State Fair [1945]

EMM# : 23635
Added: 2015-07-03

State Fair (1945)
YOUR HEART WILL SING OUT LOUD! (original print ad - all caps)

Rating: 7.2

Movie Details:

Genre: Musical (Romance)

Length: 1 h 41 min - 101 min

Video: 1488x1080 (23.976 Fps - 1 957 Kbps)

Studio:

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Farm family Frake, with discontented daughter Margy, head for the Iowa State Fair. On the first day, both Margy and brother Wayne meet attractive new flames; so does father's prize hog, Blue Boy. As the fair proceeds, so do the romances; must lovers separate when the fair closes? Written by

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didi-5 from United Kingdom
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Not like the other R&H musicals - its ten years older, for a start. It has Jeanne Crain, young and pretty and as fluffy and fun as she was in Margie - and a more perfect fit for the other roles you would not find (Vivian Blaine in another great film musical role to rival Miss Adelaide, Dana Andrews (an odd choice but who else could you imagine?), Dick Haymes in great voice, Fay Bainter and her mincemeat, Charles Winniger and his prize pig). It is a gooey pleasure something similar to eating chocs when you know you really shouldn't ... highly recommended - great tunes. And avoid the remake with Pat Boone and Ann-Margret. No comparison. This is the one to watch - 56 and still fantastic.

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bronty (johnloveskw@gmail.com) from Key West, FL, US
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I've never seen the 1933 film version of this; I wish I could say the same about the 1962 mistake, the one with that Black Hole of movies, Pat Boone, a man so bland, he sucks the color from anything he's near. THIS version, however, while certainly not up to what many would probably consider Rodgers & Hammerstein 'standards' (MGM, desperate to release a Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, but stymied by the continuing run of "Oklahoma!", quickly made this new version of "State Fair", according to information on the DVD), is gloriously corny, old fashioned, innocent, warm, romantic, those-were-the-golden-days fun, with at least two songs that have truly entered the realm of 'classic': the Oscar-winning "It Might As Well Be Spring" and "It's A Grand Night For Singing". The story is simplicity personified: a mid-western farm family heads to the State Fair. The parents have their eyes and ears on winning their respective competitions (he, for his prize pig, Blue Boy; she, for her pickles and mincemeat), while the children, both young adults, find love and heartache along the way. As the parents, Fay Bainter, born to play mothers, is her reliably warm self, while Charles Winninger brings solid humor to every scene. Dick Haymes plays the son, and gets to sing a few tunes, quite capably, and has a bittersweet romance with Vivian Blaine. (Alas, their union is the only unsatisfactory note in the entire movie: it is established Haymes' character has a sweetheart he's hooked on but when she cannot accompany him to the Fair, he almost immediately falls for Blaine and is straight-away promising his undying love for her, seemingly forgetting about his love back home...until the final moments, when he suddenly has her in his arms. It's a false, almost jarring note.) But Jeanne Crain, despite this being an ensemble piece, easily steals the show, and though it's a shame she didn't do her own singing, she still manages to ably give the impression of a restless young woman yearning for something 'more'. Her romance, perhaps the real core of this film, with Dana Andrews, seems much more real than that between Dick Haymes and Vivian Blaine, and they have definite chemistry, which makes the required "happy ending" a delight. Do I wish it had more weight, more heft, to it, like "Oklahoma!" or "The King & I"? Well, the movie is what it is: a light, airy, corny piece of Americana. Were R & H pandering to the tastes of the common man with this movie? Sure they were! But what's wrong with feeling good? Who exactly is harmed by classic songs, winning performers, a simple story line, and a happy ending? If you're looking for weightier or darker fare, there are any number of musicals to whet your appetite; however, if you're looking for pure fun - and for great tunes that'll stick in your head all day long - look no further: here it is! You'll have a terrific time at THIS "Fair".

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JTBWRITER from ARCADIA, CA
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A wonderful look at an America we will never see again-tuneful, romantic and a Happy Ending! State Fair never claims to be the end all and be all, just a sweet look at the tradition of the State Fair put to music. This movie (and the ensuing Broadway Musical) stand on their own next to Oklahoma, Carousel, South Pacific, King and I, Sound of Music, etc.

Jeanie Crain and Dana Andrews play their scenes so effortlessly, you forget its just a 3 day romance. Dick Haymes and the eternal Vivian Blaine have a chemistry that works much better then the Pat Boone version.

