State Fair (1962)
Directed by José Ferrer
Genres - Musical |
Sub-Genres - Americana, Musical Comedy |
Release Date - Mar 9, 1962 (USA - Unknown) |
Run Time - 118 min. |
Countries - United States |
MPAA Rating - NR
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Synopsis by Dan Pavlides
This is the third time around for the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. The action takes place in urban Texas instead of the traditional setting in rural Iowa. This film version contains five extra songs written exclusively by Richard Rodgers. Box office results were adequate at best, and movie going public deemed this version the least interesting of the three. The youth audience was lured by the casting of Ann-Margaret, Pat Boone and Bobby Darin. Alice Faye returned to the big screen after a sixteen year absence as Melissa Frake. Tom Ewell plays her husband, Abel. The plot finds a family traveling to Dallas for the Texas State Fair. Singing commences on the ferris wheel, the merry-go-round and in other locales. The only real action is the anticipation of a drag race between Wayne (Pat Boone) and the carrot topped, malevolent motorhead Red (Edward "Tap" Canutt).
Characteristics
Moods
Themes
Keywords
Americana, carnival, child, competition, driver, family, family-vacation, racer, romance, showgirl, slice-of-life