With the recent passing of Bob Hope, much has been said and written of his early films of the 1930's, 40's and early 50's.

While I've always been a fan of the early Hope, I recently took some time to watch a few of his early films on video....and what I noticed is how much like the character of Steven Weber's Brian the young Hope is!

This especially hit home with me after checking out parts of last night's "Murder She Roast".

Like Hope, Brian is a glib, smart-aleck wiseguy with an eye for the ladies....but when danger is near he REALLY gets SCARED (and it's always a funny, wide-eyed type of "scared")!

Check out some early Hope films and then compare them to similar situations on "Wings" where Brian thinks that he is in the face of danger and gets nervous and scared....I think that you'll see the character similarities....

Steven Weber certainly carried on the fine comedy tradition of the funny "big-talking but chicken" coward!

Just a word about my previous post....

I was discussing the Brian Hackett-Bob Hope comparison with a friend of mine who is also a "Wings" fan...and he just couldn't see it....but he was thinking of the LATER-DAY Bob Hope from the latter-day (and frankly, usually unfunny) TV specials.

That's NOT the "Bob Hope" that I'm comparing Brian to....you really have to watch some pre-1955 Hope films to realize the similarities. (Some Hope & Crosby "Road" films would work just fine).

Another great "scared" Brian episode is the one about Joe's dream...especially when Brian is staring at Fay's new hairdo with wide-eyed shock and pointing at her, saying, "Look, Joe...the clown...the CLOWN, Joe!!!"