AllMovie

Nothing But the Truth is one of Bob Hope's best non-Road films and is worthy of note for being one of the few films in which Hope did not play his usual character -- a lecherous coward who somehow manages to be endearing despite his flaws. Hope is a much more "normal" character here, one with a greater moral sense than is normally associated with the comic. For his ardent fans, this may be a bit off-putting: the man is still funny, but he's not the persona we have come to expect. But by the same token, those who don't normally take to Hope may find themselves pleasantly surprised by his performance here. Whatever one's feeling, it's clear that the star's inimitable timing is still present, and even playing a different character he can still quip and zing with the best of them. An added plus is Paulette Goddard, teamed with Hope for the third time and given a better part than in her previous outings. Goddard gets to not only display her beauty but also her gifted way with a ditzy character, and it's a smooth and amusing turn. Willie Best is also quite good, although unfortunately in a stereotypical role that is often embarrassing and hard to watch, and there's excellent support from Edward Arnold as well. The basic premise of the film wears thin after a while, and Elliott Nugent's direction is only serviceable, but there's a sprightliness to the dialogue that keeps the whole thing floating along nicely.