State Fair
Posted: January 11th, 2011, 6:34 pm
.
I've been channel surfing so much lately, I can't remember if I saw this on TCM or on FOX, but in any case, this is the one I preferred, from 1945 with Jeanne Crain and Dana Andrews and it's not only because of the music. The 1933 version with (who else?), Janet Gaynor was good but before Rogers and Hammerstein took it in tow. 1933 does have good old Will Rogers to offer as the Dad though, which gives the whole movie points in its favor. It's been years and years since I saw 1933 and to be honest, I cannot remember Lew Ayres as Pat, the big New York reporter. Ayres just does not seem to fill the part for me. Dana Andrews is so much more roguish and smooth. I cannot imagine another remake where they could get an actress to wear the dresses that Jeanne Crain wore, with the puffed sleeves, little bows all over, and cutesy pinafores; especially when the other girl comes around wearing her slinky evening gowns and spiffy 1940's suits with matching hats. But the music is the thing that grabs you including the very beginning with the theme song - Our State fair is a great state fair, etc... It's a grand night for singing, with the whole cast in various scenarios, and many others. The whole film is a light hearted, joyful exhibition and one I recommend to rent on netflix if you've never seen it. Also, you have to be really a curmudgeon if you don't get a few giggles out of the mince-meat situation, from home to competing for first place.
Of course I haven't mentioned the 1962 version which you would really expect me to prefer since the soundtrack is the same, and Pat Boone and Ann Margret are the lead characters. It also offers Bobby Darin as Pat, nearly as smooth and roguish as Dana but with a little too much of both added, and teaming him with Pamela Tiffen makes him look like a young dirty old man, with her soft little voice and childish giggle. It's an okay version (a little more adult than 1945), but much of the charm is gone because of that. Additionally, in 1945 the singer doesn't realize what she is doing to the brother, but in 1962, lovely as she is, Ann Margret seems to be purposefully taking advantage of old Pat Boone.
It might be a good thing to watch the '62 first, then the '45 to help you to appreciate the '45.
.
I've been channel surfing so much lately, I can't remember if I saw this on TCM or on FOX, but in any case, this is the one I preferred, from 1945 with Jeanne Crain and Dana Andrews and it's not only because of the music. The 1933 version with (who else?), Janet Gaynor was good but before Rogers and Hammerstein took it in tow. 1933 does have good old Will Rogers to offer as the Dad though, which gives the whole movie points in its favor. It's been years and years since I saw 1933 and to be honest, I cannot remember Lew Ayres as Pat, the big New York reporter. Ayres just does not seem to fill the part for me. Dana Andrews is so much more roguish and smooth. I cannot imagine another remake where they could get an actress to wear the dresses that Jeanne Crain wore, with the puffed sleeves, little bows all over, and cutesy pinafores; especially when the other girl comes around wearing her slinky evening gowns and spiffy 1940's suits with matching hats. But the music is the thing that grabs you including the very beginning with the theme song - Our State fair is a great state fair, etc... It's a grand night for singing, with the whole cast in various scenarios, and many others. The whole film is a light hearted, joyful exhibition and one I recommend to rent on netflix if you've never seen it. Also, you have to be really a curmudgeon if you don't get a few giggles out of the mince-meat situation, from home to competing for first place.
Of course I haven't mentioned the 1962 version which you would really expect me to prefer since the soundtrack is the same, and Pat Boone and Ann Margret are the lead characters. It also offers Bobby Darin as Pat, nearly as smooth and roguish as Dana but with a little too much of both added, and teaming him with Pamela Tiffen makes him look like a young dirty old man, with her soft little voice and childish giggle. It's an okay version (a little more adult than 1945), but much of the charm is gone because of that. Additionally, in 1945 the singer doesn't realize what she is doing to the brother, but in 1962, lovely as she is, Ann Margret seems to be purposefully taking advantage of old Pat Boone.
It might be a good thing to watch the '62 first, then the '45 to help you to appreciate the '45.
.