Let me start by saying this film is not meant to make you think long and hard about the problems of the world. It is a 'feel-good film'in the best sense of the phrase. The songs are, perhaps, not as instantly memorable as those from other Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, such as Oklahoma or The Sound Of Music, but they are wonderful in their own right. "It Might As Well Be Spring" won a well-deserved Oscar and "It's A Grand Night For Singing" will have you humming right along. Jeanne Crain, lovelier than ever, gives a top performance as the restless daughter, wanting something 'more' though with no idea what 'more' is. Dick Haymes tackles the role of the son handily, with some very fine singing to go with it. Fay Bainter, all warmth and kindliness in another of her patented mother roles makes you wish she were your mother. Charles Winninger, surely one of the best character actors ever, brings the necessary comic ability to the role of the father, completely preoccupied with his prize hog. Vivian Blaine plays the band singer who catches the son's attentions at the Fair and does some nice singing on her own and in a couple of duets. Dana Andrews, something of a shock in a musical plays Jeanne Crain's love interest and shares tremendous chemistry with her, making their love story believable. This film is a pretty Technicolor musical that will leave you with a song in your heart and a happy feeling to go with it.

One of the first movies I saw as a child was this great musical. As I see it again from time to time, I remember well all the great tunes, and especially the singing voice of Dick Haymes when he was at his height. To my mind only Bing Crosby of all the best male big band singers of their day equaled Haymes in either vocal quality or style. It was a shame his personal life was such a mess.

The story, centered as it was on Iowa, is very Middle America in more ways than one. When "The Music Man" came out some years later, it brought to mind this precursor of sorts. I confess I found the 1962 version of "State Fair" much less appealing, apart from Alice Faye's more or less cameo appearance as the mother. Then there is the unfortunate substitution of Texas for Iowa. And Pat Boone could never even come close to singing like Dick Haymes. Choose this one instead.

Iowa farmer's daughter Jeanne Crain (as Margy Frake) and her singing brother Dick Haymes (as Wayne Frake) go to an annual "State Fair" and find romantic partners. She attracts older "Des Moines Register" reporter Dana Andrews (as Pat Gilbert) and he finds singer Vivian Blaine (as Emily Edwards) attractive. Only one of the couples can marry. A lengthy rural supporting cast is headed by mincemeat-making mother Fay Bainter (as Melissa Frake) and hog-minding father Charles Winninger (as Abel Frake).

"It Might as Well Be Spring" / "That's for Me" was a big double-sided top ten hit recording for Mr. Haymes, but you won't hear him sing it here. Everything about this film is pretty and colorful, but the overall impression is simply that it's all fluff. "State Fair" really comes across as an average diversion. The Rodgers and Hammerstein soundtrack songs, while certainly not bad, seem like half a collection; when compared to the duo's other musicals, the songs don't advance musical art in their customary way.

***** State Fair (8/29/45) Walter Lang ~ Jeanne Crain, Dick Haymes, Dana Andrews, Vivian Blaine