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 | Romance

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Did You Know?

Trivia

"Screen Director's Playhouse" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on August 30, 1951 with Loretta Young reprising her film role.

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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

The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi
(uncredited)
Music by F. Dudleigh Vernor
Lyrics by Byron D. Stokes

User Reviews

A cute, Technicolor comedy

"Mother Is A Freshman" is a slice of college life from a bygone era. The school itself looks like the kind of traditional schools that were around for generations. The cute story finds Mama going to school under a scholarship that only she can share with her daughter. Loretta Young was never more appealing than in this genteel comedy. Van Johnson plays the Professor that that both Mama and daughter (Betty Lynn) are unknowingly competing for. Rudy Vallee is along for the ride as a stuffy friend of Loretta's. The whole production is underscored by some nice, nostalgic music and wrapped up in pretty Technicolor. You could do a lot worse than to see this charming comedy.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 June 1949 (Mexico)

Also Known As:

Mother Is a Freshman

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