The Moviegoer

Someone who has seen "Sitting Pretty" may not care for Clifton Webb's new film--for "Mr. Belvedere Goes to College" suffers by comparison. If it had come before "Sitting Pretty," it might have had a better chance. Nevertheless, taken by itself "Mr. Belvedere Goes to College" offers many a chuckle for admirers of that dapper, self-confessed genius Lynn Belvedere.

You may remember that Lynn Belvedere touched off a social explosion at the end of "Sitting Pretty" with the publication of his novel "Hummingbird Hill." In the interim between the two movies, he lost a fortune in libel suits, but at the same time won a literary award of $10,000. Since the award stipulates that the recipient must hold a college degree, in "Mr. Belvedere Goes to College" we find Mr. Belvedere doing just that--entering the ivied campus of Clemens U. as a gray-haired freshman.

Not only that, but he intends to earn the degree in only one year. Entrance exams bore him; these he dismisses with a high-honors shrug. Freshman hazing presents somewhat more of a problem, and Mr. Belvedere faithfully wears his '52 beanie until he emancipates his class by pole-vaulting 14 feet to win the "Soph-Fresh" track meet. In order to earn money, he indulges in a more sophisticated baby sitting, working as a "hasher" in a sorority and civilizing its unmannered members.

The ever-present sub-plot involves Shirley Temple, a nut-brown coed who later turns out to be a widow with a three-year old child. It's the same old saga of campus love, and falls down badly. Fortunately the focus is always on Clifton Webb, who like Bobby Clark, is a show by himself. His attitude throughout the entire picture can be accurately summed up in the following exchange:

Admiring Coed: You play like Rubenstein!

Belvedere: Rubenstein--plays like me.