State Fair [DVD]

Great picture quality on this import. Only hiccup was the menu screen was for the later version (1962) with Ann Margaret. And the movie itself was the original from 1945.

This purchase was for me. I have always loved this musical and could never find it until now. I’m so happy I have it and have watched it many times.

I’ve watched it more than once since purchase. It’s s sweet story and the music is lovely!

This warm and wonderful film is one of the truly great American musicals, yet is also the least talked about. A terrific cast and some of the best songs Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein II ever gave birth to make this Walter Lang film a real treat. It will always bring a smile to your face no matter how many times you see it. It is much like "On Moonlight Bay" in that it is a fine family film with a rural setting, nearly bursting with traditional American values. The fact that it contains some great songs that are worked into the story in a natural and not artificial way is a big bonus.The Frake family in Iowa are all ready for their annual and much beloved trip to the State Fair. Young and pretty Margy Frake (Jeanne Crain) is excited that she might meet the fella that will change her life. Her brother Wayne (Dick Haymes) has been practicing the ring-toss all year so he can get even with the carny who gave him a bum prize last year. Their pa, Abel (Charles Winninger), is excited about his pet boar, Blueboy, winning the grand prize this year. Percy Kilbride has a fine part as Abel's old pal, Dave Miller. They have a five dollar bet on whether they'll all have a good time at the fair this year.Their mother, Melissa (Fay Bainter), is entering her pickles and mincemeat and has dreams that she will win this year over the snooty Mrs. Metcalf. Pa sneaks some brandy into her mincemeat when she's not looking that might just give her the edge this year. Donald Meek has a funny role as one of the judges, Hippenstahl, who is delighted by the taste, and the aftereffects, of Melissa's mincemeat!Dana Andrews is a reporter for the Des Moines Register named Pat, who thinks he's seen the world until he meets the sweet Margy. They spend the three days together as much as possible, but once their time is over, he is on his way to Chicago for a big promotion. Margy loves him, of course, and he may discover he can't live without her either.Wayne will meet and have a romance of sorts with a beautiful singer, Emily Edwards (Vivian Blane). But his taste of the real world will make him appreciate his girl back home, Eleanor (Jane Nigh). It is very funny as he and his sister make up excuses to ditch each other and have their romances. Even Blueboy gets hit by the love bug, as the "pretty" Esmerelda catches his eye!The spectacle and fun of the State Fair and what it means in the lives of the Frake family is captured beautifully by the color photography of Leon Shamroy. It should get listed as one of the stars of this film. Adapted by Sonya Levien and Paul Green from a novel by Philip Stong, this is a heartwarming and happy look at America's heartland and all that is good about our past.Songs like "It Might As Well Be Spring" and "It's A Grand Night For Singing" are easy to take and don't seem forced at all. You never get that "they're going to sing now" feel for any of the numbers. They are very enjoyable and help move the story along. "It Might As Well Be Spring" won the Academy Award. The music is marvelous, and so is this film.Everyone is just great here, with the lovely Jeanne Crain a particular standout. Harry Morgan has a nice bit as the carny Wayne gets even with, and if you look quick for Coleen Grey you might catch her. Charles Winninger is winning, as are Fay Bainter and Dick Haymes. Percy Kilbride was always amusing and this was one of Dana Andrews' best roles after the magnificent "Laura."This film will make you nostalgic. It has the feel of sitting on your front porch in the middle of summer with a glass of iced tea, the scent of honeysuckle in the air and Virginia Creepers twisting around the arbor. This is one of the best American musicals and one you don't want to miss.

