College Swing (1938) User Reviews

Catchy songs, enthusiastic cast hold together loose plot

[csteidler · 7/10 · 21 March 2012]

It's 1738, and schoolmaster Edward Everett Horton tells dimwitted student Gracie Allen (as a character named Gracie Alden) that he doubts if she could get her diploma in one hundred years. She is not discouraged: "Well, perhaps not that suddenly, doctor, but in 200 years I'll wager I couldst." --Fast forward to 1938, and a descendant—also named Gracie—is attempting once again to pass the graduation examination from Alden College.

Fast-talking agent Bob Hope has convinced Gracie to hire him as a tutor of sorts; as his fee depends on her successfully graduating, Hope naturally sets out to prepare her for the exam…by stealing a copy of the test questions.

Martha Raye is on hand as a would-be professor with a ridiculous phony French accent. She and Hope quickly strike up a romance and the chemistry between the two lights up their scenes together.

Soon enough, Edward Everett Horton returns to the action, this time around as an eccentric millionaire whose fear of women has kept him as far from civilization as possible. He is back at Alden College to monitor Gracie's exam and is accompanied by wry assistant George Burns.

George and Gracie have a good scene together during the examination: "What is it that runs across the floor like a goldfish?" she asks. (We never find out the answer.) Gracie also has some sweet scenes with Horton, who is charmed by her in spite of himself and his woman-phobia.

John Payne and Florence George play the handsome young romantic couple (and sing "What Did Romeo Say to Juliet?"). Betty Grable and Skinnay Ennis supply some swinging tunes and a great dance ("College Swing"). Hope and Raye also do a great duet—"How'dja Like To Love Me" is cute, bouncy, and really sweet, a highlight of the picture.

All in all, it's not much of a plot, but who cares? The songs are catchy and the entire cast is so much fun to watch: Hope is at his sharpest. Edward Everett Horton is perfect. Gracie is hilarious, Grable is lovely, and Raye is in superb voice. And that's not even mentioning supporting bits from Ben Blue as a mischievous "gym instructor," or the Slate Brothers as singing-and-dancing waiters. (Their "I'm tired" bit is another highlight.)

Mostly just silly stuff—but what fun.

Rhythm on the Campus

[lugonian · 7/10 · 16 February 2007]

COLLEGE SWING (Paramount, 1938), directed by Raoul Walsh, the last of the studio's oddball "College" musicals of the 1930s, follows the tradition of COLLEGE HUMOR (1933), COLLEGE RHYTHM (1934) and COLLEGE HOLIDAY (1936), minus a football game climax. With the exception of "Rhythm," they all featured the comedy team of Burns and Allen. In spite of their names leading the cast, they have little to do together, with Gracie actually going solo this time around. Supporting them are an impressive number of performers: Bob Hope and Martha Raye singing and clowning together: Betty Grable and Jackie Coogan (former top child star of the 1920s) whose appearances are so brief that it would have been better had they not been included at all; and John Payne and Florence George (her movie debut) as the subordinate romantic pair having a couple of duets together, and not much else that would gather much attention

The story, such as it is, begins with a ten minute prologue set in early America, 1738, as a group of choir boys singing, with one suddenly going into swing. The youngster identifies himself as Benny Goodman!!! After that, there's an introduction to the main characters: Hubert Dash (Edward Everett Horton), founder of the the school, handing out diplomas on graduation day to every student but Gracie Alden (Gracie Allen), having been there for nine years and not understanding the answers to the questions. Her grandfather, the squire (Tully Marshall), decides to leave his money as permanent property of the school until such time a future female Alden graduates, leaving 1938 as the deadline. Move forward two hundred years. The school still stands, with new surroundings and hip youngsters such as Betty and Jackie (Betty Grable and Jackie Coogan) gathered together with fellow co-eds at an eatery called The Hangout. Gracie, the decedent of that Alden girl from 1738, having attended college for nine years, must pass her examination in order to graduate and inherit the fortune as required. With the help of Bob Brady (Bob Hope), her private tutor, he writes the answers on a laundry ticket placed on the bench beside her, with Gracie answering all the questions correctly, much to the surprise of George Jonas (George Burns), one of the committee members. After graduating, Gracie inherits the college and becomes the dean of men. Later, Bob encounters Mabel (Martha Raye), disguised as the French woman, Professor "Theresa," The two immediately hit it off and become an item of oddities; while Martin Bates (John Payne) falls in love with Virginia "Ginna" Ashburn (Florence George), the president's daughter after serenading to her dressed up as Cupid (being part of the initiation); Martin's uncle, Hubert Dash (Horton), a decedent of the founder of Alden College, who has a phobia towards women, becomes interested in Gracie to a point of asking her to marry him. When the faculty suspects Gracie hasn't passed her examinations honestly, it's agreed that she must take them again publicly, leaving Bob to think up a new scheme to have Gracie pass the exams or else he'll be out of $25,000.

