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IMDbPro

Mother Is a Freshman

  • 1949
  • 1h 21m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
440
YOUR RATING
Van Johnson, Barbara Lawrence, Rudy Vallee, and Loretta Young in Mother Is a Freshman (1949)
ComedyRomance

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.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.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
    • Mary Loos
    • Richard Sale
  • Stars
    • Loretta Young
    • Van Johnson
    • Rudy Vallee
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    440
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Lloyd Bacon
    • Writers
      • Raphael Blau
      • Mary Loos
      • Richard Sale
    • Stars
      • Loretta Young
      • Van Johnson
      • Rudy Vallee
    • 9User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 1 nomination total

    Photos10

    Van Johnson and Loretta Young in Mother Is a Freshman (1949)
    Van Johnson and Loretta Young in Mother Is a Freshman (1949)
    Van Johnson, Rudy Vallee, and Loretta Young in Mother Is a Freshman (1949)
    Van Johnson and Loretta Young in Mother Is a Freshman (1949)
    Robert Arthur, Betty Lynn, and Loretta Young in Mother Is a Freshman (1949)
    Van Johnson, Rudy Vallee, and Loretta Young in Mother Is a Freshman (1949)
    Mother Is a Freshman (1949)
    Mother Is a Freshman (1949)
    Mother Is a Freshman (1949)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Loretta Young
    Loretta Young
    • Abigail Fortitude Abbott
    Van Johnson
    Van Johnson
    • Professor Richard Michaels
    Rudy Vallee
    Rudy Vallee
    • John Heaslip
    Barbara Lawrence
    Barbara Lawrence
    • Louise Sharpe
    Robert Arthur
    Robert Arthur
    • Beaumont Jackson
    Betty Lynn
    Betty Lynn
    • Susan Abbott
    Griff Barnett
    Griff Barnett
    • Dean Gillingham
    Kathleen Hughes
    Kathleen Hughes
    • Rhoda Adams
    Virginia Brissac
    Virginia Brissac
    • Miss Grimes
    • (uncredited)
    Marietta Canty
    Marietta Canty
    • Beulah
    • (uncredited)
    Kathryn Card
    Kathryn Card
    • Mrs. Grammerton
    • (uncredited)
    Richard Clayton
    • College Student
    • (uncredited)
    Marion Colby
    • Bit Part
    • (uncredited)
    Pat Combs
    • Cab Driver
    • (uncredited)
    Richard Dumas
    • College Student
    • (uncredited)
    Eddie Dunn
    Eddie Dunn
    • George
    • (uncredited)
    Gene Evans
    Gene Evans
    • Bit Part
    • (uncredited)
    Mickey Finn
    Mickey Finn
    • Joe Granite
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Lloyd Bacon
    • Writers
      • Raphael Blau
      • Mary Loos
      • Richard Sale
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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

      Abigail Fortitude Abbott: Now, John the apartment had to be done over. It was terribly shabby and you know it.

    • Soundtracks
      (What Can I Say) After I Say I'm Sorry?
      (uncredited)

      Written by Walter Donaldson and Abe Lyman

    User reviews9

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    5/10
    back to school
    Abby Abbott (Loretta Young) and her teen daughter Susie live in a New York apartment with trust fund payments from her late husband. Susie needs additional money for college tuition but the ladies are cash strapped. Abby reluctantly asked the executor John Heaslip but he has romantic designs on her which she does not reciprocate. He turns her down and she is forced to seek a scholarship. Due to an unusual requirement and her maiden name Abigail Fortitude, she has to enroll along with her daughter and she falls for her professor.

    This has an unusual premise and an Academy Award nomination for Best Costume Design. Quite frankly, the color film really sets off the clothing and probably helped with the nomination. Otherwise, this is a little stale and old. It's trying to be fun but Loretta Young is not having any. While there is danger of being uncovered, this is definitely low stake misadventure. The problem is that it's also low on comedic power and romantic intensity. Loretta Young is being melodramatic in her white gloves and pearl neckless. It falls flat for me.
    helpful•3
    2
    • SnoopyStyle
    • Sep 10, 2020

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 10, 1949 (Mexico)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • La adorable intrusa
    • Filming locations
      • Reno, Nevada, USA
    • Production company
      • Twentieth Century Fox
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 21 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

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    Van Johnson, Barbara Lawrence, Rudy Vallee, and Loretta Young in Mother Is a Freshman (1949)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Mother Is a Freshman (1949) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
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