I suppose it is just the natural progression of things. When I was younger I used to cringe at the prospect of having to watch a musical. My point of view began to change shortly after I got married at the age of 36. My wife was a big fan of all the great musicals and so I somewhat reluctantly began to put my toe into the water. A couple of years later I had an epiphany and suddenly realized that many of these films are terrific after all.One of the first musicals I became enamored with was Rogers and Hammerstein's 1945 classic "State Fair". This was this only musical Rogers and Hammerstein ever wrote directly for the silver screen and it is a dandy. The film stars Jeanne Crain as Margie, a restless young lady who feels trapped by her rural surroundings and her dreadfully dull boyfriend and Dana Andrews as newspaper reporter Pat. The two meet on the rollercoaster and fall head over heels for each other. Meanwhile Margie's brother Wayne (Dick Haymes) is lamenting the fact that his girlfriend was unable to go to the fair with him this year. He is kind of moping around the midway when he has a rather bizarre encounter with a young lady who turns out to be the lead vocalist of the big band performing at the fair. Wayne is smitten with Emily (Vivian Blaine) who kinda sorta leads him on throughout the film. He'll be sorry! The story line also follows the exploits of Margie and Wayne's parents (Charles Winnenger and Fay Bainter) who have both entered competitions at the fair.But as you might expect it is the marvelous music that makes "State Fair" such a joy to watch. Dick Haymes was a huge recording star in the 1940's and is one of the greatest pop vocalists of all-time. You will certainly enjoy his splendid renditions of "Isn't It Kinda Fun", "It's A Grand Night For Singing" and of course "It Might As Well Be String" which became a huge hit record for him as well. Life was certainly much simpler in those days and hearing these wonderful tunes makes me long for them. We enjoy this film 2 or 3 times each year and never get tired of it. There is one oddity about this film that is worth mentioning. Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein II won the Academy Award for Best song for Margie's rendition of "It Might As Well Be Spring". But oddly enough Jeanne Crain's singing voice was dubbed by a singer named Louanne Hogan. I believe this is the only time that this has ever happened in the history of the Academy Awards.Now I certainly can understand why some folks would look at "State Fair" and think it is kind of "corny". And they would probably be right. But damn it, I love it and I guess that's all that really matters. My wife and I purchased the 60th Anniversary edition which features a whole host of extras including a copy of the 1962 remake of "State Fair" starring Pat Boone. In my view that version leaves a lot to be desired. But if you have never seen the 1945 version of "State Fair" I urge you to give it a try. You just might be surprised by how much you like it. Very highly recommended!

Love this movie and now its at my fingertips to view in my Amazon movies.

I actually bought this for the 'bonus' disc -- the 1962 re-make. Pat Boone, Ann-Margret, Bobby Darin, Pamela Tiffin, I mean what aging boomer and big-time fan of Sixties pop culture could possibly resist? It's cheesy, for sure, but it's the kind of cheese that was aimed at the teen audience of its day, and it continues to warm my nostalgic heart. The Dana Andrews - Jeanne Crain version has a better artistic reputation, and it is indeed the better film, technically speaking. But the '60s re-make is the one I saw in the movies as a kid, so, naturally, it's the one I'm still drawn to all these years later. In addition, it has played well with family members -- young and not so young -- throughout the years. Recommended as a bit of fine fun family entertainment.

Beautiful music and sweet story.

State Fair - 1945 versionThis is the second of three versions of essentially the same story. The first, in black-and-white dates from 1933 and starred Will Rogers and Janet Gaynor. This second and musical version of the story, in Technicolour, is built around the tale of an Iowa hog farmer and his family, and their adventures at the annual State Fair. The real focus of the plot is the love affair between the farmer's daughter (played by Jeanne Crain, whose singing voice was dubbed by Louanne Hogan) and reporter Dana Andrews, with Dick Haymes as Crain's protective big brother.This was the only movie for which Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein wrote a score, and there are a few numbers that became standards in the popular music repertoire: `It might as well be spring', `It's a grand day for singing', and `That's for me', which became a great hit for Dick Haymes. There are also other songs that haven't stood the test of time so well out of context; but this a grand family film. The story was retold again in 1962 with Pat Boone and Alice Faye in the leading roles.

This set includes a full well-presented English-subtitled wide-screen version of the 1962 "State Fair" with Ann Margret and (brilliant) Tom Ewell who knows how to act and sing with a Hampshire Boar. Amazon do not tell you this, the details on the package and disk don't say this, but the whole 1962 film is here. I already had a good version of the 1945 film but wanted to see the later version from 1962 and here it is. The "commentary" version of the 1962 film is quite separate and can be happily missed. So this package gives you both films and is real value.

I saw this film in the 50's and loved it. I saw it by accident on Amazon and hoped I would still enjoy it. I have watched the 40's film and it took me back to my youth and I thoroughly enjoyed it again. I wasnt aware there was a remake in the 60's but will now watch that. Very good value to get 2 films.

I wasn't aware that they made two versions of this film. The original made in the forties, I think and then one in the sixties with Ann Margaret in the lead. Both are very good, the story line differs slightly between the two versions. Lovely tunes.

Songs are brilliant especially "Its a great night for singing" I believe another film featured Pat Boone, also good.a very enjoyable film.