West is a remake of which Bob Hope film?  Answer »
  • Pick Which Classic Actor or Actress Appeared in All Three Films. The Paleface - Road to Morocco - Seven Little Foys   Answer »
  • What famous woman was portrayed by Yvonne de Carlo (1949) and Doris Day (1953) in movies bearing her name? Jean Arthur also played her in The Plainsman (1937), Frances Farmer played her in Badlands of Dakota (1941), and Jane Russell in The Paleface (1948).   Answer »
  • "The Shakiest Gun in the West" is a remake of what Bob Hope movie?   Answer »
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