In the Good Old Summertime (1949)

It's turn of the century America when Andrew and Veronica first meet - by crashing into each other. They develop an instant and mutual dislike which intensifies when, later on, Andrew is ... See full summary »

Director:

Robert Z. Leonard

Writers:

Albert Hackett (written for the screen by), Frances Goodrich (written for the screen by),

Stars:

Judy Garland, Van Johnson, S.Z. Sakall

1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited 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

Storyline

It's turn of the century America when Andrew and Veronica first meet - by crashing into each other. They develop an instant and mutual dislike which intensifies when, later on, Andrew is forced to hire Veronica as a saleslady at Oberkugen's music store. What the two don't know is that while they may argue and fight constantly throughout the day, they are actually engaged in an innocent, romantic and completely anonymous relationship by night, through the post office.

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Plot Keywords:

clerk | stradivarius | shop | pen pal | correspondence | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 July 1949 (USA)

Also Known As:

I Don't Care

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Gross:

$3,400,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

At one time set to co-star Frank Sinatra and Gloria DeHaven.

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Goofs

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.

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Quotes

Veronica Fisher: Mr. Larkin, what about his mind? Did you find him intellegent, witty...
Andrew Delby Larkin: Witty? No, no, not witty, but then you can't judge a man when he's out of a job.
Veronica Fisher: Out of a job!
Andrew Delby Larkin: Well, yes.
Veronica Fisher: He never said anything to me about that.
Andrew Delby Larkin: Well he probably didn't want to worry you. But he thinks you can both live quite comfortably on what you make.
Veronica Fisher: [horrified] Did he ask you what I make?
Andrew Delby Larkin: Well, after all, he is your fiance.

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Connections

Referenced in Hollywood Hist-o-Rama: Judy Garland (1962)

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Soundtracks

"Gavotte"
Music by François-Joseph Gossec
Played on the violin by Otto in his office and often throughout the picture

User Reviews

Conventional, But Beautifully Done

This story of two co-workers who loathe each other--and then perversely fall in love when they correspond anonymously through a lonelyhearts club--has been filmed three times, first in the 1930s as THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER with stars James Stewart and Margaret Sullivan and most recently in the 1990s as YOU'VE GOT MAIL with stars Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. This 1940s musical version, which sets the story in an early 1900s Chicago music shop, stars Judy Garland and Van Johnson.

Although the score is not in the least memorable, Garland is in fine voice, and although they lack any real chemistry she and Van Johnson play well together. More appealing is a romantic subplot concerning shop owner S.Z. Sakall and his long time ladyfriend Spring Byington, who are extremely charming in their roles and quite a bit of fun to watch. Fans of Buster Keaton will also enjoy seeing him in a small cameo role, and film buffs will be delighted to see Garland's daughter Liza Minnelli make her film debut in the movie's closing moments.

Although there is a great deal to enjoy here, the material is highly conventional, and the project would have benefited from a more gifted directorial vision. A quality product with remarkable stars--don't expect too much and you'll enjoy it quite a bit.

Gary F. Taylor, aka GFT, Amazon Reviewer