With songs by Frank Loesser, Burton Lane, Hoagy Carmichael and Manning Sherwin, the motion picture soundtrack includes: "Ding Dong," (sung by Boy Choir); "College Swing" (Betty Grable and Skinney Ennis); "What Did Romeo Say to Juliet?" (John Payne and Florence George); "I'm Tired" (comedy act performed by The Slate Brothers); "How 'Ja Like to Love Me?" (sung by Martha Raye and Bob Hope); "Please?" (Jerry Colonna); "I Fall in Love With You Every Day" (Florence George and John Payne); "You're a Natural" (sung by Gracie Allen); "Irish Jig" (danced by Gracie Allen); "What a Rumba to Romance" (sung by Martha Raye, with Ben Blue); and "College Swing" (finale/ cast). With Raye hogging most of the songs, Gracie comes off best with her pleasing vocalization, even in character, and dancing wonderfully for no apparent reason.

In between the flimsy storyline are song and dance numbers with an assortment of characters whose roles are not fully developed. There's doses of comedy acts including the Slate Brothers (a cross between the Three Stooges and the Ritz Brothers) as slapstick waiters. In the tradition of the Three Stooges, there's eye-poking involved by the Slates, Martha Raye giving one to Bob Hope and Ben Blue (the latter in his usual interpretation of a confused individual). Jerry Colonna, the one with the large mustache and big round eyes, does one of his scream song signatures impersonating Bing Crosby. Look fast for Robert Cummings in a bit as a radio announcer; band-leader Skinney Ennis singing and dancing with Betty Grable; and Cecil Cunningham as Dean Sleet.

Of the "College" Paramount musicals, only COLLEGE SWING made it to video cassette in 1993 and later DVD as part of the "Bob Hope Signature Collection," double featured with Hope's feature debut, THE BIG BROADCAST OF 1938. (COLLEGE SWING did have a Turner Classic Movies broadcast (TCM premiere: October 4, 2018)). Both musicals have one thing in common, each containing a plot without a plot, relying mostly on old-fashioned vaudeville routines inter-wined with songs passing as a story. While not the best of its kind, COLLEGE SWING is good enough entertainment to pass along the time of 87 minutes, redeemed by familiar faces and future stars in so-so material and fine songs. A pity Burns and Allen didn't get to interact more together with their familiar routines. "Good Night, Gracie." .(**1/2)

Showcase of Current/Upcoming Stars

[craig_smith9 · 7/10 · 4 December 2001]

If this movie was being reviewed as a "movie" the rating would not be very high. As a movie with a story it is quite weak. However (and this is a BIG however) it is a very good vehicle for the studio's stars. In a sense it is a 90 minute variety show from 1938. It has very good singing (one forgets how multi-talented many of the early stars of movies were), good dancing sequences, and some very funny slapstick sketches. Gracie Allen's skill at using language and to turn conversations upside down is very well showcased. She really was very good. And, she could sing well and could also dance. All three skills are shown during the movie. All of this makes the movie one to see and enjoy.

Entertaining All-Star Musical with Some Nice Tunes

[Kalaman · 9 April 2004]

This is an oddball, star-studded Paramount musical, frivolously directed by Raoul Walsh, in one of handful of fluffy star vehicles he churned out in the period after his Fox tenure and before he settled at Warners. I saw it because of the music and director Walsh, and I was thoroughly pleased with it.

"College Swing" is one of numerous entertaining musicals set on campus that were popular in the 30s. Including this one, there were also "College Humor"(1933), "College Rhythm"(1934), "Old Man Rhythm" (1935),"College Holiday"(1936), and "Pigskin Parade"(1936) among others. These are feathery, inadvertently escapist froths that are generally characterized by zesty songs, funny one-liners, and implausible boy-meets-girl romance.

