High Time

I first saw this film in 1962 and really enjoyed not only the plot, but the music by the great Henry Mancini. The theme song, "The Second Time Around" especially added to the overall effect of the picture. The movie harkens back to a time of youthful bliss that I think a lot of us would like to once more capture. This "look back" was done with great sensitivity and imagination, and is truly a delightful motion picture. I was most fortunate to see it again in 1995, on the AMC channel, 33 years after I first saw it.

This is Bing Crosby at his comical best. A very over-the-hill millionaire decides to return to college and get his degree. He goes through all the usual trials and tribulations of the normal undergraduate, including initiations, all-night crash studying, and falling in love. Unfortunately, at his age, his "girl" happens to be one of the faculty, and dating or marrying faculty members is forbidden. Even his kids (he's widowed) frown on his decisions and add to the comedy and light drama. This is one of director Blake Edward's best. A wonderful family movie with something for everyone.

High Time is a wonderful Bing Crosby vehicle that has a successful middle aged businessman with grown children (and a widower) indulging a whim by taking a step back in his life to get the college education he missed the first time around.

While a seeming slam dunk to be a "fish out of water" comedy, instead Crosby's character finds a way to integrate successfully with his younger classmates, learning from them as they also benefit from his experience.

The movie records a lot of the college experience as you would have found it in the 50s or early 60s. It was a more innocent, more friendly time, with school spirit, dorms, frats, cramming, and the excitement of coming back together to start each new school year.

This is a wonderful film that stands up well. Things such as fall bonfires were and still are common campus traditions. Fraternity pledging pranks ... still around. Dormitories ... still around. Hamburger/Barbecue restaurants ... still around. LOL

Is the movie a touch simple and innocent compared to modern life and modern comedy fare? Sure it is. But trust me, that is NOT a bad thing.

Sit back and enjoy this very entertaining and relaxing film.

A fun romp of a 50 year old Bing Crosby returning to college after becoming a multi-millionaire. He seeks to be just one of the gang. I really enjoy this Blake Edwards "clean" movie. A "Happy Days" type look at life in the late 50's or early 60's.

Of course Tuesday Weld and Fabian add spice but it is Gavin MacLeod that steals many scenes. (Is it just me or has anyone else notice how the younger he was when the movie was made, the older he looks? And the older he gets the younger he looks?)

It is just a plain fun easy time with lots of giggles and a few good laughs.

This movie does two things to you after you have seen it. It make you feel good and makes you want to go college. Besides being a feel good movie, it also teaches us a lesson that it is never too late to go forward in life no matter what age you are as Bing Brosy did so well in this movie. A good cast and script, some good music and you have a winner of a movie. No violence and it does very well for itself. I wish they would make more movies like this now