Million Dollar Legs (1939)

This is a good B' campus sports romance comedy. Betty Grable is top billed here but she has a minor role as a girlfriend of one of the athletes. The real star is Peter Lind Hayes, Middleton College's student president. Hayes is cast as annoying character (Freddie Fry) who is always on the make for a dollar. Every event is a chance to exploit his friends and the student body. This is all played out in a rather playful way, with everyone just shrugging off Fry's selfish attitude.

The plot centres on the school's athletics program which is on the skids due to the Dean's lack of interest in athletics. The Dean is played by Thurston Hall who delivers who usual solid performance. John Hartley stars as the Dean's son who just happens to be a star rower. Much of the film follows the students as they try and get the rowing program back in the water.

Donald O'Connor is also billed but has a minor role as young jockey. He provides a key tip that allows the student to back his horse and raise some money for the rowing team. Jackie Coogan, also billed, only has a couple lines, is 25 years old and looks 35, which strains credibility as his is suppose to be a student. This marks an interesting point in the movie itself. That being that the older kids are quite horrible to the freshmen, which causes a couple of cringes because some of the "kids" look 35.

The finale has Middleton College up against a rival in a big rowing challenge. Middleton wins; the Dean sees the error of his academics only attitude; and Fry comes through by giving a little back to the student body. A very competent well made Paramount B'.