DISQUS

newcritics: The Shamus’ Back To College Edition!

  • Jason Chervokas · 2 years ago
    What did you miss? Good God, man, you were thorough!
  • Lance Mannion · 2 years ago
    Best College Fight Song:

    Stand By Old Ivy. How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

    Underachiever with Best Excuse for Slacking-off: Peter Parker. Spider-Man 2.
  • Josh · 2 years ago
    How about Best Non Traditional College Student - Thorton Mellon (Rodney Dangerfield) in Back to School
  • wwolfe · 2 years ago
    Best quotation from a dead Greek philosopher:

    "I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said, 'I drank what?'" - Val Kilmer "Real Genius"
  • Kevin Wolf · 2 years ago
    I don't think you missed a thing.
  • The Shamus · 2 years ago
    Excellent additions from all of you. Joe Valdez, over on my site, reminded me of one I meant to put on but forgot:

    BEST NIGHT BEFORE COLLEGE: "American Grafitti."
  • Tom Watson · 2 years ago
    BEST MISFITS IN COLLEGE:

    Leo Gorcey and Huntz Hall in "Hold That Line" (1952) - the Bowery Boys go Ivy League.
  • Karen · 2 years ago
    SADDEST PROFESSOR
    Runner up--Andrew Crocker-Harris (Michael Redgrave), "The Browning Version"

    Oh, wait. That was an English public school, not a college. HEll, I don't care--he was heart-breaking.

    MOST CLICHED COLLEGE EXPERIENCE:
    "High Time" (Bing Crosby, 1951)
    I don't think they miss a single one, from the Chemistry final cram to the Fall bonfire.
  • Alex · 2 years ago
    Most Likely to Be Expelled from Part-Time Language School: Odile, Franz and Arthur in Band a part (Godard, 1964).

    Most Surprisingly Disappointing Post-Graduate Career: Harold Diddlebock in The Sin of Harold Diddlebock (Preston Sturges, 1947).

    Worst College: Gueron University in The Crimson Rivers (Kassovitz, 2000)

    close runner-up: Unnamed Germany university in Frank Borzage's The Mortal Storm (1940)

    Student who most wants to drop out:
    Kiyoshi in Oshima's Cruel Story of Youth (1960)
  • Alex · 2 years ago
    Most Screwed Up College Professor:

    Dr. Mittelfinger (Makavejev's Sweet Movie, 1974).

    Docteur Genessier in Franju's Eyes Without a Face (1960).

    Faust in Murnau's Faust (1926).

    Dr. Nagel in Strange Behavior (1981).

    Funniest College Movie:

    I Flunked, But.....(Ozu, 1930)

    Most Bullshit in a College Bull Session: La Chinoise (Godard, 1967).
  • Brad · 2 years ago
    The best college song isn't from a movie but an episode of Rocky and Bullwinkle:

    Wossamotta, hats off to you!
    To your colors, ochre and alice blue
    We will e'er be faithful and true
    Hail, Wossamotta, hail!
    Better we should be in jail!
    Hey, Wossamotta U!
  • The Shamus · 2 years ago
    Thanks to all, especially the foreign film ones. I knew there were some good ones there, especially the Band of Outsiders one. That might qualify for Best Off-Campus Dance Routine, as well.
  • Trissotin · 1 year ago
    Best use of one's time in the Ivy League: Method Man and Redman, "How High."
  • William P. Sulik · 1 year ago
    Why Tenure is Important:

    "Personally, I liked the university. They gave us money and facilities, we didn't have to produce anything! You've never been out of college! You don't know what it's like out there! I've *worked* in the private sector. They expect *results.*"

    -Dr Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd) Ghost Busters
  • Dan Artz · 1 year ago
    Most Screwed Up College Professor:

    Bobby Long (John Travolta), A Love Song for Bobby Long.
  • Gaylord Smith · 1 year ago
    Best Old College Musical - "Good News", with Peter Lawford and June Allison.

    Best English School You're Glad You Didn't Attend - College House from "If", with Malcom McDowell.

    Meanest Basketball Coach - G.D. Spradlin in "One on One", with Robbie Benson (who really could play basketball).

    Worst Attempt to Portray a College Athlete When You Aren't One - Anthony Perkins in "Tall Story".

    Second Best Fooball Coach - Fred McMurray in "Father Was a Fullback", and the classic showdown between State and Tech
  • JohnAnnArbor · 1 year ago
    Best Application Process Portrayal: "How I got Into College"

    "Person A and Person B are in a lifeboat..."
  • Mike Walsh · 1 year ago
    Best Excuse for not Getting tenure: "Yes, they booted me out of the University...because I knew too much!"

    Dr. Praetorius in "The Bride of Frankenstein"
  • Mike · 1 year ago
    Best college admissions interview:

    Risky Business (1983). The Princeton interviewer (Richard Masur) wanders into Joel's (Tom Cruise) whore-fest. Joel gets accepted.
  • Mike · 1 year ago
    BEST PRE-COLLEGE ROAD TRIP, runner up: Fandango.
  • Stephen · 1 year ago
    Best college motto: "Knowledge Is Good" (Animal House)
  • MaryP · 1 year ago
    Scariest line to hear while attending grad school: Is it safe?--Marathon Man
  • Learning Disabilities · 5 months ago
    The Shamus Awards are given by the Private Eye Writers of America to honor excellence ... suicide of Dorothy Louise Burke, a beautiful college student with a double life. ...