Anne Shirley seemed to spend a lot of the thirties in school!! There was "Finishing School" (1934), "School for Girls" (1934), "Girl's School" (1938) until she finally arrived at "Sorority House". Anne was a sensitive actress who often put more into her parts than was there in the first place. Her two big films were "Anne of Green Gables" and "Stella Dallas" but because she had been in movies since the age of four, by her teenage years she was considered a fixture and was passed over for roles she would have been ideal for, in favour of other up and coming actresses (Maureen O'Hara in the remake of "A Bill of Divorcement" and Jane Bryan in "The Old Maid"). So, once again, Anne was back in familiar territory in "Sorority House" as Alice, daughter of a small town grocer who withdraws all his savings so she can attend the prestigious Talbot University.
In my opinion this was a much better movie than "Girl's School" and Anne had a chance to add more dimension to her characterization. Once at college dewy eyed Alice falls right in step with the social climbing fever that is gripping the school - although she still retains her country values. Any co-ed who is not a sorority girl is seen as a "dreep" (a combination of dreary and weep). Her two room- mates are Dottie (Barbara Read) who is philosophical about her low chances of being invited to a sorority and Merle, who is frantic to join but whose aunt with her pushy behaviour ruins her chances. Although countrified Alice would ordinarily not have a hope of getting into Gamma, the top sorority house, she makes the acquaintance of Bill (James Ellison) the college hero who takes Alice under his wing and helps her adjust to the hectic social life. To say nothing of spreading a rumor that Alice's father owns a supermarket chain - instead of his one struggling grocery store.
Suddenly all the sororities are clamouring for her but with all the invitations come extra expenses, fees etc and Alice's father finds he has to sell his store to pay for all the hidden costs. When Alice's father turns up unannounced at a sorority "Meet the Parents" party, for one brief moment Alice turns into a social snob - ashamed of her own father. He saves the day with oodles of home spun philosophy - telling the story of Abraham Lincoln, preventing a suicide and giving Alice a lecture on freedom of choice when she decides to found a club where sorority members will not be welcolme!!
Barbara Read started off as one of the "Three Smart Girls" that made a star out of Deanna Durbin but she really looked too much like Durbin and was replaced in the sequel "Three Smart Girls Grow Up" by Helen Parrish. Veronica Lake and Marge Champion can be glimpsed as co-eds.
In my opinion this was a much better movie than "Girl's School" and Anne had a chance to add more dimension to her characterization. Once at college dewy eyed Alice falls right in step with the social climbing fever that is gripping the school - although she still retains her country values. Any co-ed who is not a sorority girl is seen as a "dreep" (a combination of dreary and weep). Her two room- mates are Dottie (Barbara Read) who is philosophical about her low chances of being invited to a sorority and Merle, who is frantic to join but whose aunt with her pushy behaviour ruins her chances. Although countrified Alice would ordinarily not have a hope of getting into Gamma, the top sorority house, she makes the acquaintance of Bill (James Ellison) the college hero who takes Alice under his wing and helps her adjust to the hectic social life. To say nothing of spreading a rumor that Alice's father owns a supermarket chain - instead of his one struggling grocery store.
Suddenly all the sororities are clamouring for her but with all the invitations come extra expenses, fees etc and Alice's father finds he has to sell his store to pay for all the hidden costs. When Alice's father turns up unannounced at a sorority "Meet the Parents" party, for one brief moment Alice turns into a social snob - ashamed of her own father. He saves the day with oodles of home spun philosophy - telling the story of Abraham Lincoln, preventing a suicide and giving Alice a lecture on freedom of choice when she decides to found a club where sorority members will not be welcolme!!
Barbara Read started off as one of the "Three Smart Girls" that made a star out of Deanna Durbin but she really looked too much like Durbin and was replaced in the sequel "Three Smart Girls Grow Up" by Helen Parrish. Veronica Lake and Marge Champion can be glimpsed as co-eds.