Here Come the Co-Eds (1945) starring Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Lon Chaney Jr.
In Here Come the Co-Eds Bud Abbott and Lou Costello star as two down-on-their-luck individuals who find jobs as caretakers at Bixby College, which is facing bankruptcy. After winning a large sum of money in a wrestling match against the “Masked Marvel”. Who was supposed to be their friend, McGurk, who was going to throw the match. But McGurk’s replaced instead at the last minute by Strangler Johnson, played by Lon Chaney Jr. Despite Lou’s being outclassed, he wins in a fluke, and Bud and Lou decide to help the school out by placing a large bet on the girls basketball team, who are massive underdogs.
However, due to cheating by the other team, all seems lost until Lou is hit on the head, causing him to lose his memory. His friend Bud convinces him that he’s “Daisy Dimple, world’s greatest female basketball player”. And Lou performs accordingly, winning the game! Until he’s hit on the head again. The movie ends with a madcap chase scene as Lou steals the (illegal) gambling winnings and uses it to pay the mortgage, and save the college. A funny movie, with several of their classic routines including Jonah and the Apples and the music of Phil Spitalny and His All-Girl Orchestra as well as Evelyn Silverstone and her magical violin. With excellent use of Lon Chaney Jr. as the villain.
Editorial review of Here Come the Co-eds (1945), starring Abbott and Costello, Lon Chaney Jr., courtesy of Amazon.com
Molly (Martha O’Driscoll), her brother, Slats (Abbott), and his pal, Oliver (Costello), are taxi dancers at the Miramar Ballroom. As a publicity stunt, Slats plants an article about Molly claiming her ambition is to earn enough money to attend staid, all-girl Bixby College. Bixby’s progressive dean offers Molly a scholarship. Molly accepts on the condition that Slats and Oliver come along too as campus caretakers. But the pompous Chairman threatens to foreclose on the school’s mortgage if Molly isn’t expelled. Together, the trio, with the help of some new friends, concocts a scheme to raise enough money to save the school. The plan involves a bet on the Bixby basketball team, which is playing in a game rated at 20 to 1 by the local bookie. But the bookie has other plans for their dough and hires a group of ringers to step in for the opponents. All is not lost, at least while Oliver has the chance to turn things around for his friends-one way or another.
Here Come the Co-Eds is another joyous romp by two of the best-loved comedic talents ever to appear on the silver screen. This delightful story, along with some terrific musical numbers, make it a fun-filled treat for all ages.
Funny movie quotes from Abbott and Costello’s Here Come the Co-eds
Oliver Quackenbush (Lou Costello): I really don’t like dancing because it’s nothing but hugging set to music.
Woman in Trailer: What don’t you like about it?
Oliver Quackenbush (Lou Costello): The music.
Trivia for Abbott and Costello’s Here Come the Co-Eds
- Lou Costello, in his youth a basketball player who specialized in dead-eye free-throw shooting, pumped in many of the shots himself during the film’s basketball game.
- This was the first of only two Abbott and Costello films produced by their writer John Grant.