Directed by Sidney Miller and written by Robert E. Kent, Get Yourself a College Girl (aka The Swingin’ Set) is a comedy in the vein of a beach party movie.
The plot involves a college co-ed who tries to balance her time writing songs and dealing with her publisher who tries to pursue her.
It was filmed at Sun Valley, Idaho.
Terry Taylor (Mary Ann Mobley), a senior at conservative Wyndham College for Women (fictitious), is under assumed name successful pop songwriter.
After her publisher Gary Underwood (Chad Everett) unknowingly exposes her career, Wyndham’s board of trustees—including the college founder’s grandson, California State Senator Hubert Morrison (Willard Waterman)—condemns Terry for indecent behavior.
To distract herself from a possible expulsion, Terry, her friends Sue Ann Mobley (Chris Noel) and Lynne (Nancy Sinatra), and their physical-education instructor Marge Endicott (Joan O’Brien) travel to Sun Valley for a Christmas-break ski vacation.
There, they meet Gary and his artist friend Armand (Fabrizio Mioni); Senator Morrison, who wants to solicit the youth vote; and Lynne’s husband.
The Dave Clark Five, The Animals, and other musical acts perform in the background as Gary and Armand romance Terry and Sue Ann, while Lynne and her husband spend their vacation in their room.
Senator Morrison courts Marge and shows he’s talented dancer, but an embarrassing newspaper photo threatens his re-election.
In the end of this harmlessly silly comedy, the youngster show their support by holding a successful telephone poll with musical performances.
Singer Nancy Sinatra, who would have a hit record two years later, appears in this film but does not sing.
The film was known as Watusi A Go-Go, The Swingin’ Set and The Go Go Set.
Sidney Miller and Fred Karger wrote two songs for the film, “The Swingin’ Set,” performed offscreen by Donnie Brooks at the opening, and “Get Yourself a College Girl,” performed by Mary Ann Mobley.
Stan Getz with the Stan Getz Quartet back Astrud Gilberto as she performs “The Girl from Ipanema.”
The Rhythm Masters perform “Beat Street Rag.”
Jimmy Smith with The Jimmy Smith Trio perform “Comin’ Home Johnny” and the instrumental “The Sermon.”
Freddie Bell & Roberta Linn with the Bellboys perform “Talkin’ About Love.”
The Standells perform “Bony Maronie” and “The Swim.”
The Dave Clark Five perform “Whenever You’re Around,” and “Thinking of You Baby.”
The Animals sing “Blue Feeling” and “Around and Around.”
Cast
Mary Ann Mobley as Teresa ‘Terry’ Taylor
Joan O’Brien as Marge Endicott
Nancy Sinatra as Lynne
Chris Noel as Sue Ann Mobley
Chad Everett as Gary Underwood
Willard Waterman as Senator Hubert Morrison
Fabrizio Mioni as Armand
James Millhollin as Gordon
Paul Todd as Ray
Donnie Brooks as Donnie
Hortense Petra as Donna, the Photographer
Dorothy Neumann as Martha Stone, Dean of Wyndham College
Marti Barris as Secretary
Mario Costello as Bellboy
The Standells as The Standells
The Dave Clark Five as Themselves
Percy Helton as Senator’s chauffeur
Stan Getz as Himself
Astrud Gilberto as Herself
Roberta Linn as Herself
The Bellboys as Themselves
The Animals as Themselves
The Rhythm Masters as Themselves
Note
TCM showed this movie on Sep 1, 2021.
