State Fair **** (1945, Jeanne Crain, Dana Andrews, Dick Haymes, Charles Winninger, Fay Bainter, Vivian Blaine) – Classic Movie Review 2196

Director Walter Lang’s popular 1945 musical is a pleasing 40s musical version of Philip Strong’s novel and the 1933 movie version, this time with a top score by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. It is notable as their sole original work for the movies, including the Oscar-winning song ‘It Might as Well Be Spring’, plus ‘A Grand Night for Singing’ and ‘That’s for Me’.

The Frake farming family head off for a week’s vacation at the Iowa State Fair and, on their first day there, both the kids meet attractive new flames. This time Charles Winninger plays family father Abel Frake, who hogs a prize with his top boar Blue Boy at the Iowa fair, while his wife, mom Melissa Frake (Fay Bainter) wins for her cake. Meantime, sweet but discontented daughter Margy Frake (Jeanne Crain) romances newsman Pat Gilbert (Dana Andrews) and her brother Wayne Frake (Dick Haymes) tussles with singer Emily Edwards (Vivian Blaine).  

The 1945 State Fair is a thoroughly enjoyable old movie, with jolly performances all round, a lively American country atmosphere and bright handling. And it’s all neatly gift wrapped in gorgeous Technicolor in Leon Shamroy’s attractive cinematography.

Crain’s singing voice was dubbed by Louanne Hogan. Andrews’s singing voice was also dubbed because the studio was unaware he was a trained opera singer.

Harry Morgan appears as a dishonest carnival barker and in the 11th season of his TV show M*A*S*H, the cast watch the movie State Fair.

A stage version of State Fair opened at the Music Box Theatre on March 27 1996 and ran for 110 performances.

Remade in 1962.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2196

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