Blu-ray Review: Never Say Die (1939)

To kids in this generation you say the name Bob Hope and sadly they would probably have no clue who he is. That is truly a shame! Bob Hope was an extremely funny comedian and a brave entertainer traveling to the foreign battle fields to entertain the troops who were fighting for our freedom.

Well thankfully Kino Lorber have been releasing Bob Hope classic films on Blu-ray so that physical media fans can enjoy these films and share them with their kids grandkids and great grandkids. That latest Bob Hope Blu-ray was of 1938's Thanks for the Memory. But there is yet another new Hope Blu-ray and it is 1939's Never Say Die.

A misdiagnosis of only a month to live sends millionaire hypochondriac John Kidley (Bob Hope, The Ghost Breakers) into the arms of Mickey Hawkins (Martha Raye, Hellzapoppin’) and on a madcap matrimonial romp through a Swiss spa in this side-splitting screwball comedy. A deadly widow (Gale Sondergaard, The Spider Woman Strikes Back) tries to trap bean king (Hope) into a hasty wedding, but Kidley runs to the altar with oil heiress Mickey (Raye), who is dodging an arranged marriage to a pompous prince. Now the jilted ex-fiancés are chasing the newlyweds in one hilarious honeymoon that includes Mickey’s beau from back home (Andy Devine, Canyon Passage), a daring duel at dawn.

Bob Hope shines when he is put in sticky situations. Think of the "My Favorite" film series. Those were always so much fun and so is this one. Hope and Martha Raye are a lot of fun to watch together. It's amazing to think they only were in three films together. 1938's College Swing and Give Me a Sailor and this film.

This Bob Hope classic has been transferred in 1080p in its original full screen format in 1.37:1 aspect ratio. The audio is a DTS-HD 2.0. There is also the option for English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing. Now the coolest part of this transfer is that it is taken from a 2K Scan of the 35mm. 

Now when watching this new Blu-ray to say I was impressed would be an understatement. The picture is crisp the black and white palette is glorious. There is only one scratch on the picture that only lasts a second. Still when I compare thus version to my DVD version. This Blu-ray is far superior. But that is not all that is included on this Blu-ray take a look at the bonuses that are included.

• NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historians Paul Anthony Nelson and Lee Zachariah

• Trailers: Never Say Die, Thanks for the Memory, The Cat and the Canary, Road to Singapore, The Ghost Breakers, Road to Zanzibar, Caught in the Draft, Nothing But the Truth, My Favorite Blonde, Road to Morocco, Road to Utopia, Where There’s Life, The Paleface, Sorrowful Jones, Fancy Pants, Alias Jesse James, Kino Lorber Studio Classics Bob Hope Promo 

Now some may consider Never Say Die far from Bob Hope's best film and while I can not dispute that, that does not mean it is not entertaining! I have watched it several time and enjoy every time I see it! It is defiantly rewatchable.

So in my humble opinion Bob Hope film fans truly need this tremendous looking Blu-ray edition of Never Say Die. This Blu-ray is a great looking upgrade for the DVD release. So head over to Amazon and order your copy today.

Out of 4 film reels (4 being the best) KL Studio Classics Blu-ray of Never Say Die receives...