This is a lovely little romantic-comedy that actually has a lot more to say than first meets the eye. Mousy college professor Henry Fonda is married to flighty Olivia DeHavilland. She is excited because an old boyfriend is coming to town for the big homecoming game at the college. Fonda is less excited because this old boyfriend (Jack Carson) is both obnoxious and not all that bright--yet Carson is a big hero because he was an All-American football player. Fonda's distaste is well-founded, as Carson is a jerk and DeHavilland becomes an idiotic "fan girl". This naturally makes Fonda feel very inferior, though this inferiority is made worse because DeHavilland is an idiot. On one hand, she admires Carson for his manliness, but on the other she encourages Fonda to give up his intellectual integrity to get along with the fascist-like college president. My wife and daughter watched this film with me and they both instantly hated DeHavilland and I can't say I blamed them. This is one of her less likable roles (heck, I liked her more as a person even in HUSH HUSH SWEET CHARLOTTE).
At the same time all this is occurring, there is a similar but lesser plot involving Herbert Anderson (otherwise known as Dennis the Menace's dad from the TV show). He wrote an article about intellectual integrity and fascism creeping into our schools and instead of being applauded for standing up for the American system, he is attacked for being a "red".
Later, when Anderson and Fonda get together to complain about their lots in life and share a few drinks, the film switches into comedic high gear--as both (particularly Fonda) become roaring drunk and it is handled in a very funny way. I particularly liked when Fonda then attacked Carson and tweaked his nose! At the end, there is a nice little showdown scene in the film highly reminiscent of the stand taken by Jimmy Stewart in MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON. Everything is wrapped up perfectly and everyone lives happily ever after--huzzah! This is just a lovely old fashioned film--quality throughout and with a great message about intellectual integrity in our colleges. Unfortunately, I am not sure how many people learned from this film, as the right-wing repression of the early 40s and "red scares" have in some schools been replaced with left-wing repression and "political correctness" during the last couple of decades. Too bad, as the prospect of BOTH is enough to nauseate me.
At the same time all this is occurring, there is a similar but lesser plot involving Herbert Anderson (otherwise known as Dennis the Menace's dad from the TV show). He wrote an article about intellectual integrity and fascism creeping into our schools and instead of being applauded for standing up for the American system, he is attacked for being a "red".
Later, when Anderson and Fonda get together to complain about their lots in life and share a few drinks, the film switches into comedic high gear--as both (particularly Fonda) become roaring drunk and it is handled in a very funny way. I particularly liked when Fonda then attacked Carson and tweaked his nose! At the end, there is a nice little showdown scene in the film highly reminiscent of the stand taken by Jimmy Stewart in MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON. Everything is wrapped up perfectly and everyone lives happily ever after--huzzah! This is just a lovely old fashioned film--quality throughout and with a great message about intellectual integrity in our colleges. Unfortunately, I am not sure how many people learned from this film, as the right-wing repression of the early 40s and "red scares" have in some schools been replaced with left-wing repression and "political correctness" during the last couple of decades. Too bad, as the prospect of BOTH is enough to nauseate me.