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State Fair (1962 film)

May 01, 2024

State Fair is a 1962 American musical film directed by José Ferrer and starring Pat Boone, Bobby Darin, Ann-Margret, Tom Ewell, Pamela Tiffin and Alice Faye. A remake of the 1933 film State Fair and the 1945 film State Fair, it was considered to be a financially and critically unsuccessful film. Richard Rodgers, whose collaborator Oscar Hammerstein had died in 1960, wrote additional songs, both music and lyrics, for this film adaptation of the 1932 novel by Phil Stong.

State Fair
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJosé Ferrer
Screenplay byRichard L. Breen
Oscar Hammerstein II
Sonya Levien
Paul Green
Based onState Fair
by Oscar Hammerstein II
Sonya Levien
Paul Green
State Fair
by Sonya Levien
Paul Green
State Fair
by Phil Stong
Produced byCharles Brackett
StarringPat Boone
Bobby Darin
Alice Faye
Ann-Margret
Tom Ewell
Pamela Tiffin
CinematographyWilliam C. Mellor
Edited byDavid Bretherton
Music byRichard Rodgers
Distributed by20th Century Fox
Release date
  • March 9, 1962 (1962-03-09)
Running time
118 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$4.5 million[1][2]
Box office$3.5 million (US/Canada)[3][4]

While the 1933 and 1945 versions were set at the Iowa State Fair, the 1962 version was set in Texas (the family drives through Dallas[5] where the State Fair of Texas is held). It was filmed on sound stages at Twentieth Century Fox in California and on location at various places in Texas,[6] at Mooney's Grove park in Visalia, California and at the Oklahoma State Fair Raceway in Oklahoma City, home of the Oklahoma State Fair, where the climactic speedway sequence was shot.[7]

The novel State Fair would be dramatized twice more following the 1962 film. The first State Fair stage musical, which utilized a variety of Rodgers and Hammerstein songs (many originally written for projects not related to the State Fair film), was first produced in 1969. A revised version of this stage musical was produced in the 1990s and eventually played on Broadway.[8] A non-musical version of State Fair was also filmed for television in 1976.

Plot edit

Cast edit

Production edit

Twentieth Century Fox production head Buddy Adler announced the film in January 1960 with Rodgers and Hammerstein slated to write new songs for it. Charles Brackett was named producer and Walter Lang was named director. It would be the third version of the film produced by Fox. Adler said that he hoped that the film would be ready by Christmas and that it would not be a musical, but "it will have plenty of songs from Rodgers and Hammerstein."[9]

Brackett called the story "... a beautiful property. It's a story about people with simple projects with which the audience can get really involved – the man who wants his boy to get a prize, the woman interested in her mincemeat, the girl who wants adventure and finds a fast young man at the fair."[10]

Production was delayed when Adler died in July 1960. Hammerstein died the following month, at which point Rodgers decided to write the lyrics himself.[11]

José Ferrer had just made Return to Peyton Place for Fox and was signed to direct.[12]

The female lead was given to Ann-Margret, who was under contract to 20th Century Fox. They had loaned her to Paramount to make her first film, Pocketful of Miracles, and this would be her second.[13][14] Bound by the terms of an old commitment to Fox, she was paid only $500 a week during her three months of work on the production.[15]

Alice Faye came out of retirement to play the mother. She wanted Don Ameche to play her husband, but the role went to Tom Ewell.[16]

The film was shot in September and October 1961 at the Texas State Fair Grounds and at the Oklahoma City State Fair Grounds.

A Dallas teenager named Marvin Lee Aday — later to find fame as singer Meat Loaf — made his first screen appearance in State Fair, as an extra. He and a friend can be seen pointing at a hog during a scene that features Tom Ewell.[17]

Song list edit

  • "Our State Fair"
  • "It Might as Well Be Spring"
  • "That's for Me"
  • "Never Say No to a Man" (added in the 1962 version) – Lyrics and Music by Richard Rodgers
  • "It's a Grand Night For Singing"
  • "Willing and Eager" (added in the 1962 version) – Lyrics and Music by Richard Rodgers
  • "This Isn't Heaven" (added in the 1962 version) – Lyrics and Music by Richard Rodgers
  • "The Little Things In Texas" (added in the 1962 version) – Lyrics and Music by Richard Rodgers
  • "More Than Just a Friend" (added in the 1962 version) – Lyrics and Music by Richard Rodgers
  • "Isn't It Kind of Fun?" (moved in the 1962 version)

A soundtrack album was released briefly on Dot Records,[18] as Boone had an exclusive contract with the label.

