Collège rythme

The plot is silly and the songs are mostly unmemorable, but there are small pleasures to enjoy in this film. First, there's fifth-billed Betty Grable, who is featured in several songs. And she does a rapid-fire tap dance on her toes, ballet style, that seemed very difficult. I never thought her talent extended to the tips of her toes. Next, there's a character called "Blimp," played by heavy-set Sonny Lamont. He does acrobatic dancing usually reserved for people much lighter on their feet. I also enjoyed seeing the great lyricist, Johnny Mercer, in the first of his two acting roles. He seemed to have a natural acting talent that made me wonder why he didn't appear in more films. Finally, there was the challenge and pleasure in spotting Lucille Ball in an early uncredited nonspeaking part. She's there, but I had to re-run the tape and take my focus away from the action and look in the background.

Any RKO movie with ERIC BLORE and ERIC RHODES in the supporting cast can't be all bad. This is a strictly second-rate little college musical with a trivial plot and a bevy of harmless tunes typical of the swing mood that was on the horizon. Vivacious BETTY GRABLE has one of her early campus sweetheart roles (sings a little, dances a little), and if you look hard enough you can spot LUCILLE BALL among the extras, the girl who would go on to buy the studio one day.

GEORGE BARBIER is the senior who wants to be a freshman (he wants to keep an eye on his son, BUDDY ROGERS) whom he thinks is failing subjects because his mind is on girls. Rogers is a blank in a colorless role. The female lead (unknown today) is pretty brunette BARBARA KENT. Silly nonsense with Barbier becoming a freshman subjected to student pranks with more attention on random song numbers than a plot.

The songs are strictly a blend of the type popular at the time but have the benefit of lyrics by Johnny Mercer which helps a lot and its surprising to see that the B&W photography is by Nick Musuraca who did all those great film noirs later at RKO.

Summing up: Harmless fun that passes the time quickly in 75 minutes.

This is a small and harmless RKO musical galvanized by some tuneful (though unmemorable) songs and rhythmic dances. It is mostly set on campus and captures the youthful zest of its largely unknown players, including Betty Grable, Lucille Ball, George Barbier, Charles Rogers, Barbara Kent, Johnny Mercer, Eric Blore, John Arledge and Sonny Lamont.

For one thing, it is great to watch a very young Betty Grable with her exuberant dancing and carefree enthusiasm before stardom. This is one of her earliest movies I've seen along with 1938's "College Swing"(also a campus musical). George Barbier as the rich and overprotective father who enrolls in college to watch for his son's social life is cool especially in the "Old Man Rhythm" number. Sonny Lamont is amusing as the heavy-set college boy who does some back flips and acrobats.

The song that opens the movie, set on the train where all the college students are singing and dancing is quite catchy. But my favorite numbers are "What Would You Suggest?" and "When You Are in My Arms".

Unlike much of the other posters here, I really didn't enjoy the many musical numbers in this movie, and thought more acting and plot was needed. The first number on the train went on waaaaaay too long, I thought it would never end! I think I clocked it at around 8 minutes of silly, uninspiring singing. I would have liked to have seen some classroom scenes, a football game, or anything that positioned the action in a college. The sets were spectacular art-deco architecture and interior decorating, making me wonder if the movie had actually first been envisioned as a sophisticated Manhattann penthouse romp.

Not a terrible movie, but nothing much happens in my opinion.

Oh, come on, I said to myself. Sometimes you expect too much. It's just a second-billed, minor musical, so what's the big deal? I don't often make sense when speaking to myself, but this time I just went with the movie and had a good time, at that. The plot gets pretty far afield and far from reality but you have to appreciate the raw energy of the performers in bringing this trifle to comparative life.

The storyline has been summarized by several contributors and everything they say is on the mark; goofy, absurd, nonsensical, gets in the way of the music, etc. but the musical numbers here (all unheard-of songs which never became standards) really enliven the picture and the wait between them is worth your while. The stars are 'B-list' Hollywood stars interspersed with some good character actors, among them Eric Blore, Erik Rhodes, Donald Meek and George Barbier. Also in the cast is Johnny Mercer who wrote the lyrics to all the songs.

Not for modern tastes as clothing styles and college activities (everyone meets at the soda shop?) are very old-fashioned, but you'll especially enjoy "Old Man Rhythm" if you are of a certain age, say around WW II and before. I hope that doesn't make us too old!