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Cult Review
Senior Film Conservator
Alright, so you’re looking at College Love. Is it worth tracking down today? Well, if you have a soft spot for really old movies, the kind that feel like a snapshot from another time, then maybe. It’s definitely not for folks expecting a modern pace or anything complex. Anyone used to sleek new films will probably find it a bit slow, maybe even a little baffling. But for those of us who enjoy digging up these cinematic fossils, there’s a certain charm to it.
The premise is pretty straightforward, which is often how these things go. We’ve got a big football game on the horizon. Our main guy, played by Sumner Getchell, is a star player. His friend, though, gets himself into a bit of a pickle the night before, drinks too much, and passes out cold. So, our hero steps in. He pretends he’s the one who tied one on. All to protect his buddy. A noble gesture, right? ❤️
Sumner Getchell, as the good-hearted football player, has this earnest, almost *too* earnest, look about him. When he's supposed to be out cold, it’s… not entirely convincing. He just lies there, stiff as a board. But everyone around him buys it completely. It's one of those moments where you just have to lean into the old movie logic. The acting style back then was different, less subtle for sure.
The friendship at the core of it all is supposed to feel weighty. Like, this is a huge sacrifice for a pal. You can almost feel the movie trying to tell you how important this bond is. But sometimes, the dialogue feels a little stiff, almost rehearsed, which makes it harder to truly connect with their predicament. It’s trying, though. You gotta give it that.
There’s this one scene with the coach. He’s pacing, wringing his hands, just absolutely beside himself with worry about the upcoming game. His facial expressions are pretty dramatic. It’s a tiny detail, but you really get a sense of how much this game means to him, even if it’s a bit over-the-top. That kind of intensity in a small moment, you just don't see it much anymore.
And the actual football action? Oh boy. It’s less like a thrilling game and more like a gentle jog. The camera isn’t exactly dynamic, just kind of watching the players run around in what look like very heavy wool uniforms. If you’re expecting bone-crunching tackles, you’ll be disappointed. It’s all very… polite, for a contact sport.
We meet a few other characters. Helen Mann is in there somewhere. The romantic subplot is present, but it doesn’t exactly set the screen on fire. It’s just another thread woven into the story, not the main event. Nobody really leaps off the screen with charisma, but they fulfill their roles.
The film doesn’t linger. It tells its simple tale and wraps up without much fuss. You won't walk away pondering deep philosophical questions, that’s for sure. But you might get a kick out of its innocent charm. It's a reminder of a simpler time, both in filmmaking and in storytelling.
It’s less about grand college life and more about a single, earnest act of loyalty. The ending, predictably, ties things up neatly. No huge surprises, just a comforting resolution. Like a warm, slightly faded photograph. 📸
“Loyalty, even when it means a little fib.”
If you're into seeing how movies used to tackle these kinds of straightforward dilemmas, give it a shot. Otherwise, you can probably let this one stay tucked away in the archives. It's not bad, just very, very old-school. And sometimes, that’s exactly what you’re in the mood for.
IMDb —
1917
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