College Humor (1933)

College Humor - 1933

Next comes 1933's "College Humor", starring Bing Crosby and Jack Oakie.  The film revolves around a college professor and a football player who falls in love with the same girl.  Another storyline involves a different player who must deal with the team's dependence on him and the stress that can bring.

The film's supporting cast includes Richard Arlen, Mary Carlisle, George Burns, Gracie Allen, Mary Kornman, and Grady Sutton.

The film begins when freshman Barney Shirrel (Oakie) comes to Midwest University.  He's going to be on the football team and also wants to be part of the Delta fraternity as well.  Barney comes from a wealthy family (his father owns a creamery), and all the guys start to hit Barney up for money, cigarettes, and matches.

On his first night, he is introduced to Miss Amber Davis, whom he takes an instant liking to.

It's a cute romance that blossoms as the two sing "Down The Old Ox Road" together.

Barney is initiated into the fraternity.  The guys dress him up in drag and take turns giving him whacks with paddles.  He's thrilled to be a part of it.

He becomes friends with the guys on the football team.  When one of the star players leaves, he gives his helmet to Barney, who's touched by the gesture.

The next term starts and we are ushered into class with Professor Danvers (Crosby).  Barney's sister Barbara now attends the school, and loves the way Danvers teaches his class unconventionally.  The trouble is she's already got a boyfriend another of the football team's star players.

When she gets Danvers to walk her to her sorority house, her boyfriend Mondrake is waiting.  With a quick kiss and a wave of her hand, she gets him to come around and forget that Danvers was even there.

On the night of the sorority dance, Danvers sings his hit song "Learn To Croon" to Barbara.  She gets him to chaperone the dance.  Mondrake won't be there as football players aren't allowed to attend dances.

On of the most delightful things of the movie happens at the dance: a performance by legendary comedy team Burns and Allen.  "Nice personality," Gracie says about a girl she sees, "she looks like the girl my brother married."  "Which brother?" asks George.  "The married one," comes the reply.  The two also do a song for the audience called "Colleen of Killarney".

Mondrake shows up drunk to the dance after hearing that Barbara is there with Danvers.  He makes a scene, and Barbara takes him outside and tells him to go home and go to bed.  It's not worth his getting in trouble and getting kicked out of the next day's football game.

She goes back inside after he leaves just in time to hear Danvers sing a reprise of "Learn To Croon".

Mondrake doesn't go home.  He gets arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct.  Barbara pleads with Danvers to try and find him.  When he does find him, he gets him out of jail and to the football stadium.

The crowd is restless and starts to chant Mondrake's name, but inside the locker room, he can barely function.

It's up to Barney to get him in shape and sober him up enough to be able to play.  He does everything from try to wrestle with him to putting him under a cold shower.

But the college president is having none of Mondrake's behavior and promptly expels him.  After Danvers goes to bat for him, he resigns in a huff.

Barbara feels badly about Mondrake.  She goes to him and proposes, hoping to cheer him up.  He tells her he knows she's in love with Danvers, and he releases her to go to him.

Of course, Danvers is packing to leave.  She gets to him just before, and she manages to get him to hum a bit to her.  They leave the school together.

With the responsibility of the football team solely on Barney, he starts to crack under the pressure.  He turns increasingly to smoking and drinking.  His girlfriend Amber hates it and tells him they need to take a break.  Unfortunately, she tells him this just before a very important game.

The crowd is chanting Barney's name.  Sadly, he just can't seem to get it together, fumbling balls and bungling plays in rapid succession.

The guy who gave Barney his football helmet is in the stands and goes to confront Barney.  He tells Barney to give him back his football helmet, he's not worthy to wear it.  He smiles as Barney puts on the helmet and runs out to the field with renewed vigor.

Barbara and Danvers have even come to the game to watch Barney.  They enthusiastically lead the crowd in cheers and songs.  Barney rallies and helps the team win the game, becoming the university hero.

Later, we find Barney has married Amber and gone to work at his father's creamery.  His father insists he work the business from the lowest job on up.  When Amber comes to pick him up, they hear a familiar song on the radio.

It's Danvers singing "Learn To Croon" as he looks at Barbara.  Barney and Amber smile at each other and share a kiss as they listen.

Cast rundown:

   Bing Crosby......................................Prof. Frederick Danvers

   Jack Oakie........................................Barney Shirrel

   Richard Arlen....................................Mondrake

   Mary Carlisle.....................................Barbara Shirrel

   George Burns....................................Himself

   Gracie Allen......................................Herself

   Mary Kornman...................................Amber Davis

   Grady Sutton....................................Timid Freshman

And that's it for College Humor.  When it was first released in 1933, the film was 12 minutes shorter.  When audiences complained about a choppy ending, deleted sequences were restored.

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