In the Good Old Summertime (1949)

Director:

Robert Z. Leonard

Writers:

Miklós László (play)
Samson Raphaelson (earlier screenplay)

Release Date:

29 July 1949 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical

Plot:

It's turn of the century America when Andrew and Veronica first meet - by crashing into each other....

Plot Keywords:

Christmas | Pen Pal | Stradivarius | Foreign Language Adaptation | Letter Writing

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Judy Garland	...	Veronica Fisher
Van Johnson	...	Andrew Delby Larkin
S.Z. Sakall	...	Otto Oberkugen (as S.Z. 'Cuddles' Sakall)
Spring Byington	...	Nellie Burke
Clinton Sundberg	...	Rudy Hansen
Buster Keaton	...	Hickey
Marcia Van Dyke	...	Louise Parkson
Lillian Bronson	...	Aunt Addie

Also Known As:

I Don't Care (USA) (working title)
The Girl from Chicago (USA) (original script title)
The Good Old Summertime (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

UK:U | Australia:PG | Finland:S

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Buster Keaton was working as a gag writer at MGM when this movie was made. The filmmakers approached him to devise a way for a violin to get broken that would be both comic and plausible. Keaton came up with an appropriate fall, and the filmmakers then realized he was the only one who would be able to execute it properly, so they cast him in the film. Keaton also devised the sequence in which Van Johnson inadvertently wrecks Judy Garland's hat, and coached Johnson intensively in how to perform the scene. This was the first MGM film Keaton appeared in since being fired from the studio in 1933.

Goofs:

Continuity: When singing "Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland", Veronica lifts the harp several times. Sometimes the bottom of the harp is plain wood, but sometimes it is covered with green felt.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Veronica Fisher: Psychologically, I'm very confused, but personally I feel just wonderful.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Some of the Best (1949)

Soundtrack:

Listen to the Mockingbird

Wonderful musical remake of "The Shop Around the Corner"...

First came "The Shop Around the Corner" with James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan. Then "In the Good Old Summertime" with Judy Garland and Van Johnson, a musical remake. Then "She Loves Me", the Broadway musical with Barbara Cook and Daniel Massey based on the earlier version. Then "You've Got Mail" with Tom Hanks, which by no means was an original story idea but an update of all three previous versions.

MGM must have been in an inspired mood when they made this one, with Judy and Van at their best, both playing off each other with great charm and humor. Judy even gets to warble a couple of wonderful songs ("I Don't Care", "Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland") aside from showing her gift for romantic comedy. The delightful supporting players are Spring Byington, S.Z. Sakall, Buster Keaton and Clinton Sundberg.

Garland is a music store clerk corresponding with her unseen pen pal (Van Johnson) who also happens to be her boss. The happy ending features Judy's daughter, Liza, taking her first stroll before the cameras at 2 or so.

One of those rare remakes that actually improves upon the original and manages to be just as charming with the addition of music. One of Judy's best--a complete delight. Too bad she and Van Johnson weren't teamed more often.