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IMDbPro

The Affairs of Dobie Gillis

  • 19531953
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 12m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
687
YOUR RATING
Debbie Reynolds and Bobby Van in The Affairs of Dobie Gillis (1953)
Grainbelt University has one attraction for Dobie Gillis - women, especially Pansy Hammer. Pansy's father, even though and maybe because she says she's in dreamville, does not share her affection for Dobie. An English essay which almost revolutionizes English instruction, and Dobie's role in a chemistry lab explosion convinces Mr. Hammer he is right. Pansy is sent off broken-hearted to an Eastern school, but with the help of Happy Stella Kolawski's all-girl band, several hundred students and an enraged police force, Dobie secures Pansy's return to Grainbelt.
Play trailer2:44
1 Video
7 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Musical
Pansy is sent off broken-hearted to an eastern school, but with help from Happy Stella Kowalski's all-girl band, several hundred students, and an enraged police force, Dobie secures Pansy's ... Read allPansy is sent off broken-hearted to an eastern school, but with help from Happy Stella Kowalski's all-girl band, several hundred students, and an enraged police force, Dobie secures Pansy's return to Grainbelt.Pansy is sent off broken-hearted to an eastern school, but with help from Happy Stella Kowalski's all-girl band, several hundred students, and an enraged police force, Dobie secures Pansy's return to Grainbelt.
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
687
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Don Weis
  • Writer
    • Max Shulman(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Debbie Reynolds
    • Bobby Van
    • Barbara Ruick
Top credits
  • Director
    • Don Weis
  • Writer
    • Max Shulman(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Debbie Reynolds
    • Bobby Van
    • Barbara Ruick
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 18User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:44
    Official Trailer

    Photos7

    Debbie Reynolds and Bobby Van in The Affairs of Dobie Gillis (1953)
    Debbie Reynolds and Bobby Van in The Affairs of Dobie Gillis (1953)
    Debbie Reynolds and Bobby Van in The Affairs of Dobie Gillis (1953)
    Debbie Reynolds, Bob Fosse, Barbara Ruick, and Bobby Van in The Affairs of Dobie Gillis (1953)
    Debbie Reynolds, Bob Fosse, Barbara Ruick, and Bobby Van in The Affairs of Dobie Gillis (1953)
    Debbie Reynolds and Bobby Van in The Affairs of Dobie Gillis (1953)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Debbie Reynolds
    Debbie Reynolds
    • Pansy Hammer
    Bobby Van
    Bobby Van
    • Dobie Gillis
    Barbara Ruick
    Barbara Ruick
    • Lorna Ellingboe
    Bob Fosse
    Bob Fosse
    • Charlie Trask
    Hanley Stafford
    Hanley Stafford
    • George Hammer
    Lurene Tuttle
    Lurene Tuttle
    • Mrs. Eleanor Hammer
    Hans Conried
    Hans Conried
    • Professor Amos Pomfritt
    Charles Lane
    Charles Lane
    • Chemistry Professor Obispo
    Archer MacDonald
    Archer MacDonald
    • Harry Dorcas
    Kathleen Freeman
    Kathleen Freeman
    • 'Happy Stella' Kowalski
    Almira Sessions
    Almira Sessions
    • Aunt Naomi
    Suzanne Alexander
    Suzanne Alexander
    • Co-Ed
    • (uncredited)
    Ben Astar
    Ben Astar
    • Smiling Latvian Used Car Dealer
    • (uncredited)
    Lavonne Battle
    • Co-Ed
    • (uncredited)
    Willis Bouchey
    Willis Bouchey
    • Dr. Askit - Quiz Master
    • (uncredited)
    Ralph Brooks
    • Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
    Chuck Courtney
    Chuck Courtney
    • Student
    • (uncredited)
    Diana Darrin
    Diana Darrin
    • Co-Ed
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Don Weis
    • Writer
      • Max Shulman(screenplay) (story)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Lurene Tuttle plays the mother of Debbie Reynolds, as she does in Give a Girl a Break (1953). In real life, she was the mother of costar Barbara Ruick.
    • Quotes

      Advisor: You don't approve of work?

      Dobie Gillis: Well, it's all right for workers.

    • Connections
      Followed by The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (1959)
    • Soundtracks
      You Can't Do Wrong Doin' Right
      (uncredited)

      Written by Al Rinker and Floyd Huddleston

      Performed by Barbara Ruick, Bob Fosse, Debbie Reynolds and Bobby Van

    User reviews18

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    likable and well made fluff
    I have never seen the TV show "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis", so you should keep this in mind when you read this review. I haven't a whole lot of preconceptions about the movie but I also wasn't particularly interested in the concept to actually watch the show the 106,284 times it was shown years ago on Nickelodeon and other cable channels. Why I actually decided to watch this when it came on Turner Classic Movies is beyond me--though I am glad that I did.

    While it is undeniable that this movie is complete fluff, it is nevertheless enjoyable fluff. There's lots of singing and dancing and romancing and comedy--a formula very similar to the Doris Day/Gordon MacRae films BY THE LIGHT OF THE SILVERY MOON and ON MOONLIGHT BAY (though these two Warner Brothers films were set in an earlier time period). It's all very light and very likable--even if it turns out that Dobie is a dirty little cheater (see the film to find out what I am talking about).

    Of particular interest, by the way, is the earnest and likable style of Bobby Van. It's too bad that he came to Hollywood near the end of the musical craze and that his life was so tragically shortened. He was talented and all I'd previously seen him in were insipid 1970s game shows.
    helpful•14
    1
    • planktonrules
    • Oct 24, 2009

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 14, 1953 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Ama, vive y aprende
    • Filming locations
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 12 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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