MR BELVEDERE GOES TO COLLEGE

US, 1949, 88 minutes, Black and white.
Clifton Webb, Shirley Temple, Alan Young, Tom Drake, Jessie Royce Landis.
Directed by Elliott Nugent.

Mr. Belvedere Goes to College is a sequel to the excellent and very successful Sitting Pretty in which Clifton Webb played Lyn Belvedere. He was the supreme egoist, self-confident and excellent in everything he put his hand to. In this sequel, he finds that he has run short of funds because of the libel suits after the publication of his novel at the end of the first film. He needs a degree and goes to college. The film is a variation on the American college film - a picture of America in the late '40s.

Clifton Webb is superb at showing self-confidence and complete superiority and disdain. Shirley Temple gives a grown-up version of her earlier performances. Alan Young is seen in an early film. The hero is Tom Drake -and his mother the enjoyable Jessie Royce Landis. Jeff Chandler appears at the end as one of the policemen.

1. An enjoyable comedy of the '40s?

2. 1940s film production: black and white photography, jaunty musical score, the American campus?

3. Clifton Webb's screen presence, his creation of the character of Mr. Belvedere? Audiences enjoying Mr. Belvedere?

4. American colleges, students, houses, rules, sport, initiation rituals, graduation, the ethos of the American college in the '40s? Men's colleges, girls' colleges, post-war students?

5. The universities, the authorities, degrees and prestige?

6. Mr. Belvedere and his reputation? Presence? Confidence, disdain? Need for a degree, interview with the officials? His plan for the degree in a year? Avery and the rules about freshmen? His fat offsider? The rules and regulations and Mr Belvedere's attitudes? perfectionism, exact? Excellent at everything including playing classical piano, composing, jazz? His applying for the job? The encounter with Bill? His refusal to be interviewed by Helen? His being discreet about her and the baby? The house, Mrs. Chase, the cook, threatening to leave, controlling the house? The meals, the cooking, serving, their-good manners, teaching then dancing? His shaving and having to wear the false beard? His pole-vaulting success?

7. Bill as the pleasant hero, his mother and the house, Helen and being a widow, her son, concealing his presence, writing the articles, wanting a career? Dating Bill? Telling the-.,truth? Dinner with his mother? The clash?

8. Avery and his telling Mrs Chase? Mr Belvedere being blamed? His intrusion into the house? The police? Prison, phoning J. Edgar Hoover?

9. The happy resolution - and the themes of a 140s comedy?