Hold That Co-ed (1938)

Hold That Co-ed (1938)

„Hold That Co-ed“ is a 1938 comedy film directed by George Marshall from a screenplay by Karl Tunberg, Don Ettlinger and Jack Yellen.

Former star quarterback Rusty Stevens believes he is being hired to be prosperous Clayton University’s new football coach, but finds it is actually rundown State College in the same town that is giving him that job.

Gov. Gabby Harrigan, who is running for the U.S. Senate, has slashed State’s budget so much that the school only owns one football. Rusty leads a student protest at the state capitol that ends up in a brawl. The governor’s opponent in the Senate campaign, Major Breckenridge, capitalizes politically on Harrigan’s unpopularity at the college.

Harrigan’s bright secretary Marjorie Blake persuades the governor to retaliate by raising funds for State and proposing to build it a 100,000-seat stadium (to be named after him). She also recruits new players for State including a couple of tough wrestlers, promising them government jobs and $500 a game. State begins winning game after game.

As a publicity stunt, State even ends up with college football’s first woman, co-ed Lizzie Olsen becoming the team’s kicker. Harrigan publicly dares mighty Clayton to a game, challenging his adversary by vowing to quit the Senate race if State loses the game. Breckenridge has no choice but to accept.

All is well until Rusty reveals the unethical payment to players. A depleted State squad is overmatched during the game, but with the score 7-6 in Clayton’s favor, on the last play of the game Lizzie snatches a batted-down pass in mid-air and crosses the goal line for a game-winning touchdown for State.

Soundtrack Music:

• „Hold That Co-ed“ (1938) – Music and Lyrics by Mack Gordon and Harry Revel, Performed by chorus during the opening and end credits
• „Heads High“ (1938) – Music by Lew Pollack, Lyrics by Lew Brown, Performed by students and reprised by them twice
• „Limpy Dimp“ (1938) – Music and Lyrics by Sidney Clare, Nick Castle and Jule Styne, Sung and Danced by George Murphy, Joan Davis, and students
• „Harrigan“ (1907) – Written by George M. Cohan, Performed by students and reprised by them three times
• „Here I Am Doing It“ (1938) – Music and Lyrics by Mack Gordon and Harry Revel, Sung and Danced by George Murphy and Sung by Marjorie Weaver
• „Happy Days Are Here Again“ (1929) – Music by Milton Ager, In the score when Clayton agrees to play State
• „Is It True What They Say About Dixie?“ (1936) – Music by Irving Caesar, Samuel Lerner & Gerald Marks, In the score at the football game

Cast:

• John Barrymore – Governor
• George Murphy – Rusty
• Marjorie Weaver – Marjorie
• Joan Davis – Lizzie Olsen
• Jack Haley – Wilbur
• George Barbier – Breckenridge
• Ruth Terry – Edie
• Donald Meek – Dean Fletcher
• Johnny Downs – Dink
• Paul Hurst – Slapsy
• Guinn „Big Boy“ Williams – Mike
• William „Billy“ Benedict – Sylvester
• Frank Sully – Steve
• Charles C. Wilson – Coach Burke
• Glenn Morris – Spencer
• Hank Mann – Alex, Soda Jerk
• Sam Hayes – Announcer of State-Clayton Game
• Douglas Evans – Announcer of State-Louisiana Game
• Larry Steers – Architect
• Barbara Brewster – Barbara Brewster (as The Brewster Twins)
• Gloria Brewster – Gloria Brewster (as The Brewster Twins)
• Stanley Andrews – Belcher, Committeeman
• Paul McVey – Campaign Committeeman
• Robert Middlemass – Campaign Committeeman
• Ethan Laidlaw – Campus Policeman
• Ernie Alexander – Clayton Rooter
• Ray Cooke – Clayton Rooter
• Fred Kohler Jr. – Daly, Clayton Football Player
• John Dilson – Director of Public Works
• Doodles Weaver – Gilks
• Frank Jaquet – Legislator
• John Elliott – Legislator
• Sam Ash – Legislator
• Frank McLure – Man in Outer Office
• Charles Williams – McFinch
• Bess Flowers – Miss Sward, Stenographer
• Dora Clement – Miss Weatherby
• Harold Goodwin – News Photographer
• Cy Schindell – Policeman
• Tom Chatterton – Political Adviser
• Carroll Nye – Radio Newscaster
• Cyril Ring – Radio Reporter on Football Field
• Paddy O’Flynn – Reporter
• Dick Winslow – State College Band Leader
• Larry McGrath – Wrestling Match Referee

„Hold That Co-ed“ ist eine Filmkomödie von 1938 unter der Regie von George Marshall nach einem Drehbuch von Karl Tunberg, Don Ettlinger und Jack Yellen.

Der ehemalige Star-Quarterback Rusty Stevens glaubt, dass er als neuer Football-Trainer der wohlhabenden Clayton University eingestellt wird, aber in Wirklichkeit ist es das heruntergekommene State College in derselben Stadt, das ihm diesen Job gibt.

Gouverneurin Gabby Harrigan, die für den US-Senat kandidiert, hat das Budget des State College so stark gekürzt, dass die Schule nur noch einen Football besitzt. Rusty leitet einen Studentenprotest vor dem State Capitol, der in einer Schlägerei endet. Der Gegenkandidat des Gouverneurs im Senatswahlkampf, Major Breckenridge, schlägt politisches Kapital aus Harrigans Unbeliebtheit am College.

Harrigans kluge Sekretärin Marjorie Blake überredet den Gouverneur, Vergeltung zu üben, indem sie Gelder für die State University sammelt und vorschlägt, ein Stadion mit 100.000 Plätzen zu bauen (das nach ihm benannt werden soll). Sie rekrutiert auch neue Spieler für State, darunter ein paar harte Ringer, und verspricht ihnen Jobs bei der Regierung und 500 Dollar pro Spiel. State beginnt, Spiel um Spiel zu gewinnen.

Als Werbegag wird sogar die erste Frau im College-Football, die Studentin Lizzie Olsen, zum Kicker des Teams ernannt. Harrigan fordert den mächtigen Clayton öffentlich zu einem Spiel heraus, indem er seinem Gegner schwört, das Rennen um den Senat aufzugeben, wenn die State das Spiel verliert. Breckenridge hat keine andere Wahl, als anzunehmen.

Alles ist gut, bis Rusty die unethische Zahlung an die Spieler aufdeckt. Eine dezimierte State-Mannschaft ist während des Spiels überfordert, aber beim Stand von 7:6 für Clayton schnappt sich Lizzie im letzten Spielzug des Spiels einen abgewehrten Pass in der Luft und überquert die Torlinie für einen spielentscheidenden Touchdown für State.