Reception edit

According to Kinematograph Weekly the film was considered a "money maker" at the British box office in 1962.[19]

Reviewing the film, Diabolique magazine later wrote:

It just doesn’t work. It’s not the material. Sure, it’s cheesy, but The Sound of Music (1965) was cheesy and that came along three years later. I feel the main problem is too many key people were miscast. Jose Ferrer was not the right director and most of the cast fall short of their 1945 counterparts. Tom Ewell seems too urban to play “paw” compared to Charles Winninger. Pamela Tiffin looks like an urban ditz rather than a sweet naive country girl like Jeanne Crain. Bobby Darin (another pop star turned actor) comes across as sleazy rather than sharp like Dana Andrews. Ann-Margret was always better as good girls who looked as though they wanted to be naughty (Viva Las Vegas, Bye Bye Birdie) rather than straight-out naughty girls. Alice Faye looks like Alice Faye coming out of retirement (it was her last film) whereas Fay Bainter felt like a character. The one exception is Pat Boone who is far better than Dick Haymes, but he can't save things.[20]

References edit

  1. ^ Solomon, Aubrey. Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History (The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series). Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1989. ISBN 978-0-8108-4244-1. p253
  2. ^ Faye's Knees Shaky (at First) in Return: After 15 Years, Star Resumes Career in New 'State Fair' Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times September 29, 1961: A11.
  3. ^ "Big Rental Pictures of 1962". Variety. January 9, 1963. p. 13. Please note these are rentals and not gross figures
  4. ^ Solomon, Aubrey. Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History (The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series). Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1989. ISBN 978-0-8108-4244-1. p228
  5. ^ "State Fair – 1962 – Dallas Skyline". November 1, 2009 – via YouTube.
  6. ^ "State Fair (1962)". IMDb.
  7. ^ Wooley, John (October 9, 2012). Shot in Oklahoma: A Century of Sooner State Cinema. University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 9780806184074 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ "State Fair – Broadway Musical – Original". IBDB.
  9. ^ Schumacher, Murray. "FOX WILL REMAKE 'STATE FAIR' FILM: New Rodgers-Hammerstein Songs Slated in 3d Version – Studio Plans Busy Year". The New York Times, January 5, 1960, p. 28.
  10. ^ MacCann, Richard Dyer. "A Producer Lightly Bucking the Tide: Hollywood Letter". The Christian Science Monitor, April 19, 1960, p. 7.
  11. ^ Gelb, Arthur. "Rodgers Will Write Own Lyrics After 42 Years of Collaborating: Composer, Shaken by Loss of Hammerstein, Will Attempt to Go It Alone for Film". The New York Times, September 22, 1960, p. 29.
  12. ^ Schumacher, Murray. "JOSE FERRER ENDS LONG FILM FAMINE: Actor-Director in deal With Fox, Explains 4-Year Lapse". The New York Times, July 18, 1961, p. 33.
  13. ^ Korman, Seymour. "A VISIT WITH ANN-MARGRET". Chicago Daily Tribune, June 25, 1961, p. b20.
  14. ^ Vagg, Stephen (September 6, 2021). "Surviving Cold Streaks: Ann-Margret". Filmink. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  15. ^ Kelsey, David H. "Meet Ann-Margret: Hard Work, Ambition Propel a Young Actress To the Top in Hollywood". The Wall Street Journal, April 7, 1964, p. 1.
  16. ^ Alice Seeks Ameche for Comeback Louella Parsons:. The Washington Post and Times-Herald (1959–1973); Washington, D.C. [Washington, D.C]September 6, 1961: C9.
  17. ^ Bahr, Jeff (February 27, 2016). "Concert schedule includes a serving of Meat Loaf". TheIndependent.com. The Grand Island Independent. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  18. ^ "Pat Boone / Bobby Darin / Pamela Tiffin / Ann-Margret* / Tom Ewell / Alice Faye – Rodgers And Hammerstein's State Fair". Discogs. November 29, 1962. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  19. ^ Billings, Josh (December 13, 1962). "Three British Films Head the General Releases". Kinematograph Weekly. p. 7. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  20. ^ Vagg, Stephen (September 10, 2019). "The Surprisingly Interesting Cinema of Pat Boone". Diabolique Magazine.

