State Fair (1962)

Texan farmers the Frake family head for the Texas State Fair in Dallas. The parents are focused on winning the competitions for livestock and cooking. However, their restless daughter Margy and her brother Wayne meet attractive new love interests.

Director:

José Ferrer

Writers:

Richard L. Breen (screenplay) (as Richard Breen), Oscar Hammerstein II (adaptation)

Stars:

Pat Boone, Bobby Darin, Pamela Tiffin

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Pat Boone	...	Wayne Frake
Bobby Darin	...	Jerry Dundee
Pamela Tiffin	...	Margy Frake
Ann-Margret	...	Emily Porter
Tom Ewell	...	Abel Frake
Alice Faye	...	Melissa Frake
Wally Cox	...	Hipplewaite
David Brandon	...	Harry Ware
Clem Harvey	...	Doc Cramer
Robert Foulk	...	Mincemeat Judge
Linda Heinrich	...	Betty Jean (as Linda Henrich)
Tap Canutt	...	Red Hoertert (as Edward 'Tap' Canutt)

Storyline

The Frakes - father Abel Frake, mother Melissa Frake, young adult son Wayne Frake and eighteen year old daughter Margy Frake - are a farming family from Banning, Texas getting ready to go to the multi-day Texas State Fair in Dallas as they do every year. Wayne is too preoccupied with entering his red sportster in the Gold Cup car races against his arch rival Red Hoertert than really notice that his unofficial fiancée Betty Jean isn't going to the fair. And Margy is just preoccupied with the thought of being in a relationship with a real man, instead of the courtship she has with the boorish Harry Ware. At the fair, Melissa is hoping she made the right decision regarding the mincemeat she has entered for judging, she dealing with her temperance view against Abel's assertion that the mincemeat would taste better with some brandy. The competition is even more cutthroat as commercial producers have entered several of the food competitions including mincemeat this year. And Abel may have ...

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Plot Keywords:

state fair | remake | singing | based on novel | dallas texas | 

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Taglines:

So fresh and wonderful with Richard Rodgers' NEWEST melodies and NEWEST lyrics!

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Genres:

Musical | Romance

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian Spanish French

Release Date:

9 March 1962 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Feira da Vida

Filming Locations:

Becker, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,500,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$3,500,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The stage version of "State Fair" opened at the Music Box Theater on March 27, 1996 and ran for 110 performances.

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Connections

Featured in Censura: Alguns Cortes (1999)

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Soundtracks

Willing and Eager
Lyrics and Music by Richard Rodgers
Performed by Ann-Margret and Pat Boone

User Reviews

A grand night for viewing

I think this 62' remake of STATE FAIR doesn't deserve the bad rap it's been getting and has in the past. While it is not a great musical, it certainly has its credits. Yes, the original is better, but let's give credit where credit is due for this re-make. First of all it was great to see Alice Faye back on screen. She did a more than admirable job, as did Tom Ewell as Abel. They are definitely on par with the orginials. Pat Boone is quite wonderful as Wayne, better that Dick Haymes. Bobby Darin was his usual egotistical self which fits the character well, although I like Dana Andrews a bit more. The real standout is Ann-Margret. Not only is her one splashy number great, but she really shows her acting chops, especially in her final scene with Pat Boone. You can certainly see why she became a huge star and has been working for over 40 years and still is. Sorry to see her in her drunken frumpy roles, however. The only real disappointment is Pamela Tiffin. She looks the role but is unlovable as Margy. She looks and acts a bit snooty. Jeanne Crain was terrific in the original. The new songs that were added were good to great. The story changes were also interesting, although it looks like bits and pieces might have landed on the cutting room floor. Interesting that in both versions of the film, the parents never meet or have scenes with the kids boy/girlfriends. Now that this movie is on DVD, it should be a must seeing for all fans of STATE FAIR. Stero sound, wide screen a real fair as opposed to the orginals matte studio sets. A nice commentary by Mr. Boone as well.