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The Paleface Photos

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Movie Info

Calamity Jane (Jane Russell) is working undercover for the U.S. government, trying to capture a gunrunner named Terris (Robert Armstrong) in exchange for a pardon for her previous misdoings. But when Jane's partner is killed, she takes up with bumbling dentist "Painless" Peter Potter (Bob Hope) and passes him off as a gifted gunslinger. When Jane is captured by a tribe of Native Americans, however, Potter finds that he actually has to play the hero that Jane has painted him to be.

Genre:

western, comedy
Original Language:

English
Director:

Norman Z. McLeod
Producer:

Robert L. Welch
Writer:

Edmund L. Hartmann, Frank Tashlin
Release Date (Theaters):

Dec 24, 1948 wide
Release Date (Streaming):

Jan 10, 2017
Runtime:

1h 31m
Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Cast & Crew

Bob Hope
"Painless" Peter Potter

Jane Russell
Calamity Jane

Robert Armstrong
Terris

Iris Adrian
Pepper

Bobby Watson
Toby Preston

Jackie Searl
Jasper Martin

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for The Paleface

All Critics (10) | Top Critics (1) | Fresh (10)

Cheerful nonsense.

June 20, 2019 | Full Review…

Bob Thomas
Associated Press
Quote not available.

April 24, 2004 | Rating: 4/5

Nell Minow
Movie Mom
Hope milks his coward routine for maximum impact; Russell is also terrific.

July 20, 2020 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
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.

February 14, 2011 | Rating: B- | Full Review…

Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
Quote not available.

July 30, 2005 | Rating: 3/5

Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
Funny Hope western farce, but inferior to its sequel "Son of Paleface."

October 16, 2004 | Rating: 4/5

Steve Crum
Kansas City Kansan
Hope at his peak; Russell in top form; a winner.

November 6, 2002 | Rating: 3/5

Bob Bloom
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
This Technicolor western spoof is probably Bob Hope's finest film role.

August 15, 2002 | Rating: B- | Full Review…

Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
Hope at his best, but he went it one better with SON OF PALEFACE

July 30, 2002 | Rating: 4/5

Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Quote not available.

July 26, 2002 | Rating: 3/5

Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

View All Critic Reviews (10)

Audience Reviews for The Paleface

Oct 12, 2018

The comic idea is simply to subvert the familiar Western formula expected by audiences. Thus, Russell plays the tough one, the one good with guns, while Hope is the nervous Easterner out-of-his-depth out West, who couldn't hit the side of a barn if he was inside of it. There's a plot perhaps, but let's not get technical, this is a personality vehicle, riding on the stars' charisma. It's one of those where you imagine the cast had a good time making it, and that that might even be a better movie. Unfortunately ... the racism towards Native Americans is often more than distracting. Still, a good Hope movie, and Russell seems happy not to have the focus on her chest for a change. Look for Chief Iron Eyes Cody!

Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
Feb 07, 2015

jane Russell digs in as calamity jane and bob hope blunders along as "Painless" the out of depth dentist in this maybe good for its time but now dated screwball comedy

Sanity Assassin ! Super Reviewer
Feb 26, 2009

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....

Barry L Super Reviewer