Exoticalot People are voting emotionally.

CrawlerChunky In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

Numerootno A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

Gary The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

dougdoepke Delightful nonsense that kicked off the whole Road series. The songs and their staging are especially charming and fit right into the nonsense— where else, for example, can you catch such non- perennials as 'Captain Custard' and 'Sweet Potato Piper'. Plus that jungle chant along with the bevy of half-clad native girls is about the sexiest thing on film. Of course, Bing and Bob keep the chuckles coming without half trying. Their chemistry is just superb. Seems Bing's the son of a wealthy hard-driving businessman (Coburn) who wants Bing to eventually take over. Trouble is Bing and his buddy Bob just want to be regular guys (read typical 1930's concern for the 'common man'.) So, with Dorothy, they escape to Singapore. But Dad's hot on their trail. Meanwhile, the guys get to sample native life, while Dorothy's on the spot trying to choose between them. Quinn's role as an Apache dancer with a whip is colorful but incidental. My only gripe is with "comedian" Colonna. His ear-piercing screeches are anything but amusing. In fact, I don't know what they're supposed to be.Anyway, the boys put a whole new slant on the kid's rhyme 'Patty Cake, Patty Cake'. So if you hear it, duck! All in all, Paramount came up with a great slice of amusing nonsense, with a trio that still delights.

Spikeopath Bob Hope & Bing Crosby team up here for what was the start of a musical comedy franchise that would yield seven movies in total. Six of which would also feature Dorothy Lamour. This first outing finds the boys and Dorothy on the island of Kaigoon, where the lads are escaping from scandal and romantic entanglements and she tied to an abusive partner played by Anthony Quinn. With no money and trouble coming thick and fast, the three of them will do well to survive the week together, especially since love is once again in the air!.It's probably (in a good way) the simplicity of the plotting's that made it such a popular franchise. For the "Road" movies are in truth simple frameworks on which to hang the charming comedy contrasts of Hope & Crosby. Tho Crosby is not the straight man as such, he's the more reserved part of the duo, his mannered delivery of the lines and his casual approach to the scrapes they get in blends delightfully with Hope's more crash bang characterisations. And of course they are aided by Lamour who acts as not just as a catalyst for some play off shenanigans, but also as the rose between two spiky hormonal thorns. Road To Singapore is far from the best of the series and far from being the worst, but it holds up very well and harks back to a time when harmless innuendo, breezy pacing and a willingness to let the actors ad lib situations made for good wholesome comedy. Good songs dot themselves throughout the piece too, with the stand out being "Too Romantic" performed by Crosby & Lamour.A lovely little piece that serves as a foundation for a much loved series. 6.5/10

MartinHafer This is the first "Road Picture" starring Bob Hope and Bing Crosby and it's a bit unlike the others because of the number of songs and the more serious nature of the story. All the Hope-Crosby films had musical numbers, but ROAD TO SINGAPORE had just too many--especially the big production numbers that studios absolutely loved during this era. Try watching the early Abbott and Costello films and you'll see what I mean! This along with less comedy make this an enjoyable film but not among the better films in the series.The film begins with Bing Crosby having an absolutely awful life. He comes from an immensely wealthy family and a hot rich lady is aching to marry him--so naturally he runs from this as fast as humanly possible! I personally thought his character was certifiably insane, but no one else seemed to think this! Anyway, he and his good buddy (Bob Hope) disappear just before Crosby's wedding and they set out for a place where they can sit around doing nothing. This search for nothing leads them to Singapore, though some of the native dress and culture seems very strangely out of place. What also seems a bit out of place is Dorothy Lamour, though she later explains that her parents were not from Singapore, so at least the producers recognized that making her Southeast Asian would not work.While Crosby and Hope are avowed bachelors who like the simple life, naturally they both soon are taken with wonderful Dorothy and her sexy ways. Just before Crosby makes his move and asks Lamour to marry him, up pop Crosby's dad (Charles Coburn) and his hottie fiancée (Judith Barrett). Considering everything, guess which one smooth ol' Bing chooses in the end? Overall, while not a great film, its simple end easy-going style is very endearing and the characters are quite likable--even if Bing is insane!! Try ROAD TO ZANZIBAR or ROAD TO MOROCCO and you'll find a similar film but with a bit wackier sensibilities and more laughs.By the way, compared to later films of the series, Bob Hope's character is a lot tougher here. In later films, he's a confirmed coward.

flimsyxcuse First in what would become a series of movies called "Road to..." (in order)Singapore, Zanzibar, Morrocco, Utopia, Rio, Bali, Hong Kong this film sets the tone and standard for the rest of the films. The plot is always the same: Bob Hope and Bing Crosby play two guys who, by the end of the first scene, need to get out of town in a hurry. They always end up in some hot climate to justify the skimpy clothes worn by the leading lady, Dorothy Lamore. The chemistry and acting styles of Hope and Crosby are the real stars of the picture, but their goofing would be pointless if it weren't for the "gorgeous and sensible girl" archetype always deftly portrayed by Dorothy Lamore. This film was released in 1940. America was not in World War II until the following year (after being attacked by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - for those of you still in school.) In 1940, while the British governed Singapore, they were attacked by the Japanese. But in this film, "Singapore" is merely the "exotic locale, very far away where no one will find us." No realistic portrayal of Singapore is needed or intended. In fact, you'd swear the character actors are doing Spanish accents, African accents...anything that sounds exotic. Some of the jokes might get by viewers trained on less-subtle material, but it's all very tame by today's standards, especially. But back then, innuendo was enough when you had a beautiful lady in a sarong.