THE UNDERGRADS
US, 1985, 102 minutes, Colour.
Art Carney, Chris Makepeace, Jackie Burroughs.
Directed by Steven Hilliard Stern.
The Undergrads is a pleasing Disney college comedy for younger audiences. However, it is also a star vehicle for Art Carney, older audiences should enjoy it very much. Art Carney is excellent, and had a successful career in film after his Oscar win in Harry and Tonto in 1974. His dryness, his timing, his warmth and common sense all make him a persuasive screen personality. Chris Makepeace is his genial grandson. The film was directed by Steven H. Stern, director of many telemovies.
1. Youth comedy? Themes of ape, Generation gaps, bonds and enmities? Education themes?
2. A Disney production, pleasant, the touch of the cute? Humour? Human resolution?
3. A piece of Americana, the city, homes, college? The musical score, the range of songs, the opening with the Bee Gees' 'Staying Alive'?
4. The introduction to Mel: the 'Staying Alive' strut, people watching? Mel's relating to people, the landlady and the egg, setting fire to the apartment? With his son and daughter-in-law? Love for Jody? The gift of the money? Going to the retirement home, trying to get the men to play cards vigorously? Jody taking him for the walk, decision to leave? Going to see Hobo for the school records? The -interview, the allotment of classes? Telling Jody his life story, the hardships of his family, his marriage, his own son and the distance between them? The roll-call and his hearing aid?
The English class and its telling the story of his father from Hungary? The parties and meeting the students? His poem about the cow? The English teacher and going for coffee, telling the story about his wife? The history class and his answers about the Depression? The bar, the interview for the paper? Jody and his work, illegal names? Jody arrested, freeing him? The relationship with Nancy, speaking truthfully to her and her being hurt? Study and success? Mel being bashed? In bed, Jody waiting on him? The decision to leave? Hobo's death, his grief, the funeral? Jody's searching him out, the decision to return? The applause? The exams, his studies, success and the reconciliation with his son?
5. Jody and his family, Mel's gift to him, taking him away from the home, enrolling at Simpson, telling his parents and their reaction, listening to Mel's story and learning from him, the party, meeting Kim, going for the job? Classes - and Mel and his experience of the Depression? Butch and the job, lecturing Mel about his poor study habits? The arrest? Mel
getting him out? Mel's sickness, the help with Kim, search for him, the funeral, talking? The vindication of his plan? The happy ending?
6. Dennis's parents, being proper, their name for him, Mel's name for him, Jody? Going to college, not what his father wanted? The father sending his own father to the retirement home? Anger about what had happened? The importance of the final sequence, the reconciliation?
7. The college staff, the interviews, the English teacher and Mel's telling the story, the poem? The textbook for the history lecture, the Depression expert - his applauding Mel's return, but still only giving him a D? Nancy, the cup of coffee, telling her the story, the meal? Her being hurt? The final reconciliation - and a pleasant friendship future?
8. Lobo and his friendship, forever tired, the photos, his death and funeral?
9. Butch and the illegal works, Mel and his discovery, the police, the arrest, the bashing of Mel?
10. Genial piece of Americana, the generation gap, old age and youthfulness, education? Reconciliation?
