College Swing (1938)
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17% want to see it
(923 ratings)
It's hard to go wrong with such stars as Bob Hope, Burns & Allen, Martha Raye and Edward Everett Horton, and College Swing doesn't-go wrong, that is. The film begins in 1738, when a pact is drawn up between the Alden family and a highly respected Colonial college: If any female member of the… More It's hard to go wrong with such stars as Bob Hope, Burns & Allen, Martha Raye and Edward Everett Horton, and College Swing doesn't-go wrong, that is. The film begins in 1738, when a pact is drawn up between the Alden family and a highly respected Colonial college: If any female member of the family can pass her college exams within a 200-year period, ownership of the institution will be turned over to her. Comes 1938, and the last of the Alden girls, giddy Gracie Alden (Gracie Allen, of course) hires glib-tongued tutor Bud Brady (Bob Hope) to help her pass her exams. She also tries to win over no-nonsense professor Hubert Dash (Edward Everett Horton), who has no intention of handing his college over to a blithering idiot like Gracie. Once she has inherited the place, however, Gracie turns it into a jumpin'-jivin' joint, complete with jitterbugging students, swing bands and remote radio broadcasts. Though George Burns' role is nearly nonexistent, he does get to indulge in his patented cross-talk with Allen. Others contributing to the fun are Ben Blue, Jerry Colonna, Betty Grable, and Grable's then-husband Jackie Coogan. Highlights include Allen's spirited Irish jig and her endearing song duet with Edward Everett Horton. College Swing is the sort of high-powered, all-star entertainment that is virtually impossible to reproduce today. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Raoul Walsh
- Written By
- Walter DeLeon, Francis Martin
- Genres
- Musical & Performing Arts, Comedy
Unrated,
Critic Reviews
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Michael E. Grost, Classic Film and Television
Cheerful musical, with inventive Raoul Walsh style and nice touches of fantasy images.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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George Burns
as George Jonas
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Gracie Allen
as Gracie Alden
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Martha Raye
as Mable
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Bob Hope
as Bud Brady
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Edward Everett Horton
as Hubert Dash
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Florence George
as Ginna Ashburn
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Ben Blue
as Ben Volt
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Betty Grable
as Betty
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Jackie Coogan
as Jackie
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John Payne
as Martin Bates
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Cecil Cunningham
as Dean Sleet
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Robert Cummings
as Radio Announcer
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Skinnay Ennis
as Skinnay
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The Slate Brothers
as Themselves
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Jerry Colonna
as Prof. Yascha Koloski
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Tully Marshall
as Grandpa Alden
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Edward J. Le Saint
as Dr. Storm
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Barlowe Borland
as Dean
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Jerry Bergen
as Prof. Jasper Chinn
- Richard Denning
- Gracie Fields
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John Hubbard
as Student
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Alphonse Martell
as Headwaiter
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Charles Trowbridge
as Dr. Ashburn
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Dorothy White
as Dancer
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The Bob Mitchell Boy Choir
as Himself