I tend to agree with the other users that plot of "College Swing" is inordinately silly and weak; however, that doesn't make it unwatchable. The songs and dance numbers have their own peculiar excitement. The number in the beginning featuring the young, up-and-coming Betty Grable and fellow students dancing at a pub is particularly delightful. I also liked the funny scenes between Bob Hope & Martha Raye. Florence George & John Payne make nice young romantic couple. Gracie Allen & George Burns continue their raucous shenanigans, though their comic acts tend to slow down the plot as much as enliven it.

Worth seeing if you like this sort of fluff.

Variety musical with swing and comedy

[SimonJack · 7/10 · 21 September 2015]

"College Swing" is one of the many comedy-musical films that Hollywood produced during the 1930s. Once sound was added to motion pictures, it seems as though the public couldn't get enough of the variety type of musicals. As with most others, the plot is very thin, and in this one, very goofy. But it's just there to string together a number of very good songs, dance numbers and comedy routines. And "College Swing" is loaded with these and a great cast to carry them out.

Many big names of entertainment and the silver screen are in this film, most credited but some not. Films like this let the public see and hear a variety of otherwise unknown talents and groups perform. The band at the heart of the review numbers in the film is Skinnay Ennis. He didn't achieve the big-time fame of the likes of Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Harry James, or some others. But his orchestras was a regular feature of Bob Hope's radio show, and later the Bud Abbott and Lou Costello radio show. His popularity from those led to solid bookings on the road circuit during summers.

Gracie Allen is the principal comedy character in "College Swing," followed by Martha Raye who also has some good musical numbers. Bob Hope's role was more as an emcee, although his character, Bud Brady, cooks up most of the shenanigans that provide some of the laughs. This film has a great supporting cast as well as some younger stars in small roles, such as Betty Grable and Jackie Coogan. This is a good film for those who enjoy swing music, especially as it was played and performed in its heyday.

Good Gracie! College will never be the same!

[mark.waltz · 7/10 · 1 April 2013]

In the closest example on film how a Broadway musical might have looked in 1938, "College Swing" is a swingin' delight from start to finish, starting off with a flashback to 1738 where the ancestors of Alden College deal with Gracie's look-alike predecessor in the art of idiocy. Her grandfather informs the master of the little wooden schoolhouse that should no female member of the Alden family graduate in 200 years, the family fortune will be given to the college. Fast forward to the present day, and Gracie is being tutored by Bob Hope who has a bit of chicanery to get his hands on a handsome fee, ultimately making Gracie "Dean of Men" and bringing in her own staff to, as she says, revolutionize the college industry, or maybe even get rid of colleges altogether.

A superb cast of comics and musical talent explode on screen, including Edward Everett Horton (as the original school master and his descendant, a girl-shy alumnus who creates the test for Gracie to take), George Burns as his acid tongued assistant, Martha Raye as a "romance teacher" with a fake French accent, and Cecil Cunningham as the dean of women, plus cameos by diminutive Ben Blue (as the new phys-ed instructor) and Jerry Colonna as the Air-Raid sound-alike music professor.

A young love story isn't as interesting as the comedy, but their love song ("What did Romeo say to Juliet?") is sweet and amusingly staged. Raye and Hope go wild with "How'd you like to Love Me?" while Allen shows off a fine light voice singing "You're a Natural" to the reluctant Horton. The highlight, however, is the title song, lead by a young Betty Grable who has stardom written all over her.

Packs A Lot of Talent

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 3 January 2006]

I'm normally one who likes a decent plot in a film. But in the case of College Swing a plot would only have gotten in the way.

Headed in this case by Burns and Allen, the talent procured for this film is priceless. Director Raoul Walsh who normally does more serious action/adventure stuff got a whole group of people in a film barely over ninety minutes, to all get a significant turn at displaying their talents. John Payne and Florence George sing nicely even if with some unmemorable songs, then husband and wife Jackie Coogan and Betty Grable do a nice swing dance number, Edward Everett Horton is his usual puritanical fuss budget, and comedy stylists Bob Hope, Martha Raye, Ben Blue, and Jerry Colonna all have memorable bits. The cast even includes in bit roles Bob Cummings and Richard Denning. And of course one of the best swing bands around in Hal Kemp with Skinnay Ennis as vocalist.

Usually Burns and Allen were rarely asked to carry a film. The only time they ever did was in Here Comes Cookie. They are top billed here, but they sure have a lot of support as you can see.