External links edit

May 01, 2024
state, fair, 1962, film, state, fair, 1962, american, musical, film, directed, josé, ferrer, starring, boone, bobby, darin, margret, ewell, pamela, tiffin, alice, faye, remake, 1933, film, state, fair, 1945, film, state, fair, considered, financially, critical. State Fair is a 1962 American musical film directed by Jose Ferrer and starring Pat Boone Bobby Darin Ann Margret Tom Ewell Pamela Tiffin and Alice Faye A remake of the 1933 film State Fair and the 1945 film State Fair it was considered to be a financially and critically unsuccessful film Richard Rodgers whose collaborator Oscar Hammerstein had died in 1960 wrote additional songs both music and lyrics for this film adaptation of the 1932 novel by Phil Stong State FairTheatrical release posterDirected byJose FerrerScreenplay byRichard L BreenOscar Hammerstein IISonya Levien Paul GreenBased onState Fair by Oscar Hammerstein II Sonya Levien Paul Green State Fair by Sonya Levien Paul Green State Fair by Phil StongProduced byCharles BrackettStarringPat BooneBobby DarinAlice FayeAnn MargretTom EwellPamela TiffinCinematographyWilliam C MellorEdited byDavid BrethertonMusic byRichard RodgersDistributed by20th Century FoxRelease dateMarch 9 1962 1962 03 09 Running time118 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishBudget 4 5 million 1 2 Box office 3 5 million US Canada 3 4 While the 1933 and 1945 versions were set at the Iowa State Fair the 1962 version was set in Texas the family drives through Dallas 5 where the State Fair of Texas is held It was filmed on sound stages at Twentieth Century Fox in California and on location at various places in Texas 6 at Mooney s Grove park in Visalia California and at the Oklahoma State Fair Raceway in Oklahoma City home of the Oklahoma State Fair where the climactic speedway sequence was shot 7 The novel State Fair would be dramatized twice more following the 1962 film The first State Fair stage musical which utilized a variety of Rodgers and Hammerstein songs many originally written for projects not related to the State Fair film was first produced in 1969 A revised version of this stage musical was produced in the 1990s and eventually played on Broadway 8 A non musical version of State Fair was also filmed for television in 1976 Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production 4 Song list 5 Reception 6 References 7 External linksPlot editThis article needs a plot summary Please add one in your own words January 2024 Learn how and when to remove this message Cast editPat Boone as Wayne Frake Bobby Darin as Jerry Dundee Pamela Tiffin as Margy Frake Ann Margret as Emily Porter Tom Ewell as Abel Frake Alice Faye as Melissa Frake Wally Cox as Hipplewaite Meat Loaf as Boy in Stands uncredited Production editTwentieth Century Fox production head Buddy Adler announced the film in January 1960 with Rodgers and Hammerstein slated to write new songs for it Charles Brackett was named producer and Walter Lang was named director It would be the third version of the film produced by Fox Adler said that he hoped that the film would be ready by Christmas and that it would not be a musical but it will have plenty of songs from Rodgers and Hammerstein 9 Brackett called the story a beautiful property It s a story about people with simple projects with which the audience can get really involved the man who wants his boy to get a prize the woman interested in her mincemeat the girl who wants adventure and finds a fast young man at the fair 10 Production was delayed when Adler died in July 1960 Hammerstein died the following month at which point Rodgers decided to write the lyrics himself 11 Jose Ferrer had just made Return to Peyton Place for Fox and was signed to direct 12 The female lead was given to Ann Margret who was under contract to 20th Century Fox They had loaned her to Paramount to make her first film Pocketful of Miracles and this would be her second 13 14 Bound by the terms of an old commitment to Fox she was paid only 500 a week during her three months of work on the production 15 Alice Faye came out of retirement to play the mother She wanted Don Ameche to play her husband but the role went to Tom Ewell 16 The film was shot in September and October 1961 at the Texas State Fair Grounds and at the Oklahoma City State Fair Grounds A Dallas teenager named Marvin Lee Aday later to find fame as singer Meat Loaf made his first screen appearance in State Fair as an extra He and a friend can be seen pointing at a hog during a scene that features Tom Ewell 17 Song list edit Our State Fair It Might as Well Be Spring That s for Me