Der Spätzünder

I first saw this film in 1962 and really enjoyed not only the plot, but the music by the great Henry Mancini. The theme song, "The Second Time Around" especially added to the overall effect of the picture. The movie harkens back to a time of youthful bliss that I think a lot of us would like to once more capture. This "look back" was done with great sensitivity and imagination, and is truly a delightful motion picture. I was most fortunate to see it again in 1995, on the AMC channel, 33 years after I first saw it.

A fun romp of a 50 year old Bing Crosby returning to college after becoming a multi-millionaire. He seeks to be just one of the gang. I really enjoy this Blake Edwards "clean" movie. A "Happy Days" type look at life in the late 50's or early 60's.

Of course Tuesday Weld and Fabian add spice but it is Gavin MacLeod that steals many scenes. (Is it just me or has anyone else notice how the younger he was when the movie was made, the older he looks? And the older he gets the younger he looks?)

It is just a plain fun easy time with lots of giggles and a few good laughs.

This Bing Crosby film is just a good old time of fun. A great Sunday evening movie on a rainy night.

Bing is great in one of his best screen roles. He captures the humor separating the generations, yet in the end shows that there really wasn't much difference after all.

High Times captures the college life of the late 1950s, a time of fun, enjoyment, friendships, and romance. The movie captures a time before drugs, booze, and hazing turned into the Animal House of the 70s and the dismal destruction of today. One of the film's best scenes was Bing in drag for his frat party.

So, if you like Bing Crosby, college fun, light comedy, romantic fluff, you will enjoy watching High Times.

Bing Crosby plays a millionaire in his sunset days who decides to get his college degree. It is very reminiscent of the 1982 Dangerfield vehicle, Back To School, only this one has entertaining songs in addition to light screwball comedy. This is a very good movie to relax to when you're in a mode to laugh, smile, and avoid anything challenging.

High Time is a wonderful Bing Crosby vehicle that has a successful middle aged businessman with grown children (and a widower) indulging a whim by taking a step back in his life to get the college education he missed the first time around.

While a seeming slam dunk to be a "fish out of water" comedy, instead Crosby's character finds a way to integrate successfully with his younger classmates, learning from them as they also benefit from his experience.

The movie records a lot of the college experience as you would have found it in the 50s or early 60s. It was a more innocent, more friendly time, with school spirit, dorms, frats, cramming, and the excitement of coming back together to start each new school year.

This is a wonderful film that stands up well. Things such as fall bonfires were and still are common campus traditions. Fraternity pledging pranks ... still around. Dormitories ... still around. Hamburger/Barbecue restaurants ... still around. LOL

Is the movie a touch simple and innocent compared to modern life and modern comedy fare? Sure it is. But trust me, that is NOT a bad thing.

Sit back and enjoy this very entertaining and relaxing film.