Bonzo Goes to College (1952)
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Bonzo Goes to College is the one that Ronald Reagan isn't in. The focus, of course, is on brainy chimpanzee Bonzo, who escapes a seedy sideshow and hides out on a college campus. Here he is adopted by Betsy Drew (Gigi Perreau), the daughter of nonplused professor Malcolm Drew (Charles Drake). Eventually, Bonzo joins the football team, and becomes the star player. A pair of bad guys kidnap Bonzo on the eve of the Big Game, but it isn't difficult to guess how things will turn out. More gimmicky than its predecessor Bedtime for Bonzo, Bonzo Goes to College is constructed more along the lines of Universal's "Francis" pictures (except that Bonzo doesn't talk). Outside of the chimp, there are a few good supporting performances by Maureen O'Sullivan as Drew's wife, Gene Lockhart and Edmund Gwenn as Betsy's feuding grandfathers, and young Jerry Paris as one of the crooks. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Complete Cast:
- Maureen O'Sullivan - Marion Drew
- Edmund Gwenn - Pop Drew
- Irene Ryan - Nancy
- Frank Nelson - Dirk
- Guy Williams - Ronald Calkins
- Tom Harmon - Tom Harmon
- Gigi Perreau - Betsy Drew
- Hal K. Dawson - Second questioner
- Charles Drake - Malcolm Drew
- Gene Lockhart - Clarence B. Gateson
- John Miljan - Wilbur Crane
- Jerry Paris - Lefty Edwards
- Richard Garrick - Judge Simpkins
- Bonzo the Chimp - Bonzo
- David Janssen - Football player
- Kathleen Freeman
- Director(s):
- Frederick de Cordova
- Writer(s):
- Leo Lieberman, Jack Henley
- Producer(s):
- Ted Richmond
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