The Seven Little Foys (1955) Bob Hope, Milly Vitale, George Tobias, Angela Clarke, Herbert Heye Movie Review

The Seven Little Foys (1955)   3/53/53/53/53/5


Milly Vitale and Bob Hope in The Seven Little Foys (1955)

Hope for the Foys

Vaudeville performer Eddie Foy (Bob Hope) plans to make it to Broadway as a one man act. That all changes when Madeleine Morando (Milly Vitale) and her sister are put on the bill with her ballet performance as Eddie finds himself falling for Madeleine who end up a comedy double act as well as a married couple. But after marriage come children, not one or two but lots and lots which was the last thing he ever expected. When tragedy strikes and keeping the family together is threatened Eddie must find a way and maybe the stage will be the answer.

Let me start by saying that it is difficult to review "The Seven Little Foys" now because over 60 years after this biography was made I would imagine there are very few who know the story of performer Eddie Foy and his family. The thing is that in a way not knowing Foy's story is the best way to watch as then you get the emotion of the heartbreak when it comes to events which lead to Eddie taking his children to the stage. As such I apologise for the fact that I am going to be vague about the actual storyline although in a way the storyline is quite simple.

Bob Hope and James Cagney in The Seven Little Foys (1955)

But what I can say is that not only does "The Seven Little Foys" have that gloriously lush look of a 50s biopic but it also features Bob Hope delivering plenty of wise cracks. And it is very much the wise cracks from comically crashing Madeleine's ballet routine to some verbal sparring in a scene which Hope shares with James Cagney which make the movie. On the subject of which if you are a fan of old stars the dance routine with Hope & Cagney is a joy to watch because of the skill of them both as performers. I could go on because whilst the storyline to "The Seven Little Foys" is not just about the comedy it is full of it and such a joy because of Bob Hope's expert delivery.

What this all boils down to is that whilst "The Seven Little Foys" may not be the greatest of biopics ever made it is one which is hugely entertaining because of it having Bob Hope right at home playing a Vaudeville performer and bringing every gag to life. But at the same time her he also gets to deliver the drama and does a decent job of it in context to the generally light tone of "The Seven Little Foys".


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