State Fair (1945)
State Fair is one of those time capsule films that doesn’t work anymore. This 1945 version is largely considered the best film version of the Phil Stong novel. There is a 1933 version directed by Harry King and starring Will Rogers and there’s a 1962 version that stars Pat Boone. This version comes with the directorial talents of Walter Lang and the songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein.
The music of Rodgers and Hammerstein is generally something to look forward to, but there’s little to like about the fare in State Fair. Despite winning an Oscar for Best Song (“It Might As Well Be Spring”), the songs are really bad. There’s the abysmal “All I Owe Ioway,” the cheesy “It’s a Grand Night for Singing,” and the terrible intro song “Our State Fair” that includes an attempt at getting a pig to hum a few bars.
