Lots of fun with Benny here, and his radio show must have improved his confidence because he is much funnier than in the film which played before this one, Big Broadcast of 1937, and acres funnier than in his painful to watch shorts of the early '30's. BB1937 was a letdown, and disappointed because I am a Benny fan. In College Holiday, he is graciously able to be himself, as his radio persona, actually, and shares the 'mike' with Burns and Allen, who entertain in their inimitable style. Boland as a matron with more dollars than sense personifies the giddy rich, dabbling in this and that until the Next Big Thing comes along. This time, Boland and her friend Girardot make a fun pair, decked out in togas and spouting stuff about eugenics, which was of interest during this time period. Now eugenics does not sit well with Americans, and the young folks recruited unknowingly for the eugenics have their own ideas of who they want to date, thank you very much.
Martha Raye plays a well-defined character, funny in her own style, raucous as usual; her beau is Ben Blue, and in all the films I've seen him try to be funny in, he's not once made me laugh. I must bow to his physical comedy efforts, though, and think the funniest thing about him is his befuddled face, because it's not the lines nor his delivery of them.
Funnier than about anything is the end of the film, with Benny breaking the fourth wall and addressing the movie audience with a particularly amusing ending line. So, if you're in the mood for some terrific Johnny Downs dancing, nice singing in a novelty tune 'Just a Rhyme for Love' and a chariot race with 'Calliope' AKA Gracie Allen and of course George Burns, this will entertain. It sure was better than Big Broadcast of 1937.
Martha Raye plays a well-defined character, funny in her own style, raucous as usual; her beau is Ben Blue, and in all the films I've seen him try to be funny in, he's not once made me laugh. I must bow to his physical comedy efforts, though, and think the funniest thing about him is his befuddled face, because it's not the lines nor his delivery of them.
Funnier than about anything is the end of the film, with Benny breaking the fourth wall and addressing the movie audience with a particularly amusing ending line. So, if you're in the mood for some terrific Johnny Downs dancing, nice singing in a novelty tune 'Just a Rhyme for Love' and a chariot race with 'Calliope' AKA Gracie Allen and of course George Burns, this will entertain. It sure was better than Big Broadcast of 1937.