Command Performance – Bob Hope, Ingrid Bergman, Ella Mae Morse, William Bendix. ep168, 450329

Two men dressed in traditional Hawaiian attire, Lum and Abner, are seen mid-dance in the center of a small store. Lum, on the left, is playing a ukulele while Abner on the right is swaying his hips and waving his arms. A small crowd is gathered around them, some clapping and others smiling. The store itself is cluttered with various items, including shelves of canned goods and hanging clothes, giving it a cozy and lived-in feel.

Bob Hope spends a few moments as he jokes about it being Springtime, and of course chasing women.

Ingrid Bergman joins Bob to dish out the jokes right back at the famous wolf. Bob wants a part in her next film, but does he have what she’s looking for in a leading man? The King Sisters sing, Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe.

After being snubbed by Ingrid for not being sophisticated enough, Bob talks to Walter Pigeon to pick up on a few pointers. Ella Mae Morse sings, Captain Kidd.

Bob’s approach still isn’t convincing Ingrid, so he calls on someone more rough and tough, William Bendix. Still not making progress, Bob turns to Charles Boier. Will Bob ever become a romantic leading man?

To round things up, and since Ingrid is holding out for Charles Boyer, Bob arranges a little Cowboy Western for Ingrid and Charles to do a love scene in. Cute.