Well, of course, technically, there are no co-eds in this exclusive girl's school. Co-eds are only found in schools catering to both sexes. Paramount got it right a few years later, in "Here Comes the Girls", with Bob Hope in a basically similar situation to Abbott and Costello(A&C), in this film.
When I saw Peggy Ryan listed high in the credits, I immediately zeroed in on this film, as I could imagine what a teaming with Costello might be like. Peggy is one of the most ignored film sensations ever! She was cute and vivacious, was great at comedy and gymnastic tap dancing, and was a passable singer. She was the perfect partner for a teenage Don O'Conner, in their now neglected series of musical comedies in the early '40s, most of which I have seen and reviewed(check YouTube). Only Don's being drafted into the army broke up their collaboration. I always wondered how she might fare as Costello's partner in madness, they both being contracted with Universal. Here, I got at least a partial answer, though I regret they didn't do a few more. Perhaps the boys didn't want to be upstaged by her. Peggy and Lou do the novelty song "Let's Play House". Peggy serves as Lou's sweetheart, getting a few kisses, which is more than O'Conner usually gave. Near the end, Peggy stars in the production number "Jumping on a Saturday Night", which well displayed her athletic style of tap dancing and other types of dancing, as well as singing.
There's plenty of action in the segments without Peggy, as well. The boys begin as escorts for women lacking a partner at a ballroom dancing establishment. They get in trouble with the boss, run outside into an empty police car and take off. See the film to find out how this turns out.
Abbott's sister Molly (Martha O'Driscoll) wants to go to the all- girls Bixby College. But, she wants her brother(Abbott) and his friend(Costello)to be accepted in some capacity at the school. Dean Benson(Donald Cook) hires them as custodians, under the supervision of the imposing Mr. Johnson. When Lou is sweeping the floor, he tries to hide it under the rug, but the underside says 'Don't put it here'! Then, he tries another rug corner, and it says 'Not here either'. Later, when sweeping the sidewalk, he cuts the edge of the turf with his knife, lifts up the turf, and sweeps it under. Of course, Lou gets into all kinds of trouble when cleaning a room and the kitchen, with Abbott sometimes coming to his aid.
When Costello swallows Johnson's pair of dice(why?), Johnson puts him in front of a primitive fluoroscope to see the dice. He plays dice with Abbott, each time shaking Lou, to shake the dice. Then, A&C do their 'Jonah and the whale' story for the girls.
Phil Spitalny and his all-girl band perform on a number of occasions, and back up Peggy in her production. The violin recitals do seem rather out of place, but no more so than Harpo Marx's harp solos. This band also performed in the Peggy Ryan-costarring "When Johnny Comes Marching Home".
The school needs $20,000. to pay off the mortgage held by chairman of the board Kirkland(Charles Dingle), who threatens to call the mortgage, if Dean Benson doesn't resign and Molly isn't expelled. Molly is important to the basket ball team, which has ambitions. The kids figure they need at least $1000. so that they can bet on their next basket ball game with 20:1 odds against them. So, they put on an orchestral recital for paying patrons. This nets only $500. So, Lou is reluctantly talked into a wrestling match with The Masked Marvel. Later, he finds out that The Marvel is his supervisor, Johnson. Of course, Lou is badly banged up in the fight, but he lucks out when The Marvel makes one mistake, knocking himself out... Now, the basket ball game. Molly is their center and star player, but is soon intentionally injured, so Lou(that's right) takes her place. The ref is knocked out, so Abbott takes his place. Bixby gets off to a good start, but when the opposition substitutes the professional team: The Amazons, things go quickly downhill, especially with Lou putting the ball in the wrong basket! But, Lou finally gets his head right and makes a spectacular comeback. Unfortunately, his last shot, with the score tied, bounces off the backboard,and all the way into the oppositions' basket(believe it or not!). Looks like the school is lost unless Kirkland's demands are met. So, Lou steals the prize money and a mad chase ensues. At the end, the opposition is declared in violation of rules, using professional players. Never mind that Bixby's star player obviously wasn't a girl! In summary, this is my favorite A&C film so far, although I have many to see. The plot follows the form of many Peggy & O'Connor films, where the young people are rebelling against an old fogey or two, who holds power over them by bureaucratic authority, or holds the purse strings. In this film, Chairman Kirkland fits both of these categories.
For those who complain that the screenplay is grossly unrealistic, you have to accept that's the way a A&C film is going to be. Otherwise, skip them.
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