Campus Confessions (1938)

User Rating:

(awaiting 5 votes)

Director:

George Archainbaud

Writer:

Lloyd Corrigan (writer)

Release Date:

23 September 1938 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman

Cast

Betty Grable	...	Joyce Gilmore
Eleanore Whitney	...	Susie Quinn
William Henry	...	Wayne Atterbury, Jr.
Fritz Feld	...	'Lady MacBeth'
John Arledge	...	Freddy Fry
Thurston Hall	...	Wayne Atterbury, Sr.
Roy Gordon	...	Dean Wilton
Lane Chandler	...	Coach Parker
Richard Denning	...	Buck Hogan
Matty Kemp	...	Ed Riggs
Sumner Getchell	...	'Blimp' Garrett
Hank Luisetti	...	Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Roscoe Karns

Also Known As:

Fast Play (UK)

Runtime:

67 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

One of over 700 Paramount Productions, filmed between 1929 and 1949, which were sold to MCA/Universal in 1958 for television distribution, and have been owned and controlled by Universal ever since.

Not a classic but enjoyable Betty Grable movie before she was famous!

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

For those used to Technicolor Betty Grable musical vehicles of the 40's, this film has nothing to do with them, yet it was her first feature length movie with top-billing. Unfortunately, top-billing doesn't mean she has plenty to do with her part, which is rather decorative in the thin plot line. But what she does, she does it with her usual zest and charm. Her presence is even more refreshing and welcomed as she is almost the only female character among this almost all-male cast. Though filmed in black and white, one can see that she was very, very pretty and had an expressive face and eyes. We only wish she would toss, at least once in the movie, all those athletes on one side, take the floor and do some tap dance and sing! That, perhaps, is the thing that would have made this film good instead of only enjoyable.

Now, for the film itself, let's say it's very watchable. With its mere 65 minutes, which is more than enough in that case, it's rather fast-paced and that in itself contributes greatly to a certain joy one can feel to see that film if one doesn't have too much expectations.

Though advertised as a basketball movie or a campus caper at the time of it's release, I'd say it is more a movie about friendship among youngsters whatever their activities. Of course, the story evolves around basketball, but you don't have to be a fan of that sport to enjoy the film. Just watch, though, the scene in which all friends do a barbecue; it is quite sympathetic.

As for the other main actors, William Henry is good. It's a shame he's been confined to B pictures most of his career because he's a good actor. I'm sure that with more pushing, he would have been well-known. And about Hank Luisetti, what can be said? His tall presence in the film (his only one!) has it's charm but he was not an actor, rather a real professional athlete very famous in his days. He has more the handsome looks of the perfect leading man for Betty Grable than William Henry has and one thinks and wishes, while looking at the advertisement and posters of the time on which he appears bathing-suit clad with Betty Grable besides a pool that he'd be the leading man and that we'd see more of him in every sens of the word but he's NOT the leading man and, though pleasant to the eyes, he seems camera shy each time he appears before it, clothed or not! In fact, his part is not very important in the movie. Too bad! All in all, the film is worth watching if only to catch a glimpse of the very beautiful and talented Betty Grable only a few years before she became THE Betty Grable.

Enjoy!