US Release date: 23 November 1949
First Melbourne Saturday Suburban: 18 February 1950
Genre: Comedy
Country: USA
Running time: 80 minutes.
Director: Alexander Hall
Cast: Bob Hope, Rhonda Fleming & Roland Young
Australian Distributor: Paramount
Melbourne Premiere Venue: Union’s State Theatre for four weeks from 23 December 1950 with Red, Hot and Blue as support.
Suburban Release Type: Union 8-W-1
Rankings
| Rank | ||
| EF Points | 378 | 20 |
| EF PPE | 8.40 | 9 |
| Metres Travelled | 492,143 | 142 |
| Average MT | 10,937 | 75 |
| Engagements | 45 | 177 |
| Slots | 85 | 21 |
| Weeks | 40 | 2 |
| Weeks as % of engagements | 88.89% | 5 |
| Saturdays | 1 | 336 |
| Sats as % of engagements | 2.22% | 347 |
| Tuesdays | 4 | 281 |
| Tues as % of engagements | 8.89% | 314 |
| First billed | 45 | 74 |
| Second billed | 0 | 293* |
| Feature only | 0 | 34* |
Independent Ratios
| Engagements weeks 1-10 | 43 |
| Ratio | 95.56% |
| Difference to chain ratio | 8.89% |
| Eng weeks 11-26 | 2 |
| Ratio | 4.44% |
| Difference to chain ratio | -3.18% |
| Eng weeks 27-52 | 0 |
| Ratio | 0.00% |
| Difference to chain ratio | -5.71% |
| Hoyts eng | 0 |
| Ratio | 0.00% |
| Difference to chain ratio | -0.84% |
| Independent eng | 35 |
| Ratio | 77.78% |
| Difference to chain ratio | 0.67% |
| Suburban eng | 10 |
| Ratio | 22.22% |
| Difference to chain ratio | 0.17% |
Notes: This Bob Hope vehicle was a smash hit for Paramount with an EF ranking in the Top 20 and 9th spot on the EF PPE ladder. Aided immeasurably by 40 of its 45 plays being full weeks (2nd overall). Unusually for a Union release there were only two screenings after its seventh week. A variety of support features were used over its run.
The Great Lover engagements
| SUBURB | VENUE | CHAIN | DATE | W | D | B | CO-FEATURE |
| Collingwood | Austral | Suburban | 18/2/50 | 1 | T | 1 | Perils of Pauline |
| Albert Park | Kinema | Independent | 18/2/50 | 1 | W | 1 | Winter Wonderland |
| Burnley | Burnley | Independent | 18/2/50 | 1 | W | 1 | Robin Hood of Texas |
| North Carlton | Adelphi | Independent | 18/2/50 | 1 | W | 1 | Rusty Saves a Life |
| Richmond | National | Independent | 18/2/50 | 1 | W | 1 | Robin Hood of Texas |
| St.Kilda | Astor | Independent | 18/2/50 | 1 | W | 1 | Winter Wonderland |
| Toorak | Village | Independent | 18/2/50 | 1 | W | 1 | Winter Wonderland |
| St.Kilda | Palais | Suburban | 18/2/50 | 1 | W | 1 | John Loves Mary |
| Newmarket | Newmarket | Suburban | 25/2/50 | 2 | T | 1 | Perils of Pauline |
| Brunswick | Empire | Independent | 25/2/50 | 2 | W | 1 | Robin Hood of Texas |
| Caulfield | Camden | Independent | 25/2/50 | 2 | W | 1 | Black Eagle |
| Elsternwick | Esquire | Independent | 25/2/50 | 2 | W | 1 | Angel and the Badman |
| Malvern | Embassy | Independent | 25/2/50 | 2 | W | 1 | Bluebeard |
| Moonee Ponds | Moonee | Independent | 25/2/50 | 2 | W | 1 | Rusty Saves a Life |
| West Brunswick | Western | Independent | 25/2/50 | 2 | W | 1 | Robin Hood of Texas |
| Westgarth | Westgarth | Independent | 25/2/50 | 2 | W | 1 | Black Eagle |
| Preston | Planet | Suburban | 25/2/50 | 2 | W | 1 | I Surrender Dear |
| East Brunswick | Liberty | Independent | 4/3/50 | 3 | W | 1 | Bluebeard |
| East Malvern | Waverley | Independent | 4/3/50 | 3 | W | 1 | Winter Wonderland |
| Essendon | Regal | Independent | 4/3/50 | 3 | W | 1 | Angel and the Badman |
| Glenferrie | Glen | Independent | 4/3/50 | 3 | W | 1 | Black Eagle |
| Hawthorn | Vogue | Independent | 4/3/50 | 3 | W | 1 | Black Eagle |
| Balwyn | Balwyn | Suburban | 4/3/50 | 3 | W | 1 | Rusty Saves a Life |
| Camberwell | Rivoli | Suburban | 4/3/50 | 3 | W | 1 | John Loves Mary |
| Ormond | Plaza | Suburban | 4/3/50 | 3 | W | 1 | Rusty Saves a Life |
| Preston | St. James | Suburban | 4/3/50 | 3 | W | 1 | I Surrender Dear |
| Fairfield | Fairfield | Suburban | 11/3/50 | 4 | T | 1 | Perils of Pauline |
| Ashburton | Civic | Independent | 11/3/50 | 4 | W | 1 | Till We Meet Again |
| Middle Brighton | Dendy | Independent | 11/3/50 | 4 | W | 1 | Winter Wonderland |
| North Brighton | Gardenvale | Independent | 11/3/50 | 4 | W | 1 | Winter Wonderland |
| Footscray | Grand | Independent | 11/3/50 | 4 | W | 1 | Black Eagle |
| Sandringham | Roxy | Independent | 11/3/50 | 4 | W | 1 | Last Crooked Mile |
| Coburg | Plaza | Independent | 18/3/50 | 5 | W | 1 | Robin Hood of Texas |
| Heidelberg | Orient | Independent | 18/3/50 | 5 | W | 1 | Red, Hot and Blue |
| Newport | Plaza | Independent | 18/3/50 | 5 | W | 1 | Robin Hood of Texas |
| Surrey Hills | Surrey | Independent | 18/3/50 | 5 | W | 1 | Rusty Leads the Way |
| Williamstown | Empress | Independent | 18/3/50 | 5 | W | 1 | Robin Hood of Texas |
| Yarraville | Sun | Independent | 18/3/50 | 5 | W | 1 | Black Eagle |
| North Melbourne | Central | Independent | 25/3/50 | 6 | W | 1 | Rusty Saves a Life |
| Oakleigh | Plaza | Independent | 25/3/50 | 6 | W | 1 | I Beacame a Criminal |
| Port Melbourne | Port | Independent | 25/3/50 | 6 | W | 1 | Rusty Saves a Life |
| Chelsea | Plaza | Independent | 1/4/50 | 7 | W | 1 | Red, Hot and Blue |
| Box Hill | Regent | Suburban | 1/4/50 | 7 | W | 1 | Bride Wore Boots |
| North Richmond | Victoria | Independent | 3/6/50 | 16 | S | 1 | All Over the Town |
| Elwood | Broadway | Independent | 17/6/50 | 18 | T | 1 | Inside Story |
The 1950 Project 