State Fair *** (1933, Janet Gaynor, Will Rogers, Lew Ayres, Sally Eilers) – Classic Movie Review 2195

Director Henry King’s likeable and appealing 1933 romantic comedy drama provides a pleasantly pungent odour of 30s Americana, based on Philip Strong’s novel, brought to life in vivid star performances.

Janet Gaynor and Will Rogers star as Margy Frake and her father Abel. As the Frake family looks for adventure and love, and finds heartbreak when they spend a week at the Iowa State Fair, young Margy is in the mood for love, Abel just wants his Hampshire boar, Blue Boy, to be the state fair’s top hog, while mother Melissa (Louise Dresser) wants to win the mincemeat competition.

State Fair is made extremely meticulously crafted and acted most appealingly, making it an inviting, pleasing downhome experience, and it wears well considering its venerable age.

Gaynor and Rogers strut their stuff quite fancily, pitching it at exactly the right level, and Ayres is appealing as the juvenile lead, newspaper reporter Pat Gilbert, who makes a good romantic partner for Gaynor. Norman Foster plays Wayne Frake, who finds love with trapeze artist Emily Joyce (Sally Eilers).

Also in the cast are Hobart Cavanaugh, Victor Jory, Frank Craven, Frank Melton, John Sheehan, Erville Alderson, Harry Holman, Doro Merande and Ruth Warren.

It was a popular hit and provided a deserved boost for the stars’ popularity.

The production was invited to the 1932 State Fair and Exposition in Des Moines, Iowa, to film background material, including the racing scenes. After the fair, they purchased three hogs, including the champion, Duke of Rosedale, who was cast as Blue Boy

The credits appear as posters put up on billboards by workmen. Rain washes away the poster saying ‘State Fair’ and it is pasted over another poster that says ‘The End’.

Remade as a musical in 1945 and 1962.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2195

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