Campus Rhythm

1943 "GET HEP to a HIT!"
5.4| 1h3m| NA| en| More Info
Released: 19 November 1943 Released
Producted By: Monogram Pictures
Country:
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Info

Radio singer Joan Abbott, known as the "Crunchy-Wunchy Thrush", does not want to renew her contract with the cereal sponsor, as she wants to go to college. But her guardian, her Uncle Willie signs the contract in order to pay off his own debts. But this time Joan won't take no for an answer and enrolls under an assumed name. When Joan goes missing, the radio institutes a search for Joan via a publicity stunt.

Genre

Comedy, Music, Romance

Watch Online

Campus Rhythm (1943) is now streaming with subscription on Prime Video

Director

Arthur Dreifuss

Production Companies

Monogram Pictures

AD
AD

Watch Free for 30 Days

Stream on any device, 30-day free trial
Watch Now
Campus Rhythm Videos and Images

Campus Rhythm Audience Reviews

Invaderbank The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.
Portia Hilton Blistering performances.
Tymon Sutton The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.
Ezmae Chang This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.
mark.waltz You never know what to expect from Monogram films. Some of their low budget movies are now considered sleeper classics, films at the time made simply to make a quick buck that somehow got noticed as a surprising work of art. Others are entertaining but forgettable, and in the case of this musical, it's instantly forgettable and often annoying. The plotline concerns a radio singer (Gale Storm) who wants to go from her latest gig to college so she can have a real life, but signed against her will to a new contract by uncle Douglas Leavitt. Taking the name of the radio station's secretary Marie Blake, she heads to college where she tries to blend in with the other co-eds, but creates a stir by performing in a local talent show where her voice is instantly recognized over the station. Thanks to a rival co-ed (Claudia Drake), Storm's identity is exposed because of Drake's boyfriend's (Robert Lowery) attraction to her, although Storm seems to be more enamored of the college newspaper editor (Johnny Downs) who is more serious about a future outside of college than the others around him.This has the subplot of the annoying Johnny Duncan often breaking into song with several various voices: one a Gracie Allen squeak, the other a Lionel Stander rasp. His novelty number is hideously wretched, although there's a funny moment when his girlfriend GeGe Pearson tries to rehearse her song for the college talent show and ends up with laryngitis, ultimately forcing the reluctant Storm to go on for her. I will give this film credit for one aspect however concerning the lives of the young students jazzing it up in the war years. In spite of what was going on around the world, their zest for life was unlimited and their music and dancing inspired the development of rock and roll a decade later and continues to inspire musicians today. So those of younger generations can look back and see how their grandparents (or great grandparents) lived when they were in their teens and realize that nothing much has changed but the date and the advancement of technology.
JohnHowardReid Johnny Downs (Scoop), Gale Storm (Joan), Robert Lowery (Buzz), Candy Candido (Harold), Ge-Ge Pearson (Babs), Doug Leavitt (Uncle Willie), Herbert Heyes (Hartman), Marie Blake (Susie), Johnny Duncan (freshman), Claudia Drake (Cynthia), and Tom Kennedy.Director: ARTHUR DREIFUSS. Screenplay: Charles R. Marion. Additional dialogue: Albert Beich, Frank Tarloff. Original story: Ewart Adamson, Jack White. Photography: Mack Stengler. Film editor: Richard Currier. Art director: David Milton. Music director: Edward J. Kay. Songs: "Walking the Chalk Line" by Jules Lohman, Louis Herscher; "Swing Your Way Through College" by Andy Iona Long, Louis Herscher; "It's Great To Be a College Girl" and "College Sweetheart", both by Louis Herscher. Additional music: Edward Cherkose. Production manager: Dick L'Estrange. Sound recording: Tom Lambert. Producer: Lindsley Parsons.Copyright 8 October 1943 by Monogram Pictures Corp. No recorded New York opening. U.S. release: 19 November 1943. Australian release through British Empire Films: 20 April 1944. 5,624 feet. 62 minutes.SYNOPSIS: She's Singing Her Way Through College.COMMENT: This Monogram musical has Gale Storm, but little else to recommend it. That else includes a few jokes, buried in a tot of talk ("Since 1 was knee-high to a grasshopper"; "Say, you sing a swell song!"); plus a female voice impersonator; plus of course some mildly melodic songs. Typically dull direction from Arthur Dreifuss is not calculated to improve the picture's overall appeal. As I say, that appeal rests almost entirely on Gale Storm. You either like her or you regard her with indifference. Fortunately for me (and this review), I really like her!Nonetheless, you would think FIVE writers could come up with something more amusing, exciting and colorful than this ho-hum pastiche!
dougdoepke Lively, attractive cast lift this ultra-cheapo to pretty good entertainment. Professional songbird Dorothy (Storm) tires of her radio program, taking off to college to enjoy the social life, instead. There she meets an engaging cast of characters, including the slightly befuddled Scoop (Downs), rubber-face Babs (Pearson), handsome Buzz (Lowery), and what-voice-comes-next Harold (Candido). While waiting in the wings is the catty Cynthia (Drake). Together, they're a sprightly mix.I'd forgotten what an engaging performer Gale Storm is, so it was nostalgic to renew the acquaintance. And where did novelty act Candido come from. His voice range is truly astonishing. No, there's nothing special about this Monogram production. Looks like they spent about 50-bucks on the sets, while the few exteriors appear to have been shot on studio grounds. Still, I would say they got more than their money's worth.
ptb-8 It's a Monogram musical with 6 songs in 63 minutes. I am almost at a loss at what else to tell you. Here I go.....teen singer Gale Storm has had enough of being 'The Crunchy Wunchy Thrush' which in those days meant 'radio show sponsor's singer' as opposed to today which means 'see your chemist for the right ointment'. Gale skips on her renewal and hotfoots it to minor rural college under an assumed name: Sally something. Upon arrival she is corralled into some fraternity house by 'Buzz" played like Jungle Jim on holiday by look-alike Robert Lowery (BATMAN from the serial of 1943)..... and accosted by "Scoop" the campus newspaper dude. The only highlight are the songs by delightful vocal funnyman Johnny Candy Candido who is so hilarious and effervescent... as he is in every film he appeared in the 30s/40s..eg: ROBERTA and SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT. Gale Storm is as usual her 'older pert Shirley Temple' teen self... but the film is basically dull, simple and forgettable. Even the other three songs make no sense and are un memorable.. as opposed to forgettable. Some contrived farce scenes at the radio station with exasperated squabbling replacing wit are slightly amusing only for their energy and obvious placement in the trailer. I wish I could say more positive things but CAMPUS RHYTHM but I would be out of sync with myself.