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Waste of time

Pretty Good

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

The story: An older wealthy businessman who's a widower goes to college to get the education his own spoiled kids never bothered with. It's not BAD it's just uninteresting. Bing Crosby is a HUGE star and is not appropriate for this project; he's too hip for this film and simultaneously too square for this bit of fluff. Further, the notion that a man at 51 (who is interested enough in life to return to college) is not interested in a romantic relationship with an available and beautiful woman is so far beyond foolish it won't stand analysis. On a technical note, perhaps using the iconic facade of Royce hall at UCLA, and further locations at Valley College was not the smartest move when the story calls for ice skating and snow scenes. VERY confusing. Again, not BAD, just not worthy.

I caught this movie on the AMC morning movie yesterday. It was charming, bouncy and fun- everything a good, clean comedy should be. I enjoyed the music and the wholesome-ness of the show. Too bad we don't have movies like this made any more. The cast is full of fresh faced kids (Richard Beymer, Tuesday Weld, Fabian) who later went on to bigger projects. The storyline is upbeat and it is a pleasure to watch the time progress in the movie by using holidays and activities as a dateline. Ben Crosby is generally not a favorite of mine, but I actually enjoyed him in this role. High Times made me yearn for the days of simpler times (bonfires, hay rides, cotillions). The remake (Back to School) is just not the same. High Time is a thoroughly enjoyable movie to watch!

This is one of the best Bing Crosby's later films. He only gets to sing two songs in it, The Second Time Around and It Came Upon A Midnight Clear during a Christmas hayride with some of the rest of his younger cast members.Bing is 53 year old Harvey Howard, self made millionaire restaurant franchise owner, who's decided to go back and do a lot of the things he missed when he was younger which included a college education. That in itself is an intriguing character for me. I've met a lot of self made types in my life who think because they are successful and make a lot of money in one field, they're omni-competent. Just the fact that Harvey Howard IS going back to college to improve himself intellectually and broaden his horizons is a plus for me with this character.I read an interview with Fabian once who said that Bing was great to work with and put him right at ease. Fabian had just done one feature film called Hound Dog Man and it was less than a success. After High Time he went on to a pretty good career in films during the sixties.The Second Time Around was the last of 15 songs that Bing introduced in films that was nominated for an Academy Award, a record not likely to be broken. It lost to Never On Sunday. It was a million selling song, but ironically not by Bing. Frank Sinatra took the song and he made it a big hit, probably the only time in Bing's career this ever happened.The kids are just fine, Fabian, Tuesday Weld, Richard Beymer (a year away from West Side Story)Patrick Adiarte. Gavin MacLeod has some very funny moments as Bing's comic nemesis and absent minded chemistry professor and Nicole Maurey strikes the right note as the French teacher that widower Crosby falls for.A really great feel good movie.

A fun romp of a 50 year old Bing Crosby returning to college after becoming a multi-millionaire. He seeks to be just one of the gang. I really enjoy this Blake Edwards "clean" movie. A "Happy Days" type look at life in the late 50's or early 60's.Of course Tuesday Weld and Fabian add spice but it is Gavin MacLeod that steals many scenes. (Is it just me or has anyone else notice how the younger he was when the movie was made, the older he looks? And the older he gets the younger he looks?)It is just a plain fun easy time with lots of giggles and a few good laughs.