College Swing (1938)

A dim witted heiress (Gracie Allen) has been attending college for nine years without graduating. So she hires a private tutor (Bob Hope) to help her pass her exams. Directed by Raoul Walsh (WHITE HEAT) of all people, this feathery concoction uses its nonsensical plot as a hook to hang some wonderful comic routines and gags, swing music and college hijinks. For example, Gracie Allen will sing a love song to Edward Everett Horton and then break into an Irish jig that has nothing to do with the song she just sang. My favorite musical moment was a comic rumba danced by Martha Raye and the rubbery Ben Blue. It's all downright silly but one can't help but laugh and the musical numbers are mostly pretty good. The energetic cast includes Betty Grable, John Payne, George Burns, Robert Cummings, Richard Denning, Jackie Coogan, Florence George, Jerry Colonna and Cecil Cunningham.