Never Say No to a Man added in the 1962 version Lyrics and Music by Richard Rodgers It s a Grand Night For Singing Willing and Eager added in the 1962 version Lyrics and Music by Richard Rodgers This Isn t Heaven added in the 1962 version Lyrics and Music by Richard Rodgers The Little Things In Texas added in the 1962 version Lyrics and Music by Richard Rodgers More Than Just a Friend added in the 1962 version Lyrics and Music by Richard Rodgers Isn t It Kind of Fun moved in the 1962 version A soundtrack album was released briefly on Dot Records 18 as Boone had an exclusive contract with the label Reception editAccording to Kinematograph Weekly the film was considered a money maker at the British box office in 1962 19 Reviewing the film Diabolique magazine later wrote It just doesn t work It s not the material Sure it s cheesy but The Sound of Music 1965 was cheesy and that came along three years later I feel the main problem is too many key people were miscast Jose Ferrer was not the right director and most of the cast fall short of their 1945 counterparts Tom Ewell seems too urban to play paw compared to Charles Winninger Pamela Tiffin looks like an urban ditz rather than a sweet naive country girl like Jeanne Crain Bobby Darin another pop star turned actor comes across as sleazy rather than sharp like Dana Andrews Ann Margret was always better as good girls who looked as though they wanted to be naughty Viva Las Vegas Bye Bye Birdie rather than straight out naughty girls Alice Faye looks like Alice Faye coming out of retirement it was her last film whereas Fay Bainter felt like a character The one exception is Pat Boone who is far better than Dick Haymes but he can t save things 20 References edit Solomon Aubrey Twentieth Century Fox A Corporate and Financial History The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series Lanham Maryland Scarecrow Press 1989 ISBN 978 0 8108 4244 1 p253 Faye s Knees Shaky at First in Return After 15 Years Star Resumes Career in New State Fair Scheuer Philip K Los Angeles Times September 29 1961 A11 Big Rental Pictures of 1962 Variety January 9 1963 p 13 Please note these are rentals and not gross figures Solomon Aubrey Twentieth Century Fox A Corporate and Financial History The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series Lanham Maryland Scarecrow Press 1989 ISBN 978 0 8108 4244 1 p228 State Fair 1962 Dallas Skyline November 1 2009 via YouTube State Fair 1962 IMDb Wooley John October 9 2012 Shot in Oklahoma A Century of Sooner State Cinema University of Oklahoma Press ISBN 9780806184074 via Google Books State Fair Broadway Musical Original IBDB Schumacher Murray FOX WILL REMAKE STATE FAIR FILM New Rodgers Hammerstein Songs Slated in 3d Version Studio Plans Busy Year The New York Times January 5 1960 p 28 MacCann Richard Dyer A Producer Lightly Bucking the Tide Hollywood Letter The Christian Science Monitor April 19 1960 p 7 Gelb Arthur Rodgers Will Write Own Lyrics After 42 Years of Collaborating Composer Shaken by Loss of Hammerstein Will Attempt to Go It Alone for Film The New York Times September 22 1960 p 29 Schumacher Murray JOSE FERRER ENDS LONG FILM FAMINE Actor Director in deal With Fox Explains 4 Year Lapse The New York Times July 18 1961 p 33 Korman Seymour A VISIT WITH ANN MARGRET Chicago Daily Tribune June 25 1961 p b20 Vagg Stephen September 6 2021 Surviving Cold Streaks Ann Margret Filmink Retrieved March 9 2023 Kelsey David H Meet Ann Margret Hard Work Ambition Propel a Young Actress To the Top in Hollywood The Wall Street Journal April 7 1964 p 1 Alice Seeks Ameche for Comeback Louella Parsons The Washington Post and Times Herald 1959 1973 Washington D C Washington D C September 6 1961 C9 Bahr Jeff February 27 2016 Concert schedule includes a serving of Meat Loaf TheIndependent com The Grand Island Independent Retrieved February 27 2016 Pat Boone Bobby Darin Pamela Tiffin Ann Margret Tom Ewell Alice Faye Rodgers And Hammerstein s State Fair Discogs November 29 1962 Retrieved September 19 2020 Billings Josh December 13 1962 Three British Films Head the General Releases Kinematograph Weekly p 7 Retrieved March 7 2023 Vagg Stephen September 10 2019 The Surprisingly Interesting Cinema of Pat Boone Diabolique Magazine External links editState Fair at IMDb nbsp State Fair at Rotten Tomatoes State Fair at the TCM Movie Database State Fair Original Trailer 1962 Texas Archive of the Moving Image Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title State Fair 1962 film amp oldid 1202315571, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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