Summer Stock (1950)

A small-town farmer, down on her luck, finds her homestead invaded by a theatrical troupe invited to stay by her ne'er-do-well sister.

Director:

Charles Walters

Writers:

George Wells (screenplay), Sy Gomberg (screenplay)

Stars:

Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Eddie Bracken

1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Judy Garland	...	Jane Falbury
Gene Kelly	...	Joe D. Ross
Eddie Bracken	...	Orville Wingait
Gloria DeHaven	...	Abigail Falbury (as Gloria De Haven)
Marjorie Main	...	Esme
Phil Silvers	...	Herb Blake
Ray Collins	...	Jasper G. Wingait
Nita Bieber	...	Sarah Higgins
Carleton Carpenter	...	Artie
Hans Conried	...	Harrison I. Keath

Storyline

As a favor to her actress sister Abigail, New England farmer Jane Falbury allows a group of actors use her barn as a theater for their play. In return, the cast and crew have to help her with the farm chores. During rehearsals, Jane finds herself falling for the show's director, Joe Ross, who also happens to be engaged to the show's leading lady-- Abigail.

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Plot Keywords:

singing a duet | whispering in ear | quitting a job without notice | nose drops | earthbuster tractor | 

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Taglines:

MGM Brings on the Show with Music - Dancing - TECHNICOLOR

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Genres:

Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the only film in Judy Garland's MGM canon where her difficulties with weight fluctuation became apparent on the screen, as her appearance varies wildly between shots captured out of sequence during a production that extended to six months based on Garland's rampant illnesses and frequent absences. It was the troubled production of Summer Stock (1950) that led MGM to fire Garland after filming completed.

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Goofs

During the "Newspaper Dance" Gene Kelly wads up a full sheet of newspaper, drops it, then kicks it. It lands near the risers to the right of the frame. It is still there when he dances up the risers. In the next scene it is gone as he walks past where it was.

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Quotes

Joe D. Ross: When the show's over and it's the success I hope it is, we've got alot of talking to do.
Jane Falbury: What about?
Joe D. Ross: Oh, all kinds of things. First I want to hear the story of your life. Everything that's ever happened to you since you were so high. And then I want to know what you eat for breakfast, what's your favorite color, what comic strips you read. Then we'll talk about shoes, and ships, and sealing wax, and shows. Farms. Families. Oh it may take hours. Weeks. Years. I want to know everything.

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Connections

Referenced in Jeopardy!: Episode #26.159 (2010)

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Soundtracks

Get Happy
(uncredited)
Music by Harold Arlen
Lyrics by Ted Koehler
Copyright 1930 by Remick Music Corp.
Performed by Judy Garland and chorus

User Reviews

Well...

I like it. Let me explain, I like Gene Kelly and I like Judy Garland so I like this movie. It's a little weak on the plot, but there are a lot of good reasons to see it. For example- this was Judy Garland's last film with M-G-M. It has Get Happy in it, which is now included on practically all of Judy's 'best of' CDs. It's great to hear, but watching the number is marvelous. This was the year just before one of Kelly's major achievements, An American in Paris, and it's nice to see the difference in his billing, character, etc. Also, there's the romantic number 'You Wonderful You', which bears a resemblance to 'You Were Meant For Me' in Singin' in the Rain with the stage lights and stuff. It's obvious that Gene Kelly picked up some things he liked and carried them with him. That's why I like this movie. Yes, it's cute and breezy, but sometimes you just want a Garland/Kelly musical!

P.S. And who could blame you? ; )

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 January 1951 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Summer Stock

Filming Locations:

Iverson Ranch - 1 Iverson Lane, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1