Going Spanish: Bob Hope Before He Was THE Bob Hope

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, only if you are a completionist who needs to see every single frame Bob Hope ever filmed. If you want a tight story or actual jokes that land, you’re looking in the wrong place. This is for people who enjoy seeing how stars fumbled around before they figured out their own screen persona. If you prefer polished comedy, this will probably just annoy you.

Watching Going Spanish feels a bit like finding a dusty box of home movies in an attic. It’s got that jittery, low-budget energy that you just don't see anymore. Hope is clearly trying to find his rhythm here, and sometimes he’s just… not there yet. 🥴

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Going Spanish (1934) through its definitive frames.

The whole thing is basically a series of setups for gags that don't always pay off. There’s a lot of running around South American sets that look like they were painted cardboard. It reminds me a little of the frantic energy in Birthday Blues, where everything happens at once and nothing matters much.

Oddly specific observations:

• The music from Godoy's Argentine Band is loud, like, surprisingly loud for a short comedy.
• Bob Hope’s suit looks like it’s two sizes too big, which I guess is part of the joke?
• There is one reaction shot from Vicki Cummings that lasts about three seconds too long. It’s kind of funny just because of how uncomfortable she looks.
• The editing feels like someone was cutting the film with kitchen scissors.

It’s funny to think about how Hope would go on to be a massive icon. In this, he’s just a guy trying to get a laugh out of a room that feels like it’s half-empty. It’s got that slightly desperate vibe to it, you know? Like he’s waiting for the audience to tell him what works.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Going Spanish (1934) through its definitive frames.

It definitely lacks the sharp, cynical bite of his later stuff. It’s just... fluff. But sometimes fluff is fine if you're not expecting a masterpiece. It's a weird little time capsule that probably should have stayed buried in the vault, but here we are. 🤷‍♂️

I wouldn't compare it to anything substantial. It's not trying to be a Hide-Out. It’s just a quick, messy, and very forgettable slice of comedy history.