I've said on previous reviews of other films of their's that the comedy of George Burns and Gracie Allen is almost Monty Pythonesque in its humor. In fact the plot such as it is is laid out in a prologue. 200 years earlier Gracie has failed for about the 10th time to graduate college in the Class of 1738. She's hopelessly dumb and her grandfather Tully Marshall makes a bet with the head of the school that if in 200 years no female member of his family ever graduates from college, this college will get the clear title of his fortune which they will hold in trust until then.

Wouldn't you know it, 200 years later a female descendant also Gracie Allen does graduate and she inherits the college. Like she did in Here Comes Cookie, Gracie makes some interesting changes in the faculty and curriculum of the school. Of course it's with a little chicanery she does graduate and that's a problem too.

College Swing is one of those madcap films typical of the Thirties that is the very definition of escapist entertainment. No themes, no messages, just a lot of good laughs.

College Swing is quite a nice mix of comedy and music but don't get too hung up on plot, that's all I'll say!

[tavm · 7/10 · 4 February 2014]

This is a hodgepodge of various skits and songs haphazardly put together by a wisp of a plot of Gracie Allen inheriting a college by getting all her answers right after 200 years of her descendants doing the opposite. Ms. Allen does appear with husband and performing partner George Burns here but not all the way through as she also does scenes with Edward Everett Horton and Bob Hope, whose second feature this was for him. There's also Martha Raye and Ben Blue for additional comedy relief. Romantic leads are John Payne and Florence George though there's very little of that. Oh, and Betty Grable and then-husband Jackie Coogan also cut the rug quite nicely. In summary, this was quite entertaining and if you don't really care about the "plot", College Swing should go down real easy for you.

Mainstream "B" musical links on- and off-screen lovers

[rsoonsa · 5/10 · 6 June 2001]

Never a consistent director, Raoul Walsh permits this collection of set pieces to proceed in a disjointed manner as a means of showcasing Paramount contract players. The scenario is inordinately silly but provides substantial roles for Gracie Allen, Bob Hope, Martha Raye, Edward Everett Horton, John Payne, and Betty Grable. Hope's performance in BIG BROADCAST OF 1938 was reviewed very favorably by Damon Runyon, a friend of producer Lewis Gensler, who remembered the comedian from Broadway and vaudeville, and who is responsible for significantly enhancing Hope's part in COLLEGE SWING. Allen's ability for making communicable to audiences her giddy semantic high jinks is in full array, with her partner and husband George Burns serving, as is usual, as her straight man, as does Horton, but the talented comedienne nearly steals the film with her performance of an Irish jig, danced for no apparent reason at all. The 21-year-old Betty Grable, already a veteran of more than 30 films thanks to the studio contract system, performs with unalloyed enthusiasm and has an opportunity to display her hoofing, sometimes partnered by her first husband, Jackie Coogan. Lovely lyric soprano Florence George, well-known in opera and on radio, makes her cinematic debut, romantically paired with success opposite John Payne, and although her film career was very brief and not promoted, that could not have been due to her showing here. The committee responsible for this effort wisely decides to unbridle zany Martha Raye, as she irrepressibly dominates those scenes in which she appears and sings very well, indeed. Despite its low budget, the work benefits from excellent art direction, and plaudits must be handed to the outstanding costume design by Edith Head. In sum, COLLEGE SWING is only a minor attempt, but is laden with a cast of diverse abilities, which acts with carefree enthusiasm.

Rather fun ensemble of Paramount's stars of comedy and music

[weezeralfalfa · 7/10 · 8 August 2018]

