This was, in my opinion, the best Rogers & Hammerstein filmed musical. If only the other, later films had followed this pattern. This one has a simplicity and an honesty that would never be duplicated. A down-to-earth story and characters that are believable, and some of their best songs. The 50's hype and wide screen glory would ruin the later films, but this one is a gem for all time.
Sometimes, the best things come in small packages...!!
Regards,
Steve
Don't get me wrong--this is a fine film with a typically wonderful R & H song score, but how many people actually think this story has the complexities and emotion of their other musicals?
This version of "State Fair" was made because Zanuck invited R & H to Hollywood to musicalize one of Fox'es old chestnuts because "Oklahoma!" had made them hotter than burning coals, it wasn't coming to the screen very soon, and "State Fair" provided an opportunity to do an "Oklahoma!"-style folksy musical in a country setting. But having revolutionized the musical theater with "Oklahoma!" R & H weren't about to just keep repeating that formula. They didn't remain in Hollywood, but rushed back to Broadway to push the musical theater envelope even further. They had proven they could meld Tin Pan Alley with operetta, integrating songs and dances into the story line to further the plot and characterizations. Now it was time to push the musical story line in bold ways, like by adapting a tragedy ("Liliom") for the musical theater (the exquisite "Carousel").
"The '50s hype and wide screen glory would ruin the later films"--what??? Movies of the '50s were hyped more than movies of the '40s? What is the basis for that proposition? Besides, how does hype ruin a movie? It's either good or it isn't. Were you around in the '50s to be tainted by this so-called hype? If not, how does the hype that accompanied a movie in the '50s affect the viewing of someone years later? And how does "wide screen glory" ruin a film? Do you dislike the hundreds of films shot and shown in one wide-screen process or another since 1953? Or do you think for some odd reason that film musicals do not belong on the wide screen? Perhaps it's Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, as opposed to say Lerner and Lowe musicals, that you feel are not suited to the wide screen. Or maybe you are continuing to grab at straws to explain yourself.
What I meant was that all the film versions were overproduced, and altered to some degree, in their trasition to the screen. Don't you find it strange that many songs had to be deleted in every film version? Doesn't that tell you something about the way the films were made? It tells me that they got too involved in the visuals, and not enough in the story line. Key individual scenes were expanded too much, so something had to go in the process. How can "less" of a play be "more"? The answer is: it's not. Every film suffers from the lack of the intimacy, honesty, and integrity of the play.(It's a sort of "Reader's Digest Condensed Version" of the play, without the heart and soul.)
It's interesting that "State Fair" has many lovely songs integral to the story. This was the closest that R & H would ever come to resembling the earlier Rogers & Hart team. Vitually every song is a light-hearted sing-a-long gem. Starting with "Carousel" their tone would be more serious, and although they would write many famous songs, they would not of the same sing-a-long nature (or be on the Hit Parade).
I just wrote a review and commentary at the "Oklahoma" site. As mentioned there, I saw a beautiful stage version performed by a traveling troupe years ago. In comparison, the film version is a somewhat empty, star-studded, overblown extravaganza. Anway, that's the way I see it...
Regards,
Steve
Virtually every film adaptation of every stage show, musical or not, is altered for the screen--they are two different media. If all you want is a film of the stage show, they could mount a couple of cameras in the orchestra pit and record away.
I've seen musicals on Broadway that I think were terribly adapted for the screen ("Chorus Line" and "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas") and that have been significantly improved for the screen ("Grease"). I haven't seen stage versions of some famous musicals, but by all accounts the structural changes and song movements and deletions greatly benefited, for example, "West Side Story" and "The Sound of Music." I think many if not most film musicals, from "Gypsy" to "Fiddler on the Roof" lost at least one song in their transition to film. Just because songs are deleted does not mean the film version suffers. I have a couple of posts on the "Carousel" board explaining why I believe that show's song deletions do not diminsh that film version one iota. How can less be more, you ask? When you are lessening the unnecessary and giving more of something worthwhile!
In order to qualify for an Oscar nomination for the music, there has to be at least one new song when a Broadway show goes to film. So in order to make room for the new song without making the story longer, they often cut a song.
However, even on Broadway, songs are added and deleted and moved around. I've seen a couple shows in tryouts. I have the OBC cast recordings, which list the songs in a different order (and sometimes there are different songs) than in my Playbill.
I read an article about "The Scarlet Pimpernell." Apparently, the script was being significantly revised and rehearsed for a "version 3" even as the cast was performing "version 2."
I agree, its my favorite! its a shame they dont make them like that anymore.
shareState Fair is my favorite behind The Sound of Music. Nothing will EVER be as good as that. But I like State Fair more than Oklahoma! because I find it more funny and entertaining with less obvious filler time. This is just my opinion, so feel free to disagree :)
shareThanks for your comments Goofy7. State Fair is such a beautiful musical film...still looks great today!
Regards,
RSGRE
In defence of your ( rsgre ) opinion - although I'm sure you don't need mine or anyone else's support - surely that's precisely what it's about? Opinion....and, of course, personal taste.
