Finishing School (1934)

The trials and tribulations in a private, snobbish girls school.

Directors:

George Nichols Jr., Wanda Tuchock

Writers:

Laird Doyle, David Hempstead (story),

Stars:

Frances Dee, Billie Burke, Ginger Rogers

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Frances Dee	...	Virginia Radcliff
Billie Burke	...	Mrs. Helen Crawford Radcliff
Ginger Rogers	...	Cecilia 'Pony' Ferris
Bruce Cabot	...	Ralph McFarland - intern
John Halliday	...	Mr. Frank S. Radcliff
Beulah Bondi	...	Miss Van Alstyne
Sara Haden	...	Miss Fisher
Helen Freeman	...	Dr. Hewitt
Marjorie Lytell	...	Ruth Wallace
Adalyn Doyle	...	Madeleine 'Maggy' Kelly
Anne Shirley	...	Billie (as Dawn O'Day)
Irene Franklin	...	Aunt Jessica - Pretender
Ann Cameron	...	Miss Schmidt
Rose Coghlan	...	Miss Edith Garland
Caroline Rankin	...	Miss Weber

Storyline

Virginia Radcliff, a remarkably unspoiled but naive rich-kid, finds herself at a swank girls' school where everything appears prim and proper, but the motto is essentially "Don't Get Caught." On a surreptitious field trip to the city (engineered by "Pony"), Virginia meets Ralph, a struggling lower/middle-class med student who delivers room service at a hotel at night. They fall in love, much to the outrage of the school's headmistress (Beulah Bondi) and the embarrassment of her otherwise indifferent mother.

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Plot Keywords:

headmistress | student | cynicism | snobbery | teenage pregnancy | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 May 1934 (USA)

Also Known As:

Educande d'America

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

73 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The date written on Virginia's application form at the beginning of the film is September 11, 1933.

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Quotes

Virginia: But if they have those rules, and we're on our honor, I...
Pony: Honor? You're supposed to do exactly as you please in this old ladies home for nice young gals. Just don't get caught, that's all.

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Crazy Credits

The characters "Mr. Radcliff" and "Mrs. Radcliff" are listed as "Mr. Radcliffe" and Mrs. Radcliffe" in the credits.

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Connections

Referenced in Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood (2008)

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Soundtracks

"Never Hit Your Grandma with a Shovel"
Composer unknown
Sung a cappella by Ginger Rogers

User Reviews

Putting Out A Finished Product...

As one of the 'BIG FIVE' RKO had to have a constant stream of pictures to meet the demands of their theaters. Typically output was about fifty-plus (50+) features a year and with the Great Depression budgets had to be kept tight. You cannot afford many KING KONG's each year so Executive Producer Merian C. Cooper kept most budgets to $100,000.00 or less. This kept the studio profitable and the staff busy and employed.

FINISHING SCHOOL (1934) is filled with the current stock company of RKO. The story is of a idealistic and naive young women VIRGINIA RADCLIFF (Frances Dee) who goes to her Mother's (Billie Burke) 'Finishing School' and has her eyes opened up. The students led by CECELIA 'Pony' FERRIS (Ginger Rogers) spend most of their time dodging the rules. Principal MISS VAN ALYSTYNE (Beulah Bondi) and teachers like MISS FISHER (Sara Haden) are mainly interested in the appearances of propriety not the substance. Fortunetly VIRGINIA becomes aware of the hypocrisy and with the love of RALPH McFARLAND (Bruce Cabot) and the support of her Father MR. RADCLIFF (John Halliday) breaks free from the School and it's influences. One of those left behind is BILLIE (Dawn O'Day) who four (4) films later will become ANNE SHIRLEY!

Least you think institutions like FINISHING SCHOOL no longer exist, guess again. Just GOOGLE and you will find extensive listing of such schools. Though judging from their 21st Century curriculum's they appear have more substance then just how to serve Tea.