Mother Is a Freshman (1949)

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. The catch: Abby must also become a co-ed or... See full summary »

Director:

Lloyd Bacon

Writers:

Raphael Blau (story), Mary Loos,

Stars:

Loretta Young, Van Johnson, Rudy Vallee

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview:
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

Storyline

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. The catch: Abby must also become a co-ed or she can't touch the money. After passing her entrance exams, Abby goes to college and becomes very popular, especially with a handsome English professor whom Susan has a crush on.

---

Plot Keywords:

college | daughter | money problems | professor | widow | 

---

Taglines:

As "The Farmer's Daughter" she's learned plenty! As a campus queen she gives with the rest.

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 July 1949 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Der Liebesprofessor

Filming Locations:

Reno, Nevada, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on October 17, 1949 with Loretta Young and Van Johnson reprising their film roles.

---

Goofs

When Loretta Young meets Van Johnson at his home for dinner, the candles are lit about the room. When she gets up to leave quickly and then meets the dean and his wife at the door then they all return to the living room, the candles are all snuffed, and van had followed her to the entry hall.

---

Quotes

Susan Abbott: What will Mr. Heaslip do?
Abigail Fortitude Abbott: I hope he'll have apoplexy.

---

Soundtracks

"Beautiful Dreamer"
(uncredited)
Written by Stephen Foster
Arranged by Urban Thielmann

User Reviews

Delightful comedy romp in Technicolor

There is nothing extraordinary here - just a competently made and delightful comedy in lovely Technicolor. Widowed mom Young must enter college in order to collect a scholarship only she is uniquely qualified for - the money is needed to keep her daughter in the same college until the trust fund comes due. Far-fetched premise, but once accepted, we can go along with the story. Of course both mom and daughter fall for the same professor. Along the way Ms. Young sports one nifty outfit after another (Oscar nom for Costume Design here)and finds renewed life and joy as she emerges from her widowhood. Van Johnson is acceptable as the love interest and Betty Lynn does an excellent job as the daughter - one wonders why her career didn't take off after this one. Highly enjoyable.