The consensus of most reviewers is that this film has so flimsy a story, that it should be considered a variety show or showcase for some of it's newer stars. To me, this is an overstatement. The associated drama may be loony and contrived, but there is a thread of a story, mostly silly, that runs through most of the film. This begins in the prologue, which is sited in 1738, in a schoolhouse, evidently in New England. The graduation ceremony is being conducted by E.E. Horton. A boy's choir sings. But Gracie Alden has failed to graduate for the 9th year. Her father, who owns the school, states that if one of her female descendants, over the next 200 years qualifies to graduate, she will be given possession of the school, as well as some financial inheritance. Otherwise, 200 years from now, the school will be declared independent.......Now, it's exactly 200 years later, and Gracie's descendant, also called Gracie, has failed her examination 9 times, again. She gets one more chance to win the school. Everyone assumes she has no chance to pass. However, she hires an aid in Bud Brady(Bob Hope) who prepares a cheat sheet. However, he mistakenly gives her his laundry supply list! Miraculously, this contains the answers to all the questions, and she passes! She's about to make some revolutionary changes in policy. Henceforth, there will be no entrance requirements. The present faculty is fired, and some weird incompetents take their places. Also, the new position of professor of romance it created. This is filled by Theresa(Martha Ray). Ben Blue is the thoroughly incompetent instructor of women's physical fitness. Big-eyed ,mustached, Jerry Colonna is the new music instructor, and demonstrates his signature siren-like monotone. Later, there is some question as to whether Gracie cheated on her exam. So, another exam is given. Hope comes up with another cheating scheme, invented by Ben Blue, involving a microphone, small purse radio, and small earphones, on the ends of her glasses, which she normally doesn't wear. Hope feeds answers to her. It goes well at first, but then.......Yep. Pretty goofy. If you can't take Gracie's brand of humor, nor that of Martha Ray, who dominates much of the second half, you will definitely be in trouble......There's slight plot threads that involve romantic couples. Handsome John Payne and gorgeous blond Florence George are the main one, who appear several times. The first time, Payne, with wings, serenades Florence with "What did Romeo Say to Juliet?", and she responds. Later, they sing "I Fall in Love with You Every Day"....... Near the end, Gracie and Horton become a pair. Gracie sings "You're a Natural" , followed by dancing an Irish jig. Martha and Ben sing and do a weird dance to "What a Rumba Does to Romance." Martha and Hope sing "Howdja Like to Love Me", while the 3 Slate brothers sing and dance a bit as part of the initial "College Swing" production. Speaking of "College Swing", it's sung and danced to just after the prologue, and again as the finale. Betty Grable leads the singing and dancing for the initial rendition, while Martha Raye leads the singing and Betty leads the dancing in the finale.......This was one of only 2 films that Florence George played a part in. Perhaps she lacked something important in her personality that Betty had. She would, however, have a musical and acting career in other media........If you think you would like Hope, Martha, and Betty as a star team, I can recommend "Give Me a Sailor", which came out the same year. Both this film and "College Swing" are currently available at YouTube.

Fortunately, This Movie Has No Plot

[Rob-120 · 5/10 · 16 October 2016]

To say that "College Swing" is a movie with no plot is an understatement. It barely has a scenario. Most of it is built around a "story idea." But in this case, the fact that is has no plot is a good thing.

The "story" (what there is of it) focuses on Gracie Alden (Gracie Allen), who will inherit Alden College, which was founded by her ancestors, if she can pass an exam and graduate after nine years as a student there. Of course, Gracie's doing her classic dumb-as-rocks-girl comedy routine that she did so well.

When she passes the exam through sheer luck, Gracie sets about making "Gracie"-like changes at the college. ("I'm going to appoint myself as the new Dean of Boys." "But the Dean of Boys is someone who watches the boys at the school, and looks after them." "Exactly. I'm an expert at watching the boys.")

The movie is a rapid-fire mashup of comedy sketches, musical numbers, and Big Band "Swing" dances strung together over 86 minutes. It moves quickly from sketch to song to dance number, as if it's afraid the plot will catch up with it. But the lack of plot is an advantage with this type of movie. If they stopped the routines long enough to develop the plot, it would probably get boring.

As usual, George Burns is on hand to give Gracie her college exam, and to feed her the straight lines, and Bob Hope serves as Gracie's tutor. The cast also includes Edward Everett Horton as the college's stuffy benefactor; Martha Raye as a "love professor" who takes up with Hope; Ben Blue as an inept Phys. Ed. professor; Jerry Colonna as a music professor; John Payne ("Miracle on 34th Street") and opera singer Florence George as the "Young Lovers" stock characters; and the Slate Brothers (a "Three Stooges" comedy group) as a trio of bumbling waiters at the local college hangout (which is called, what else, "The Hangout"). Skinnay Ennis and his band provide the "Swing" music, and Betty Grable and Jackie Coogan (who were married at this time) do the "Swing" numbers. It's a pretty routine film, meant to capitalize on the "Swing" craze. It's not very memorable, but at least, it never gets boring.

"College Swing" was an attempt to capitalize on the "Swing" dance craze, which was popular with college kids in the late 1930s. (Hollywood is still doing this today, with movies like the "High School Musical," "Pitch Perfect," and "Step Up" series.) If you enjoy 1930s comedy and "Swing" music, you'll like this one. It's not a very good movie, but at least it's entertaining, and never dull.

