The Affairs of Dobie Gillis

Serendipity
What a pleasant surprise for a hardened old cynic like me. Ordinarily I would avoid a title like The Affairs of Dobie Gillis as if it were the plague. But the sheer bounce and charm of Weis's direction along with Van and Reynolds proved completely beguiling. Sure it's dated. The innocence and idealized portrayal of college-age youth belong to a bygone era. Still, Van's easy way with a song and a smile continues to captivate, while even Reynolds' manages an energized side that doesn't annoy (the sight of her pony-tailed wholesomeness crouched demonically over a boiling witch's brew is hilarious). Surely these two were made for each other in some malt-shop heaven. There are so many nice touches, including: Hans Conreid's arrogant professor (his tight-lipped barbs at Dobie are priceless), Kathleen Freeman's gap-toothed Polish band (I'm sorry we didn't hear more), and the utterly delightful song and dance numbers (a whole lot simpler and more spontaneous than MGM's over-produced...

PLEASANT!
Why don't they make movies like this one anymore? Let's face it, the world needs them. No violence,no swearing, no explosions except for the Science Lab. Good harmless clean fun. Of course this movie would never set the world on fire, but who cares. Extremely likable and easy to watch. Hurry up with the DVD version!

But one sad note, all of the main actors with the exception of Debbie Reynolds have all passed away at the time of writing (2004)

Lightweight wholesome and seditious
The Affairs of Dobie Gillis, is a lightweight entertainment and a pleasant viewing. It is amusing to read the reviewers speak to the wholesomeness and innocence of the movie, the time it portrays, and the time when it was filmed. At bottom this is a movie about a college slacker who will cheat on a major essay, routinely break college rules while aiding and abetting equal slacking on the part of his girlfriend. Much of this movie can be viewed as a 1950s Fast Times at Ridgemont High combined with Ferris Bueller's Day Off. A young and talented Debbie Reynolds sings a couple of popular tunes. Bobby Van stars with his more open and easy-going dance styling with the acting debut of Bob Fosse, a more precise dancer and soon to be leading choreographer of this day. Adding value to this movie is Hans Conrad as the uptight and easy to dupe English professor.

The plot, such that it is traces the pairing off of Dobie Gillis (Bobby Van) and his great love Patsy Hammer (Debbie...

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