College Humor *** (1933, Bing Crosby, Mary Carlisle, Jack Oakie, Richard Arlen, George Burns, Gracie Allen) – Classic Movie Review 7387

American actress, singer, and dancer Mary Carlisle (born Gwendolyn Witter on 3 February 1914 and died at 104 on 1 August 2018) starred in several Thirties Hollywood films, after being one of 15 young actresses selected as a WAMPAS Baby Star in 1932, all believed to be on their way to stardom.

After appearing in Grand Hotel, her major acting break came when Paramount Pictures borrowed her to star with Bing Crosby in the 1933 musical comedy College Humor. Her performance was critically acclaimed and it made her into a leading actress.

Director Wesley Ruggles’s 1933 College Humor is a zany and bubbly musical comedy that also helped to propel Crosby to the first rank of stars. The film was a success and ‘Learn to Croon’ by Arthur Johnston and Sam Coslow was a big hit for him.

Crosby plays the college music professor Fred Danvers, who finds that sport and romance with beautiful co-ed Barbara Shirrel (Mary Carlisle) are also on the college agenda along with the music. The professor finds himself the love rival for Barbara with the school’s star football player Mondrake (Richard Arlen).

Jack Oakie (as Barbara’s brother Barney Shirrel) and George Burns and Gracie Allen (playing themselves) as cookie college caterers raise abundant laughs. Also in the cast are Mary Kornman, Joseph Sawyer, Lona Andre, Jimmy Conlin, James Donlan, James Burke, Edward Nugent, Lumsden Hare, Grady Sutton, Wade Botelier, Frank Jenks, Jack Kennedy, Howard Jones, Bruce Bennett, Robert Quirk and Anne Nagel.

The screenplay by Claude Binyon and Frank Butler is based on a story by Dean Fales.

Crosby and Carlisle re-teamed for Double or Nothing (1937) and Doctor Rhythm (1938).

Mary Carlisle was the last survivor.

Mary Carlisle was the last surviving WAMPAS Baby Star after the deaths of Dorothy Layton, Gloria Stuart and Barbara Kent in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7387

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