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20th Century Fox
Not part of a collection.
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.
CinemaSerf
Jul 1, 2022 · via TMDB
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.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Jeanne Crain
Margy Frake
Dana Andrews
Pat Gilbert
Dick Haymes
Wayne Frake
Vivian Blaine
Emily Edwards
Charles Winninger
Abel Frake
Fay Bainter
Melissa Frake
Donald Meek
Hippenstahl
Frank McHugh
McGee
Percy Kilbride
Dave Miller
Harry Morgan
Barker
Jane Nigh
Eleanor
William Marshall
Tommy Thomas
Phil Brown
Harry Ware
John Dehner
Hog Contest Announcer (uncredited)
Adele Jergens
Girl on Rollercoaster (uncredited)
Harry 'Snub' Pollard
Hog Contest Spectator (uncredited)
Minerva Urecal
Woman Congratulating Mrs. Metcalf (uncredited)
Will Wright
Hog Judge (uncredited)
Leon Shamroy
Director of Photography
Hermes Pan
Choreographer
Walter Lang
Director
Richard Rodgers
Original Music Composer
Richard Rodgers
Songs
Sonya Levien
Adaptation
Oscar Hammerstein II
Book
Oscar Hammerstein II
Lyricist
Oscar Hammerstein II
Screenplay
Mamla Garbar Hai
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Pizza Friday
Carícia Fatal
2007
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Battle your watched movies head-to-head
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Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
The Dark Knight
2008 · 14 wins
Halloween
1978 · 13 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 12 wins
Halloween II
1981 · 11 wins
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