A real delight

[VADigger · 9/10 · 5 September 2009]

During the thirties each studio had its musical specialty. Warners was cranking out the Busy Berkeley spectaculars; Fox had Shirley Temple and Alice Faye; Goldwyn had his annual Eddie Cantor extravaganza; RKO had Astaire and Rogers, and MGM was starting a tradition of big budget spectacles. Paramount went a little low brow, bringing out a series of somewhat goofy, utterly charming movies that were more like screwball comedies with music. And some surprisingly good music, too. Don't worry too much about the plot - just let yourself be thoroughly entertained by Bob Hope, Martha Raye, Edward Everett Horton, and Burns and Allen at their very best. As if to emphasize the lightness of the movie, at the end the entire cast waves goodbye to the audience.

Gracie Allen - Bigamist?

[DKosty123 · 6/10 · 8 May 2020]

This is one of those College musicals of the 1930's where there's lots of stars, and a silly plot to connect up the songs. It also spans 200 years from 1738 to 1938. That is double how old George Burns would live too. Only in this Gracie is already cracking jokes in 1738. Kind of a joke on how things turned out.

Believe it or not Gracie is single here (for years after the Burns were married she would play a single woman in their act) and believe it or not she strikes up a romance with Edward Everett Horton (Bullwinkle) who in real life was born 10 years before George. Yes, Gracie likes older men, and she baffles all of them here.

Gracie looks good and young here and presents here triple threat- jokes, singing and dancing. She never gets enough credit for that. While Bob Hope does not get a huge role here, he does have several sequences with Gracie. No romance, just larceny in mind for Hope who rehearses here for being The Lemon Drop Kid later in his career in the harmless confidence game for money of trying to help Gracie take over Alden College.

Martha Raye sings and dances her way into this one and being young and well endowed does not hurt her image either. She does add some humor but it is later in her career when she becomes more comic. Right now, she looks too good. It is a different way to Raye.

Raoul Walsh is a top notch director, and when the last song is over, the entire cast does a group walk towards the camera waving as they come. It is much like a scene the Marx Brothers do at the end of A Day At The Races. Yes, these films were both done in this era - Races was 1937. So I guess they just decided to redo that. I love Walsh's direction in a lot of films but here he is just doing a musical. Raoul does manage comedy well, and even mixes it into a western in 1940 I highly recommend which like this is an actual B feature with a big name cast. The Western is Dark Command and in that one he manages to direct John Wayne, Roy Rogers, Walter Pidgeon, Gabby Hayes, and Marjorie Main and actually that film is vastly under rated. It's the movie Wayne and Claire Tevor did after Stage Coach.

Burns and Allen get scarce few scenes here, but then they do not really let George sing. I guess that's why he sang so much after Gracie left, to make up for this one, and others back then. He does get a bit of a chance to do his straight man routine with Gracie. He proved he could do comedy on TV and after Gracie was gone in the movies. He is one of the better straight men in the business too.

The music has aged since this was made, but it is worth looking at and marveling, wow what a cast. Found it on you tube.

Enough with all the singing!!

[planktonrules · 3/10 · 10 April 2010]

This film seems to make the mistake of combining way too much singing with a comedy. As a result, the comedy is diluted--and for me rather frustrating--especially since most of the music is pretty lame. In other words, as a musical it stinks and the comedy just isn't front and center as it should be.

It begins in the 18th century. A group of students are graduating but Gracie Alden (Gracie Allen) is not one of them. For the 9th straight year, she has failed and her being addle-brained means it's likely she'll never graduate. Frustrated by this, her grandfather announces that if Gracie or any of her female descendants EVER graduate that he'll will the school to her. But, in the meantime, the school belongs to the school.

The film now switches to the 20th century. And, like you see in many old films, Gracie Allen plays a contemporary Gracie--as if, by magic, an identical is produced generations later. The same can also be said for Edward Everett Horton, as he, too, has an 18th and 20th century double.

Gracie #2 is determined to finally graduate and hires Bob Hope to "help her" (cheat). Everyone is shocked when she actually does pass and the school becomes hers. Immediately she begins making lots of staff changes and totally ruins the once-proud school.

