It’s no secret that the Hollywood Comet loves musicals.
In 2010, I revealed I had seen 400 movie musicals over the course of eight years. Now that number is over 600. To celebrate and share this musical love, here is my weekly feature about musicals.

This week’s musical:
Let’s Go Collegiate (1941) – Musical #748

Studio:
Monogram Pictures

Director:
Jean Yarbrough

Starring:
Frankie Darro, Marcia Mae Jones, Jackie Moran, Keye Luke, Gale Storm, Frank Sully, Mantan Moreland, Billy Griffith, Barton Yarborough, Frank Faylen, Marguerite Whitten, Paul Maxey, Tristram Coffin

Plot:
The Rawley University rowing team is eagerly awaiting a star stroke for the crew, Bob Terry. But when Terry is drafted into the Army, the team’s coxswain, Frankie (Darro) and his teammates Tad (Moran) and Buck (Luke), think fast for a replacement. Instead of coming clean to their classmates and girlfriends, Bess (Jones) and Midge (Storm), they decide to hire someone to play the role of Bob Terry. Frankie and Tad see Hercules Bevans (Sully) loading a truck and think he will be perfect for the job as Bob Terry. However, their plan does not run smoothly, as Hercules is rough around the edges, needs to be tutored in his classes and rowing, and their girlfriends fall for him.

Trivia:
• Released in the United Kingdom as “Farewell to Fame.”
• Working title was “Sweet Sixteen”
• Gale Storm’s first film with Monogram Pictures
• Part of the plot involves the unseen character Bob Terry being drafted into the Army. Though the United States wasn’t in World War II yet, a peacetime draft had already begun.

Highlights:
• Music performed by Jackie Moran’s Band.

Notable Songs:
• “Look What You Have Done to Me” performed by Gale Storm
• “Let’s Do a Little Dreamin” performed by Marcia Mae Jones, Jackie Moran, Mantan Moreland and Marguerite Whitten
• “Sweet Sixteen” performed by Gale Storm

My review:
Five years before Frankie Darro and Jackie Moran were high school students in the “Teen Ager” series, they were more appropriately aged college students in “Let’s Go Collegiate.”

Though this Monogram Pictures musical comedy may be low budget, it’s a good time with a humorous plot and fun songs.

The Rawley University rowing team is eagerly awaiting a star teammate, Bob Terry. But just before he arrives, the team’s leaders, Frankie and Tad (Frankie Darro, Jackie Moran), learn that Bob has been drafted. Rather than fess up to their teammates and girlfriends (Marcia Mae Jones, Gale Storm) who are anticipating a winning season, Frankie and Tad search for someone than can pay to impersonate Bob Terry and bring the team to a winning season. They find Hercules Bevins (Frank Sully) loading a truck, who agrees to take the job, even though water makes him motion sick. Other problems arise, like having to tutor Hercules to pass his classes and their girlfriends falling for Hercules (though I can’t imagine why).

This is such a wild story, but I had a good time. First of all, I think the plot point about Bob Terry being drafted in the peacetime draft is interesting. I also had to laugh that Frankie and Tad seemingly pick the first guy they see to take Bob Terry’s place rather than hunting around. Actor Frank Sully, who was 33 when this film was made, does not look like a college student so it’s funny that he is who he picked.

The film feels like a predecessor to the Teen Ager films with many of the same cast members. And while some of them felt a bit too old to play high school students in 1946, all of the young stars feel appropriately aged to play college students. For example, Gale Storm was 19, Marcia Mae Jones was 17, Jackie Moran was 18 and Frankie Darro was 24. It is fun to see so many former child stars in this film. Keye Luke is the oldest here at age 37, and while he may seem out of place, he still looks youthful and is a great performer. The only unfortunate aspect is a laundry joke made at his expense. I also felt bad about the height jokes made at Darro.

While there aren’t many songs, the music in this film is pleasant and it’s fun to hear Gale Storm sing. It’s interesting that later, Storm is dubbed in “It Happened in 5th Ave” when she was considered a singer. I also enjoyed seeing “Jackie Moran’s Band” in the credits, assuming he really did have a band.

Overall, “Let’s Go Collegiate” is a pleasant, amusing film with a humorous ending. Don’t let anyone tell you that low budget equates bad, because in our experience, that isn’t the case.

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