MusicComedyRomance

State Fair

- For the young in heart! And romantic oldsters, too!

During their annual visit to the Iowa State Fair, the Frake family enjoy many adventures. Proud patriarch Abel has high hopes for his champion swine Blueboy; and his wife Melissa enters the mincemeat and pickles contest...with hilarious results.

Release Date : 1945-08-29

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : 20th Century Fox

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Margy Frake

Original Name : Jeanne Crain

Gender : Female

Character Name : Pat Gilbert

Original Name : Dana Andrews

Gender : Male

Character Name : Wayne Frake

Original Name : Dick Haymes

Gender : Male

Character Name : Emily Edwards

Original Name : Vivian Blaine

Gender : Female

Character Name : Abel Frake

Original Name : Charles Winninger

Gender : Male

Character Name : Melissa Frake

Original Name : Fay Bainter

Gender : Female

Character Name : Hippenstahl

Original Name : Donald Meek

Gender : Male

Character Name : McGee

Original Name : Frank McHugh

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dave Miller

Original Name : Percy Kilbride

Gender : Male

Character Name : Barker

Original Name : Harry Morgan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Eleanor

Original Name : Jane Nigh

Gender : Female

Character Name : Tommy Thomas

Original Name : William Marshall

Gender : Male

Character Name : Harry Ware

Original Name : Phil Brown

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hog Contest Announcer (uncredited)

Original Name : John Dehner

Gender : Male

Character Name : Girl on Rollercoaster (uncredited)

Original Name : Adele Jergens

Gender : Female

Character Name : Hog Calling Contest Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Harry 'Snub' Pollard

Gender : Male

Character Name : Woman Congratulating Mrs. Metcalf (uncredited)

Original Name : Minerva Urecal

Gender : Female

Character Name : Hog Judge (uncredited)

Original Name : Will Wright

Gender : Male

Reviews

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2022-07-01

This is a colourful depiction of the antics of the "Frake" family - "Abel" (Charles Winninger), his wife "Melissa" (Fay Bainter) and their teenage children "Wayne" (Dick Haymes) and "Margy" (Jeanne Crain) at the annual Iowa State Fair. The fair itself offers an excellent vehicle for loads of storylines from some lovelorn pig husbandry and mincemeat tasting through the usual boy loves girl loves other boy - or in his case - man (Dana Andrews) for daughter "Margy" and Wayne has the hots for big band starlet "Emily" (Vivian Blaine). The story proceeds along predictable lines, with some characterful efforts from a decent supporting cast - Harry Morgan running a crooked stall and Donald Meek's penchant for his food tasting duties spring to mind, and Rodgers and Hammerstein provide us with the memorable "It Might as Well be Spring" as well as the toe-tapping "It's a Grand Night for Singing" to keep it moving along nicely. It's an unashamed piece of Americana, this: smiles, chintz and cheese - lots and lots of cheese. The writing, at times quite amusing, lacks anything to accompany the songs though - it's all just a little bit thin, twee even. Crain, Andrews and a slightly clunky Haymes are efficient, but their constant romanic shenanigans started to get a bit on the dull side after a while - for me, anyway. It's an interesting observation of just how rural folks got their entertainment back then but the story isn't one of Hammerstein's best. Enjoyable enough to watch though, but it hasn't quite the style of the Gaynor/Foster version from twelve years earlier.