Hollywood studios were trying all types of comedy films by 1940 when things were heating up around the world before WW II. There were lots of these comedy and musical combos with stories set on college campuses. There was so little new or different in any of them, and most weren't big successes. "All-American Co-Ed" is in both groups. Frances Langford was just in three dozen movies, but was known more for her radio shows and singing with big bands.
Johnny Downs was a good actor, but had the misfortune of being just another handsome face who could act, when the studios put everything into two or three leading actors. So, Downs and many others like him were relegated to lesser films. This is one of the earliest Hollywood films with an actor in drag. Downs plays Bobbie DeWolfe, a girl who goes to an arch-rival all-girls' college. But, it's a dud for comedy.
The best reason to see this B picture is to see Harry Langdon. He was a late silent era comedian, writer and director who was well liked. While he didn't do many feature films with the advent of sound, he did make a few dozen shorts that were the common accompaniments of feature films in theaters through the 1950s. Langdon died in 1944 at age 60. He has the best line in this film as Hap Holden, who says, "Oh, don't be silly. Everybody knows that Quinceton men don't succeed - they inherit."
Johnny Downs was a good actor, but had the misfortune of being just another handsome face who could act, when the studios put everything into two or three leading actors. So, Downs and many others like him were relegated to lesser films. This is one of the earliest Hollywood films with an actor in drag. Downs plays Bobbie DeWolfe, a girl who goes to an arch-rival all-girls' college. But, it's a dud for comedy.
The best reason to see this B picture is to see Harry Langdon. He was a late silent era comedian, writer and director who was well liked. While he didn't do many feature films with the advent of sound, he did make a few dozen shorts that were the common accompaniments of feature films in theaters through the 1950s. Langdon died in 1944 at age 60. He has the best line in this film as Hap Holden, who says, "Oh, don't be silly. Everybody knows that Quinceton men don't succeed - they inherit."