Musical Monday: Freshman Love (1936)

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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:
Freshman Love (1936) – Musical #845

Studio:
Warner Bros.

Director:
William McGann

Starring:
Patricia Ellis, Warren Hull, Frank McHugh, Mary Treen, Joseph Cawthorn, Alma Lloyd, George E. Stone, Henry O’Neill, Anita Kerry, Johnny Arthur, Walter Johnson, Joe Sawyer, Florence Fair, Spec O’Donnell, Dick Purcell (uncredited), Lloyd Bridges (uncredited)

Plot:
The rowing team at Billings College is failing and Coach Hammond’s (McHugh) job is on the line if the team doesn’t improve. The college president’s daughter, Joan Simpkins (Ellis), takes it upon herself to recruit new talent for the rowing team. One is wealthy Bill Wilson (Hull), but when Bill’s dad (Cawthorn) doesn’t want his son to go to Billings, Bill goes under cover to still attend the school.

Trivia:
• Based on the 1904 play “College Widow” by George Ade. It was also made into films three times prior to this film:
– The College Widow (1915)
– The College Widow (1927)
– Maybe It’s Love (1930)
• First film of Lloyd Bridges
• Scenes were filmed at Lake Arrowhead, CA.
• Released in January 1936

Patricia Ellis and Warren Hull

Highlights:
• When Frank McHugh interviews himself on the radio

Notable Songs:
• “The Collegiana” performed by Patricia Ellis
• “Romance After Dark” performed by Warren Hull and Patricia Ellis
• “Freshman Love” performed by Warren Hull and the chorus

My review:
There’s something about a collegiate movie that is so much fun, and FRESHMAN LOVE (1936) is no exception. And it helps that Frank McHugh is in this one!

In the film, Billings College rowing team is struggling. Because of that, Coach Hammond’s (McHugh) job is at risk. The college president’s daughter, Joan Simpkins (Ellis), takes it upon herself to recruit new talent for the rowing team. One is wealthy Bill Wilson (Hull), but when Bill’s dad (Cawthorn) doesn’t want his son to go to Billings, Bill goes under cover to still attend the school.

Frank McHugh is his usual hilarious self as he struggles as a coach. It’s so much fun to see him in a rare leading role.

While I would have assumed Patricia Ellis and Warren Hull would be our leads, I would say they are in a trio with McHugh who truly carries the first 30 minute of this 67 minute film.

Ellis and Hull briefly were paired in three films as romantic leads, and this is one of them. They both appropriately vibrant and youthful in this film.

Now, while this is considered a musical, it only has three songs – though for a 67 minute film, I guess that’s an appropriate amount of songs. Music is also a key element of the plot, as it’s what is essential to the rowing team’s success. With high tempo songs, the team rows faster.

The first song doesn’t occur until 33-minute into the film with “The Collegiana,” performed by Patricia Ellis. To me, the most fun song was the title song, “Freshman Love” performed by Warren Hull and a chorus. I especially liked when a trio of college boys sang into their cups a la Rudy Vallee and his megaphone.

While a very small role, this film is best known for being the first film of actor Lloyd Bridges. Bridges appears 40 minutes into the film but appears prominently on screen as he’s tossed out of a dorm building.

Overall, FRESHMAN LOVE (1936) is a pleasant way to pass 67 minutes.

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