Bachelor of Hearts

Instead of the usual storyline of a young American's trials and tribulations, while studying at Oxbridge, the director had decided to twist the narrative by casting the young, and then up and coming German actor, Hardy Kruger as the Teutonic, blue eyed and blond exchange student, whose naivety and ignorance about the cultural and esoteric mysteries and nuances of Cambridge University life, ruffles the feathers of the stuffy, snooty middle class fellow students. The major problem here is that Kruger looks as if he's in his thirties, ditto his fellow student, lantern jawed, and plummy voiced Ronald Lewis. Even Kruger's romantic interest, Sylvia Sims, the 1950's 'English Rose' of the Rank film studios, looks less like a young student, but at least her charm and looks kept me awake during the film which was tedious in the extreme. The film is more about highlighting caricatures of undergraduate life, where much boozing and 'wenching' goes on in jazz clubs and where students seem to behave like wayward juveniles as they perpetually get themselves into scrapes with the college authorities. The director presents Kruger and Lewis as undergraduate stereotypes of young men behaving badly as they engage in 'silly antics' in their 'free time' and during the annual bore, the so called 'rag week.' The usual 'ho ho ho' climbing over walls by our two 'Romeo's' after midnight to reach their student accommodation while drunk, is another tick boxing exercise by the director in presenting students as immature and innocent twerps, who find their sole pleasure in extra curricular activities! Yes, there were the delightful views of students punting along the river, but the whole film was yawn inducing. It was definitely a second feature and forgettable film.

One thing is clear from the get-go in Bachelor of Hearts: In European films, Hardy Kruger was seen for the cutie-pie he was. Americans could rarely get over a German actor's nationality (hence why Curd Jurgens probably wasn't considered for The Sound of Music), so Hardy often played Nazis - and we wonder why he retired early. But when the films weren't geared primarily towards Americans, his characters were pretty hunky! In Bachelor of Hearts, he plays a German exchange student new to England and her customs during his first year at university. Immediately, he puts the moves on the first girl he sees, despite her already having a boyfriend, and she has to force herself to resist him. He's charming, he's adorable, and it's a shame America didn't get the memo.

If you're not in it for the eye candy, however, you shouldn't be in it at all. This is a very silly movie, akin to America's High Time, but without the seriousness of the adults. It's just a gigantic advertisement for parents not to pay for their kids' college educations. They take four years, all paid for by Mommy and Daddy, to party, sleep around, and participate in stupid hazing rituals. Hardly anyone knuckles down and wants to learn, as you can see in this movie. Even Hardy, bless his heart, gets criticized repeatedly when he tries to stick to his studies. One of his professors literally says, "You can read books in Germany." Instead, to truly get an education, he has to party, sleep around, and participate in stupid hazing rituals. However, the movie isn't a total bust. Hardy is extremely cute.

German exchange student (Hardy Kruger) comes to the fictional University College, Cambridge. A collection of stereotypical but enjoyable Varsity capers ensue. Sylvia Syms is positively radiant - the proverbial English Rose. She has a knack for bringing the film to life whenever she appears on screen. The remainder of the players form a very predictable bunch of undergrads in their mid-twenties and profs in ttheir mid-eighties. Lovely views of the City, and one or two well orchestrated set-pieces (the raid on all-female college Girton is notable) make this effortless viewing.

This gentle comedy really scores for me. Hardy Kruger is very good, then again so are all the players in this film. However, I have to admit that one of my favourite actresses, the beautiful Sylvia Syms not only steals the film but also my heart. The Cambridge scenes and scenery are beautiful too, and as someone who lives near that iconic City it really is shown off at it's best. Others have suggested this is a film to watch if you have nothing else to do, I disagree, this feelgood film for me is a joy and as such needs to be watched and appreciated for what it is - a lovely piece of our past when things were simpler, happier and more innocent.

This had the bones of a good film but just disintegrated into a poor slap stick.