State Fair (1945)

Plot:  The Frake family goes to the Iowa State Fair and finds fun and romance.
Stars:  Jeanne Crain,  Dana Andrews, Dick Haymes

State Fair is completely different from the other R&H movies because its not really an R&H movie.  Produced by 20th century Fox, and written directly for the screen, its a song version of the original 1933 movie.  R&H wrote the original screenplay and songs - but that's it. As a result,  State Fair is a short (100 minutes),  musical comedy, with an excellent cast of Hollywood actors, most of whom are dubbed.  Filmed in beautiful technicolor, Crain is young and pretty -a perfect fit for the part- and Dana Andrews is excellent.  Good songs, including "It might as well be spring",  "All I Owe Ioway" and "Its a Grand Night for Singing".  Contemporary critics were disappointed that R&H did not write another "Oklahoma" - but State Fair was a box office smash.

Zanuck wrote this about the Film:

  "State Fair is the most popular musical we've had in years and has done sensational business nationwide.  There are two reasons for its success: the wonderful R&H score and the great charm of the story...we had comedy, but it was charming comedy.  We stayed away from the obvious.  As a result, you believed the story of State Fair.."  

Summary:  Superior to the both the 1962 and 1933 versions, this is my kind of musical - charming and funny, with good songs, and no pretentious desire to be anything more.  I wonder how much better the other R&H movies would be, if R&H had gotten a good script writer and tightened things up.