The Affairs of Dobie Gillis (1953)

Absolutely brilliant

Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

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 foot- stompers of the day). Clearly, the studio dribbled out a bare-bones budget to give their younger talent a chance, and the youngsters responded in spades. I'm only sorry that Van didn't get the career his talent deserved-- watching him and Fosse was a treat. All in all, this is a much better movie than it had any right to be, and a fine piece of unexpected pleasure for viewers of any age.

Previous to watching this film my frame of reference for Dobie Gillis was the television series that starred Dwayne Hickman in the early Sixties. So I was curious somewhat to see The Affairs Of Dobie Gillis from where the television series sprung.Other than Dobie you will not find a single character that came from TV show. And instead of high school the girl crazy Dobie who simply views his time at college as a romp with the opposite sex finds himself attracted to THE girl in the person of Debbie Reynolds.Life throws many roadblocks at the young couple, her parents, his teachers, but they do overcome of course. Bobby Van plays Dobie Gillis and he gets a few numbers to show off his singing and more important his dancing. Playing his best friend at the very start of his distinguished career is Bob Fosse and the two are quite the team. Fosse and Van came at the end of the musical cycle, but Fosse went on to Broadway as the most distinguished choreographer of his time. Barbara Ruick is also in the cast and she did way too few films, her best known being Carousel playing Carrie Pipperidge.The Affairs Of Dobie Gillis is a mildly entertaining film that probably is best known as it turned out, a TV Pilot.

As much as I wanted to capture the nostalgic feel of "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" TV show, it was just not to be while watching this earlier preview featuring Bobby Van and Debbie Reynolds. The thought that came to mind was a beach picture without the beach or the one piece bathing suits on the picture's females. The film wore out it's welcome about the tenth time I heard 'Learn, learn learn, Work, work work', and that was just in the first half hour. By his own indisputable admission, Dobie (Van) is a fun seeker, who's prime directive employs the ideal 'Workers ought to work, and enjoyers ought to enjoy'. There's never any doubt in which category Master Gillis belongs.Before she joined the slackers club, Debbie Reynolds looked like she might have been the proverbial too good to be true catch for Dobie, but their romance is cinched almost from the get go. On the other hand, Lorna Ellingboe (Barbara Ruick) is more than hormonally challenged by the sight of Dobie on campus. How all these lovebirds reconcile their feelings for each other is part of the meandering script, with caper after caper usually ending in disaster.The one surprise I wasn't expecting here was the presence of legendary dance choreographer and director Bob Fosse. For most of the picture, he was Lorna's noble meatball, but when he breaks into a solo dance number, he's simply amazing. Later he tries not to show up buddy Dobie in a choreographed number that also includes the girls. Those two spots would have been the highlight of the film for me.If you tune in expecting to see characters from the TV show, be warned. There's no Maynard G. Krebs or Zelda Gilroy, no Chatsworth T. Osborne Jr. or Frank Faylen knock off portraying Dobie's grocer dad. Depending on your mood, this one could be mildly entertaining or just a complete bore. Unfortunately, it looks like I caught it on a bad day.

t's strange that this was spun off into a television series. (I have ever seen the TV show.) It's a peculiar movie: It's an MGM musical in black and white. It's mildly amusing but no more. The only performer who went on to stardom is Debbie Reynolds.Almira Sessions was a very odd choice for the New York City aunt of a Grainbelt U. student. She looks like a crony of Ma Kettle.I can't comment on the many -- well, undertones. Possibly the most intriguing aspect of the whole thing is Bob Fosse's dancing, which must have seemed astonishing in 1953. We have seen it now in his own work and in those that have been influenced by him. But the rest of the movie seems -- if not unappealing, and it's not -- quaint and dated.