Film Review of Mr Belvedere Goes to College: Shirley Temple With Clifton Webb in 1949 Comedy

Fast-tracking the university's curricula exacerbates fun and stress in Mr. Belvedere Goes to College by writers Mary Loos, Mary C. McCall Jr. and Richard Sale; producer Samuel G. Engel; and director Elliott Nugent. Fred Sersen, Harmon Jones, and Alfred Newman handle cinematography, editing, and music. Filming showcases University of Nevada-Reno.

The 83-minute comedy draws upon Gwen Davenport's (October 3, 1909 - March 23, 2002) characters in the 1947-published novel Belvedere. It follows the 1948-released Sitting Pretty and precedes the 1951-released Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell. Its distributor was 20th Century-Fox. Its NYC-premiere and USA-release dates were April 15 and May 1949.

The movie begins with Hummingbird Hill author Lynn Belvedere (Clifton Webb) impoverished by libel suits. A college degree carries substantial cash awards. The autodidact, age 6 onward, contemplates completing four years in one. He passes entrance exams with Clemens University's proctor (Arthur Space).

Freshman Cornelius Whittaker (Alvin Greenman) and sophomore Avery Brubaker (Alan Young) are Lynn's dorm roommates. Lynn becomes Tri Gam Sorority House's pianist and etiquette/punctuality/waltz teacher. He befriends:

• Employment bureau manager Bill Chase (Tom Drake);

• Tri Gam housemother Mrs. Chase (Jessie Royce Landis);

• Tri Gam cook Marta (Lotte Stein).

He charms freshmen by:

• Beating Avery in track;

• Jumping four inches/10.16 centimeters short of his previous all-time record pole vault from 1922;

• Making freshmen intramural sports competition winners;

• Stopping mandatory freshman cap-wearing.

Lynn endures:

• False beard-wearing -- instead of paddling -- for shaving during Sophomore Council Whisker Week;

• Clemens President/Dr. Keating's (Paul Harvey) and Dean/Dr. Gibbs' (Taylor Holmes) expulsion warnings when journalism major Ellen Baker (Shirley Temple) publishes Lynn's anti-athlete/ anti-coed comments, before-and-after photographs, and Whisker “trial” in the university newspaper.

He mulls suing Clemens and Ellen. He opts to:

• Not grant Ellen interviews for Look magazine;

• Support Bill's dating Ellen.

Mrs. Chase abhors Bill's and Ellen's engagement. She assumes that Ellen is Davy Ashley's (Lonnie Thomas) unmarried -- not war-widowed -- mother. Ellen blames Lynn, not Avery, for her rumored single parenting.

Ellen does not open the door when Lynn tries to mediate. Lynn enters Davy's room by the fire escape and ledge. Ellen feigns not knowing Lynn.

Policeman #66 Pratt (Jeff Chandler) and #97 McCarthy (Clancy Cooper) arrest “Peeping Tom” Lynn. Lynn collect-calls FBI Director John Edgar Hoover (1895-1972). As Houdini's (Erik Weisz, 1874-1926) mentor, he escapes from his handcuffs. He naps standing on his head. He recommends yoga to Sergeant Griggs (Barry Kelley).

The movie ends with:

• Mrs. Chase accepting Ellen;

• Lynn becoming class valedictorian;

• Lynn handing President Keating Ellen's feature article and Lynn's graduation picture in the latest Look.

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

University of Nevada-Reno: Wheeler Cowperthwaite, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/60756254@N07/5793555451/

1949clips. "Mr Belvedere Goes to College (1949) - Sorority house." YouTube, May 28, 2012, @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utVSE6oGf3I

Final Diaz. "Mr Belvedere Goes to College 1949 Full Movie." YouTube, Jan. 12, 2017, @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0c8e0XSHDE