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IMDb > Mother Is a Freshman (1949)

Mother Is a Freshman (1949) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
6.4/10   81 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 2% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Raphael Blau (story)
Mary Loos (writer)
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Contact:
View company contact information for Mother Is a Freshman on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
25 July 1949 (Sweden) more
Genre:
Tagline:
It's the cheer leader of the year! more
Plot:
Widow Abby Abbott is having serious money problems and has to dip into the family trust in order to pay for her daughter Susan's college tuition... more | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. more
User Reviews:
Back to college more (2 total)

Cast

  (Credited cast)

Loretta Young ... Abigail Fortitude Abbott

Van Johnson ... Professor Richard Michaels
Rudy Vallee ... John Heaslip
Barbara Lawrence ... Louise Sharpe
Robert Arthur ... Beaumont Jackson
Betty Lynn ... Susan Abbott
Griff Barnett ... Dean Gillingham

Kathleen Hughes ... Rhoda Adams
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Mother Knows Best (UK)
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Runtime:
81 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Soundtrack:
M-O-T-H-E-R (a Word That Means the World to Me) more

FAQ

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6 out of 6 people found the following review useful.
Back to college, 1 August 2005
7/10
Author: jotix100 from New York

"Mother is a Freshman" is a delightful comedy, a vehicle, no doubt, for its star, Loretta Young. As directed by LLoyd Bacon, "Mother is a Freshman" offers the kind of genteel entertainment that was harmless. The film, directed by LLoyd Bacon, offers a trip back to a more relaxed time.

Abigail Fortitude Abbott, is a widow living in Manhattan's Upper East Side. She seems to live in splendor, even though her funds are next to nothing. Her daughter Susan is going back to college in Connecticutt and both women must find out a way how to survive until the next payment to their inherited funds. They discover that Abigail's grandmother had a scholarship named after her for qualifying young women. What's the harm in trying? Next thing you know Abigail and Susan are on campus together.

Abigail wants to major in English Literature, so she must enroll in Prof. Richard Michaels' course. Prof. Michaels falls head over heels in love with the attractive new student. Little does Abigail know, but Susan, is crazy for Michaels as well. After some tension between the two women, common sense prevails and Abigail ends up with the professor and money in the bank.

Loretta Young had a magnetic personality and dominates the story. She was not a beautiful woman, but she photographed well and is always an asset in whatever she decided to appear in. Van Johnson is wonderful as Prof. Michaels. Rudy Vallee has some good moments as Abigail's lawyer. Betty Lynn plays Susan and Robert Arthur is Beaumont Jackson, the young man in love with Susan.

The film is an excuse to spend 81 minutes in good company.

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