For my humble part, as an absolute "nut" for musical cinema, I'd rather watch State Fair than Carousel or Oklahoma, and I guess it's not for anyone else to suggest I have some lack of taste or perception in having that preference.
Surely, and, maybe, too simplistically. it's how our ears hear the music and our eyes see the performances and the production? Ask a hundred people to list their 10 favourite musicals and I somehow doubt you'd get any two that came out precisely the same!
Personally, I'm just grateful that we have a legacy of so very many great musicals that, with the advent of video and, now, dvd and satellite tv, we can watch and enjoy anytime we feel like it.
I just love it!!
Regards
Chris
Some songs just do not work on film. I'm sure even the most rabid CAROUSEL fan would cringe at "Geraniums In The Winder". And since STATE FAIR was written as a film in the first place, it's a bit unfair to compare it to filmed adaptations of the R&H stage pieces.
Indeed, in reverse fashion, the stretched-out stage version of STATE FAIR suffers in comparison to the film, as do stage versions of other original film musicals such as GIGI, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS, etc. It seems to work both ways.
That's a good point. I've never watched all of State Fair, which I find odd, because I've grown up watching R&H musicals. My personal favorite is Carousel, but that's from a bias I had as a child. I think it's actually really hard to pick a favorite out of all their great films. They're all so good. What musical can compare to South Pacific or the King and I. Everytime I watch one of their movies I get chills.
shareI finally saw State Fair, and loved it!!! It was so wonderful, and amazing. Quite what one can expect from R&H!
No, father, the moon's reaching for me!
My favourite is definatly Carousel- purely for the score and Gordon MacRae's voice. But State Fair is possibly the happiest film I have ever seen and it's fantastic to watch on summer days. And also, Rogers and Hammerstein films are brilliant for showing friends who don't necessarily like old movies. My friends all now love The Sound of Music and State Fair.
~~To live, to learn, to love in the major key!~~
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the sound of music is my favourite. i grew up with that one. It certanly has the best cast. oklahoma is brilliant as well and i'm hoping carousel willl grow on me. the king and i was certainly entertaining, but long and too vintage
shareI DVR'd this great movie on 11/22/07 and didn't get around to watching it until 4/3/08. I've loved the film for years, but I was waiting until I was in the right mood to watch it again.
I watched it tonight and discovered that it was even better than I remembered. I feel in love with Jeanne Crain all over again, and the romance between her and Dana Andrews was highly enjoyable. The TechniColor picture was fantastic, and the audio was perfect.
God bless the Fox Movie Channel.
Bud
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http://www.phpbber.com/phpbb/index.php?mforum=allscifi
I DVR'd this great movie on 11/22/07 and didn't get around to watching it until 4/3/08. I've loved the film for years, but I was waiting until I was in the right mood to watch it again.
I watched it tonight and discovered that it was even better than I remembered. I feel in love with Jeanne Craine all over again, and the romance between her and Dana Andrews was highly enjoyable. The TechniColor picture was fantastic, and the audio was perfect.
God bless the Fox Movie Channel.
Bud
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http://www.phpbber.com/phpbb/index.php?mforum=allscifi
My favourite R&H musicals are, without a doubt, State Fair and Carousel. I found the aforementioned Oklahoma! slightly less entertaining as it it tended to drag in spots and didn't really heat up much until too much of the running time had passed.
shareI must say, I believe it's the second best only to the Sound of Music, which was an absolute epic.
shareAside from "It Might as Well Be Spring", I never thought much of the score written for "State Fair". "It's a grand Night for Singing" is entertaining in the way that it is filmed, but the score contains some of R&Hs weakest work. "Our State Fair" and "All I Owe I Owe Iowa" are terribile in my opinion, and one could tell me if I didn't know that "Isn't It Kinda Fun?" and "That's For Me" were written by the typical studio hack and I would believe them. The likability of Jeanne Crain & Dana Andrews and the charm of the original story are certianly intact, but aside from the , the technicolor, and the wonderful Oscar winning song "It Might As Well Be Spring", there is nothing that reaches the level of R&Hs best work. Just my opinion. Overall, I'd take Martin & Blanes songs written for "Meet Me in St. Louis" (the Trolley Song, The Boy Next Door, and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas) over the "State Fair" score any day. "It Might as Well Be Spring " is the only thing that helps the film rise above mediocrity.
shareI heartily disagree. This is a nice little film, and certainly not the worst of the R&H films (I save that distinction for the 1962 version), but it has nowhere near the scope and grandeur of some of the film adaptations of the R&H stage plays, most particularly "The King And I" and "The Sound Of Music". It also has an extremely thin storyline compared to the "Big 5" ("Oklahoma!", "Carousel", "South Pacific", and "The King And I").
shareWait...the Big 5? Is The Sound Of Music not included?
shareSorry. I goofed on that. The Big 5 should be -- Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific, The King And I, and The Sound Of Music. Sorry for that mistake. I was typing quickly, and didn't realize it wasn't in there until you pointed it out.
Thanks for spotting that.