Along the way, there are lots of side stories of moderate interest at best. The problem, however, is that everyone sings so darn much that these side stories never seem to be developed. In fact, I found it a chore watching the film and the talents of Gracie Allen, Bob Hope and the rest were completely lost in the process. As for poor George Burns, he probably got the worst of it, as you barely notice he's even in the film and he just seems to be there for no particular reason. So, despite a very good cast and a silly plot that could have been a lot of fun, the film is a real chore to watch thanks to almost non-stop god-awful singing. My advice is look for another Gracie Allen or Bob Hope film...almost ANY other!

Gracie Allen & Martha Raye Steal the Show

[drednm · 5 April 2005]

College Swing is a minor musical comedy that stars Gracie Allen and George Burns in their followup to their underrated A Damsel in Distress with Fred Astaire. Screwy plot involves Gracie needing to pass a college exam and employing Bob Hope to help her. Martha Raye joins the faculty as professor of romance. The storyline makes no sense at all but with these 4 comedy giants, it's hard to resist. Throw into this zany pot Betty Grable, Edward Everett Horton, Ben Blue, Jackie Coogan (then married to Grable), John Payne, Robert Cummings, Richard Denny, Florence George, and the wonderful Cecil Cunningham and you have a spirited but aimless film. Raye displays her good singing voice and cracks up Hope in a few scenes. Burns comes off worst. Worth a look.

Gracie Allen's song is the lovely highlight of the film!

[MyMovieTVRomance · 7/10 · 9 February 2022]

After all the super scary movies I've been watching lately, this was the perfect cleanse. There's nothing so comforting and cozy as a lighthearted film from the Golden Age of Hollywood- except for a sitcom from the Golden Age of Television (so I also had "The Lucy Show" playing as I slept right after watching a horror movie, to keep the bad dreams at bay).

This wasn't laugh-out-loud funny, but it was simple and cute, with a bunch of familiar, friendly faces, which is what I was going for. This was mostly a musical revue type movie, and an excuse for Gracie Allen to sling her comedic zingers. So, not much of a plot at all, but, I did like it.

And on a final note, if Gracie Allen (of "Burns and Allen" fame) would've released an album of songs, I would get it! She really should have sang more, because her voice was so beautifully fitting for the songs of the time! She has a mere 1 song here in this movie, and it's the absolute highlight of the film! Worth seeing the movie for that song alone- which is what originally attracted me to it.

A (slow!) showcase, not a movie!

[ellaf · 5/10 · 23 December 2006]

If you happen to catch that movie, see it, otherwise, don't kill yourself! It has no plot at all, but I mean AT ALL! Everybody comes and goes to do his bit for posterity but there's no story to link them all together. And the pace is so very slow! In general, let's say it's a nonsensical movie about a nerd woman not interested in college but who tries everything to be the dean of the boys of that college just to end up forgetting the whole thing. And that lasts the whole damned duration of that movie! In between, every actor, some good, some not, come to dance or to sing once or twice and that's about it for "College Swing". In that way, it's a showcase, not a movie.

Betty Grable sings beautifully and sparkles as always. And it is fun to see her do some steps with Jackie Coogan...who doesn't utter one single line! It's a waste of big talents for both of them. A shame! Bob Hope, usually good, is plain boring in that movie. Just the same for Ben Blue, usually funny but here just plain unfunny and uninspired.

George Burns is very low-key and not very important in the plot. Gracie Allen has her moments but, be careful, her voice gets on your nerves. She does one dance sequence very well executed and funny at the same time...but it fades out before it ends properly! For those who don't know her, she's a strange mix of Mary Pickford and Fanny Brice...though I much prefer those last two than Gracie Allen! Edward Everett Horton is rather good while John Payne, besides being very handsome as usual, is not used very effectively here.

In fact, besides Betty Grable, the only one that fares well and much saves the picture all to herself is Martha Raye, always so game to do anything, not bashful for one penny, energetic, brassy, ugly if required...well, a real entertainer! And watch for her song with her mouth full of banana...it had my only laugh for the entire picture.

That pretty much says it all.

A Variety Show with Plenty of Swing

[LeonardKniffel · 5/10 · 7 April 2020]

Really a variety show, written to showcase the team of George Burns and Gracie Allen, as well as Bob Hope, Edward Everett Horton, and other comics of the period, this is also a great glimpse into the music of the time, with some fascinating demonstrations of swing dancing and a production number built around the silly and wonderful song "What a Rumba Does to Romance," which includes Martha Raye doing a send-up of the popular dance of the day as well as a marvelous display of timing and the dress styles of the 1930s. Martha Raye was considered quite hilarious in her day. --Musicals on the Silver Screen, American Library Association, 2013