User Reviews

This clever and offbeat musical short opens with the Board of Regents of Knowmore College in tears. It seems that none of the students are passing and they fear the funding being provided by their wealthy families will dry up. One gentleman announces he has taken the liberty of inviting a certain Professor Vallee to join the staff and try to get things back on track. So in comes the Professor, with his revolutionary learning methods - namely making the lessons rhyme and setting them to music. This gives Rudy a chance to sing several little ditties in front of a classroom full of aging juvenile delinquents. The first day is rather discouraging but presently a title card flashes on the screen announcing `The Professor's methods of memorizing, get results that are surprising.' Indeed the students are more attractive, attentive, witty, better dressed and even the classroom itself has gone from drab to a shimmering art deco laboratory. Although not credited, Mae Questel, with her thick Bronx accent, is very much in evidence as a dumb coed, snapping her chewing gum and learning her lessons. She is prominently featured at the end of the film with a talking skeleton.

Rudy Vallee comes across as a likable comedian who is `in on the joke.' He is easy going and good natured - traits he often brought to comedy roles throughout his long career. Knowmore College has long been enough of a favorite of this reviewer to warrant keeping a 16mm print around for occasional viewing. Typical of Paramount short subjects, Knowmore College boasts excellent production values and is a treat for anyone who enjoys this type of musical farce.