I recommend this movie to anyone who wants a break from the tired old action/violence/cheesy comedies of today-it's as much an image of summer as cotton candy and candy apples!

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Neil Doyle from U.S.A.
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"State Fair" continues the trend of films that wanted the songs to be integrated into the plot without stopping the action--much the way Rodgers & Hammerstein did when they produced "Oklahoma" on Broadway. So they start the picture with "Our State Fair" sung by various characters and it goes on from there. Trouble is, there is almost no plot to speak of--the only suspense being, who will win the top prizes at the Fair and we all know the answer to that anyway. And who will end up with who at the finish--another easy one.

Despite the lackluster plot, it does give us a chance to view the young and gorgeous Jeanne Crain (then at the height of her popularity), Dana Andrews, Vivian Blaine and Dick Haymes--a pleasant enough foursome to carry any picture. And, of course, there are a couple of splendid songs by the famous songwriting team--including "It Might As Well Be Spring", dubbed for Jeanne Crain by Annette Warren (I believe), and "It's A Grand Night For Singing". Vivian Blaine gets a chance to sing "That's For Me" and is charming as the girl singer Dick Haymes takes a shine to. To complete the "American as apple pie" image of the story, we have Fay Bainter being motherly in the kitchen and fussing about her jams and Charles Winninger for comic relief.

No matter what anyone says, it's a pleasant film to watch, beautifully photographed in the rich Fox color of the mid-40s--and, after all, it does contain the Oscar winning song, "It Might As Well Be Spring."

Much better than the awful 1962 remake--and easier to take than the earlier 1930s version with Janet Gaynor.

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albirmike from United Kingdom
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I first saw this film in 1945, when I was completing 5 years in the Royal Navy. I was stationed in Kure , Japan, (5 miles from Hiroshima). We were the first British naval personnel to land in the area after the end of WW2, and services and accommodation were very primitive. When things started improving, we got our first film, "State Fair" with the gorgeous Jeanne Crain 'singing the Oscar winning song "It might as well be spring" The wonderful Rodgers and Hammerstein also provides opportunities for Dick Haymes and Vivian Blaine to exercise their tonsils.This happy film never flags; if its the mincemeat or Hampshire Boar competitions, the family have a ball.Look out for a wonderful cameo performance from Donald Meek as the aforementioned @mincemeat' judge. I have watched this film at least a dozen times, the last time last week on DVD and it never bores.

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harry-76 from Cleveland, Ohio USA
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This trip to the "State Fair" is a fun-filled vacation. It's all there: mother's mince meat pie, father's prize winning hog, and the children's bouts of romances, all wrapped in a tuneful Rodgers & Hammerstein score and tied with a Technicolor bow. The cast is excellent, the songs great, and the direction and production values high. What can one say? They sure don't make 'em like this any more. It's easy to see why -- after this, who can top it?

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ferbs54 from United States
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OK, first, let's get the unimportant things out of the way. The 1945 musical remake of "State Fair" is indeed as corny as one might imagine (appropriate, perhaps, considering that Iowa, where the film transpires, is, according to the state song, "where the tall corn grows"). But it also features a cute story, concerning a farm family's visit to the eponymous fair; some sweet and unfailingly catchy tunes by Rodgers & Hammerstein; gorgeous, supersaturated Technicolor filming; and some amusing characters and situations. Now, then, for the important stuff: Jeanne Crain. Oh my gosh, IMDb viewers, you cannot believe how incredibly beautiful Ms. Crain is in this movie; truly, the idealized representation of the all-American girl, and the quintessence of pulchritudinous muliebrity. Her Margie Frake character just might be the prettiest gal I've ever seen in a movie, and she makes this musical, for me, something very special. That same year, Crain appeared in the Gene Tierney vehicle "Leave Her to Heaven," and managed the near-impossible task of even looking better than Tierney at her best. Why our GI's during WW2 hung up pictures of the comparatively dowdy Betty Grable and Rita Hayworth in their lockers, instead of Jeanne Crain, is a mystery to me. Anyway, if you think I'm going overboard here, rent out "State Fair" one night and put it to the test. If you don't find yourself freezing the images of Jeanne Crain a half dozen times to admire her remarkable looks, I would suggest a visit to your local doctor, as you might be half dead...

