Mother Is a Freshman (1949)

In order to afford her daughter's college tuition, a woman enrolls herself at the same school aided by a rare large bursary but they both fall in-love with the same cute English professor.

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.

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Plot Keywords:

college | widow | professor | money problems | daughter | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 July 1949 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Mamá, él y yo

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

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.

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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.

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Quotes

Louise Sharpe: You know, I heard sequins were edible? You could eat 'em. I mean if you were starving.
Bit Part: Well, you better eat sequins or something, cause there won't time to take this dress in again!
Louise Sharpe: Muscle, muscle. A girl's got to have muscle!

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Soundtracks

What Did I Do?
(uncredited)
Music by Josef Myrow

User Reviews

Was College Ever Like This

Because of a quirky trust left by her grandmother, 35-year old Abby goes to college where she and her 17-year old daughter get involved with a handsome professor. And-- as they say-- complications ensue.

The movie's 80-minutes of eye-catching fluff from TCF. The look is just right, with a glowing Technicolor perfect for an idealized storyline. Then too, dear Loretta gets to model an array of flattering fashion; plus I'm reminded of a post-war time when girls wore both sweaters and skirts. Ah, yes! The movie's a tartly amusing set-up, no belly laughs, but a few chuckles as the characters tangle and untangle. Fortunately, veteran director Bacon knows how to keep a light touch even through the more dramatic moments. It's also an attractive cast, even if Professor Johnson is something of an idealized stretch. Only teenage cutie Lynn is over the top, at times, while heart-throb Johnson appears privately amused with a sly grin throughout. All in all, this is Hollywood's dream factory hitting on all eight. And catch the naughty book that everyone's sneak-reading— probably seem as innocent now as Old Mother Hubbard. But then, this was a time when kids gathered at the malt shop to listen to swing bands on the jukebox. Fortunately, a lot of that upbeat innocence is reflected in this period piece. Nothing substantive here, just an easy way to pass an evening.