mark.waltz After being "The Farmer's Daughter" and "The Bishop's Wife", there was no place for Loretta Young to go but down, and that she does, as a lowly freshman at Pierce College, just so daughter Barbara Lawrence (the dewey faced young actress of "All About Eve" fame) can continue her education because of a scholarship the college offers ironically to Young's surname. Of course, there's a romantic mix-up with mother and daughter as they both love the same professor (Van Johnson).Young's transformation from matronly widow to buxom freshman is the highlight of this generic sitcom, a silly comedy with nary a laugh. Lawrence is a bit infantile and testy in spots as the well-meaning but immature co-ed with too many stars in her eyes to see the truth right in front of her. In a confrontation sequence with Young, she acts just like the later day Shirley Temple. Rudy Vallee is wasted in a rejected suitor role (Ralph Bellamy must have wisely turned it down) and it is really a stretch of the imagination that him and Johnson were fellow students together.

MartinHafer It's funny how times have changed. Back in 1949, people didn't think twice about the idea of a college professor dating one of their students--whereas nowadays that would get a professor fired at most colleges. So, when you see the film understand that times have indeed changed.A mother (Loretta Young) and daughter (Betty Lynn--that's 'Thelma Lou' from "The Andy Griffith Show") have been living beyond their means on the late husband's trust fund. They now find themselves broke and in need of money. In a desperate move to get funds needed to keep the daughter in college, the mother decides to accept a scholarship--a scholarship that provides enough for both of them until they get their next trust fund check. At first, Young feels pretty awkward on campus but soon she settles into things. But, when the English professor who Lynn is infatuated with (Van Johnson) begins to show a lot of interest in Young, things are a bit awkward to say the least! See how all this plays out in this nice little comedy.My feeling about this film is that it's a very slight movie--nothing that will change the world or make you go out of your way to see it. However, like a nice old hat or pair of gloves, it's a nice fit--and very comfortable. The actors are all very good, the film moves along at a nice pace and it's just a lot of fun. They don't make films like this anymore---and that's a shame.

earlytalkie "Mother Is A Freshman" is a slice of college life from a bygone era. The school itself looks like the kind of traditional schools that were around for generations. The cute story finds Mama going to school under a scholarship that only she can share with her daughter. Loretta Young was never more appealing than in this genteel comedy. Van Johnson plays the Professor that that both Mama and daughter (Betty Lynn) are unknowingly competing for. Rudy Vallee is along for the ride as a stuffy friend of Loretta's. The whole production is underscored by some nice, nostalgic music and wrapped up in pretty Technicolor. You could do a lot worse than to see this charming comedy.

jotix100 "Mother is a Freshman" is a delightful comedy, a vehicle, no doubt, for its star, Loretta Young. As directed by LLoyd Bacon, "Mother is a Freshman" offers the kind of genteel entertainment that was harmless. The film, directed by LLoyd Bacon, offers a trip back to a more relaxed time.Abigail Fortitude Abbott, is a widow living in Manhattan's Upper East Side. She seems to live in splendor, even though her funds are next to nothing. Her daughter Susan is going back to college in Connecticutt and both women must find out a way how to survive until the next payment to their inherited funds. They discover that Abigail's grandmother had a scholarship named after her for qualifying young women. What's the harm in trying? Next thing you know Abigail and Susan are on campus together.Abigail wants to major in English Literature, so she must enroll in Prof. Richard Michaels' course. Prof. Michaels falls head over heels in love with the attractive new student. Little does Abigail know, but Susan, is crazy for Michaels as well. After some tension between the two women, common sense prevails and Abigail ends up with the professor and money in the bank.Loretta Young had a magnetic personality and dominates the story. She was not a beautiful woman, but she photographed well and is always an asset in whatever she decided to appear in. Van Johnson is wonderful as Prof. Michaels. Rudy Vallee has some good moments as Abigail's lawyer. Betty Lynn plays Susan and Robert Arthur is Beaumont Jackson, the young man in love with Susan.The film is an excuse to spend 81 minutes in good company.