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George Meara (gmeara@aol.com) from East Patchogue, NY
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The simpleness, and wholesomeness of this film makes it a treat to watch. The music and songs make it even more enjoyable, and the beauty of Jeanne Crain in this film would make your eyes water. A rare film with Dick Haymes who was always underrated as a singer. I feel lucky to have a VHS copy of this film.

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jessicaarex from Utah
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I love this movie! I think it has an incredible cute love story, and a cute family movie. I love to watch this movie over and over again, sing the songs, experience the love, and enjoy the fair! Jeanne Crain and Dana Andrews did a wonderful job portraying two people in love, Fay Bainter did a wonderful job with her cooking (I could almost taste it!), and Charles Winninger did a fabulous job at being a hog obsessed farmer. It's a movie for every girl who has dreamed of meeting a handsome stranger and falling in love! This movie will make you laugh, sigh, and dream of the things you wish you could have, but only can have through this movie. Roger's and Hammerstein did an excellent job!

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theowinthrop from United States
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Shown tonight on the Turner Classic Film Network, the 1945 version (second of three versions) is the one that most viewers feel is the best of the versions. It happens to be the first musical version (Will Rogers version was actually just a straight film), and is better than the 1962 version with Bobby Darin and Alice Faye. It is a nice score with two (possibly three) standards: "It Might As Well Be Spring", "It's a Grand Night For Singing", and the title song of "State Fair". But there are actually about seven numbers, and they include a ballad sung by Viviane Blaine, and a duet Blaine sings with Dick Haymes (a later song, somewhat reminiscent of "Oklahoma" but about "Iowa" had Charles Winninger, Faye Bainter, and even Donald Meek sing with Blaine and William Marshall).

Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein were at the beginning of their fantastic Broadway musical career, OKLAHOMA having first been produced in 1943. Most people do not realize this but Oscar Hammerstein was more than just a lyricist (like his predecessor with Rodgers, Lorenz Hart), but also wrote the scripts for the shows. This was to help insure that the songs pushed the story along. Rodgers had long wanted to integrate music and dialog. In the early 1930s, when he and Hart came to Hollywood and worked at Paramount, they had whole sequences in their best work (HALLALUJAH, I'M A BUM, LOVE ME TONIGHT, THE PHANTOM PRESIDENT) that did just that. But this was the total script, not just sections of singing dialog.

It is late August 1945, and the Frake family are preparing to attend the Iowa State Fair. The father (Winninger) has been grooming his great boar "Blue Bell" for the best boar prize, and the mother (Bainter) has been grooming her sweet and sour pickles and her mince meat for the best prizes. Their son (Dick Haymes) is determined to get back at a crooked barker at the fair (Harry - then Henry - Morgan), besides enjoying it with his girlfriend. But she can't attend, due to her mother's illness. The Frake daughter (Jeanne Crain) has a boring boy-friend, a future farmer who wants to build a modernistic farm (Crain tries to be interested but isn't).

Winninger is quite happy to be going, but his friend and feed merchant (Percy Kilbride - who also does a little singing at the start of the film) is a "Gloomy Gus" type, and insists that there may be serious problems ahead. He and Winninger set up a bet (of $5.00 - but this film is set in 1945 after all!) to see if it really turns out to be a totally happy experience for the four members of the family.

The family goes off, and we watch the results of the weekend. This includes the two romances that occur between Haymes and a singer at the fair (Blaine) and Crain with a reporter (Dana Andrews). We watch these adventures, and how the romances bloom, as well as how the parents do with their contests.

Among other things we see Donald Meek as a contest judge who gets the D.T.s and enjoys it. We see Frank McHugh as a song plugger, who turns out to be a decent fellow. We see how Blaine teaches Morgan a lesson. We learn that even big fat boars like "Blue Bell" have sex drives. And we see if Winninger or Kilbride will win that $5.00.

The cast given on this thread is not complete. John Dehner has a small role as a contest announcer, and Emory Parnell is a Congressman addressing the state fair, and Will Wright is one of the judges at the boar contest.

The film is a feel good film - a worthy cinematic follow-up to OKLAHOMA, and worthy of preceding the next stage musical triumph CAROUSEL. As such it is fully deserving of the 10 out of 10 I have given it.

AKAs Titles:

Certifications:
Argentina:Atp / Australia:G / Canada:G / Finland:S / New Zealand:G / New Zealand:PG (Special Edition DVD) / Sweden:Btl / UK:U / USA:Approved (PCA #10793)