Review of College Confidential

Steve Allen was a talented, erudite entertainer of the 50s and 60s, who had a great deal of success on the small screen. Unfortunately, his talent did not translate too well on the big screen. Despite his limitations, he gave an excellent effort in this low budget production that tried to exploit sex on college campuses in the late 50s and very early 60s. By 2020, all of these issues seem pretty lame and moot, but in 1960, it was sensitive stuff. Walter Winchell plays himself in a cameo, and his funniest line is when he offers a screen test to the judge's daughter; as if he has any instinct in the least about on-camera talent. The story line is interesting, despite the exploitative nature of the producer. Allen gives it his best shot, along with an uncomfortable-looking Jayne Meadows, the lesser known sister of Audrey Meadows, the famous Alice from the Honeymooners. Jayne tried to be sexy in her films; but her wiser sister knew that comedy was more influential than sex for most actresses. The film is clearly dated, but still interesting to view.