Too Many Girls

Too Many Girls

Year: 1940

Runtime: 85 mins

Language: English

Director: George Abbott

MusicComedySong and danceDazzling vocal performances and musicalsCatchy songs and hilarious musical comedy

Connie Casey wants to attend Pottawatomie College, unaware her father has hired four football players as her bodyguards. Their wages help the cash‑poor school, and they join the varsity squad, turning it into a powerhouse. Player Clint falls for Connie, but when she discovers his role she heads East, and the quartet follows, leaving the team behind.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Too Many Girls (1940)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Too Many Girls (1940). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1940

Set in the early 1940s, the film captures a prewar American college atmosphere filled with song and dance. The era shapes fashion, humor, and social expectations that drive the romantic plot. The college grapples with funds and reputation while the football team and campus life provide the energy of the period.

Location

Pottawatomie College, Stop Gap, New Mexico, United States

The story unfolds on the campus of Pottawatomie College in Stop Gap, New Mexico, a small school facing financial trouble. The setting mixes campus life, football enthusiasm, and musical numbers as students rally to save the college. Stop Gap serves as a backdrop where college pride, romance, and schemes collide.

🎓 College town

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:36

Main Characters – Too Many Girls (1940)

Meet the key characters of Too Many Girls (1940), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Connie Casey (Lucille Ball)

An impulsive, strong-willed heiress who returns from finishing school intent on attending college. She arrives with a plan to hire discreet bodyguards to keep her safe and free to pursue her dreams at Pottawatomie. Her flirtatious personality clashes with the anti-romance clauses and draws Clint into a complicated romance. As her schemes unfold, she learns to balance independence with genuine affection.

🎀 Heiress 🕊️ Independent 🎭 Entertainer

Clint Kelly (Richard Carlson)

A Princeton football star who becomes Connie's protector and eventual love interest. He is disciplined and focused on his studies and the team, initially keeping his distance because of the contract. His feelings for Connie complicate the anti-romance clause and test his priorities. He must choose between duty and desire as the romance deepens.

🏈 Athlete 🎯 Focused 💬 Reserved

Jojo Jordan (Eddie Bracken)

A fellow football player and comedic foil who brings camaraderie and levity to the group. He supports the plan to guard Connie while keeping up team spirit and school pride. His presence helps drive the film's lighthearted humor. He remains a loyal teammate throughout the upheaval.

🎭 Comic 👫 Loyal ⚽ Teammate

Manuelito Lynch (Desi Arnaz)

A witty, charismatic member of the bodyguard group who adds charm and resourcefulness. He helps navigate the group’s financial and logistical needs while keeping spirits high. Manuelito contributes to the team dynamic with humor and quick thinking. His allyship strengthens the trio's efforts to protect Connie and the college.

🎷 Charmer 🗺️ Resourceful 🤝 Loyal

Beverly Waverly (Douglas Walton)

A British playwright who becomes the object of Connie's romantic interest and a foil to the college's plans. His presence introduces a literary and cultured angle to the campus comedy. He embodies a refined charm that contrasts with the scrappy, athletic energy of the students. His role amplifies the theme of unexpected romance on campus.

🎩 Playwright 🕊️ Romantic 🧭 Foreign charm

Al Terwilliger (Hal Le Roy)

One of the football players and a key member of the group providing protection and camaraderie. He contributes to the team's dynamic and the film’s infectious energy. His presence helps fuel the athletic and comedic beats that drive the story. He stands as a reliable ally to Clint and Connie's evolving relationship.

⚽ Teammate 🎶 Entertainer 🕺 Lively

Harvey Casey (Harry Shannon)

Connie's protective tycoon father who uses his influence to support the football program and keep his daughter safe. He is wary of Connie's plans and manipulates connections to influence the college's fate. His protective stance sets up the central tension between freedom and control. His actions propel the plot toward a resolution that reconciles family ambition with love.

🧔 Tycoon 🛡️ Protective 🕵️ Strategic

Eileen Eilers (Frances Langford)

A student leader who helps raise funds to keep the college afloat and energizes campus activism. She forms part of the community rallying to save Pottawatomie through student efforts. Her leadership provides a counterpoint to Connie's impulsive plans, grounding the campus in collective action. She and Pepe symbolize student agency in the film.

🎤 Activist 🗳️ Fundraiser 💃 Charismatic

Pepe (Ann Miller)

A fellow student leader and performer who rounds out the fundraising efforts and campus performances. She adds to the musical and social energy of the campus scenes. Pepe’s participation underscores the communal spirit of the film's college setting. She complements Eileen in driving student-led solutions.

🎭 Performer 👫 Friend 💃 Entertainer

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:36

Major Themes – Too Many Girls (1940)

Explore the central themes of Too Many Girls (1940), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💘 Romance

Connie's arrival and her pursuit of independence spark a romance that challenges the anti-romance clause. Clint's measured, steady nature contrasts with Connie's impulsiveness, creating tension and growth for both. The film uses lighthearted miscommunications and musical moments to explore how love can disrupt plans. Ultimately, genuine affection overrides restrictions, guiding the pair toward a hopeful union.

🏈 Football

The football team evolves from a losing squad to a success, driven by the enthusiasm of the players. Football becomes a vehicle for saving the college from debt, drawing attention and funds. The team’s popularity spills into campus life, creating excitement and chaos alike. The climactic game ties school pride to personal relationships and communal victory.

🕵️ Secrecy

The anti-romance clause and the assignment of bodyguards create constant concealment and intrigue. Contracts, disguises, and secret agendas turn the campus into a stage for mistaken identities and comic misdirection. Connie and Clint navigate rules that force hidden feelings and hidden roles. The reveal brings honesty and closure amid the film’s playful energy.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:36

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Too Many Girls Summary

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