State Fair (1962)

14% of critics liked it
(7 reviews)
33% of users liked it
(156 ratings)

This is the third time around for the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. The action takes place in urban Texas instead of the traditional setting in rural Iowa. This film version contains five extra songs written exclusively by Richard Rodgers. Box office results were adequate at best, and movie going… More This is the third time around for the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. The action takes place in urban Texas instead of the traditional setting in rural Iowa. This film version contains five extra songs written exclusively by Richard Rodgers. Box office results were adequate at best, and movie going public deemed this version the least interesting of the three. The youth audience was lured by the casting of Ann-Margaret, Pat Boone and Bobby Darin. Alice Faye returned to the big screen after a sixteen year absence as Melissa Frake. Tom Ewell plays her husband, Abel. The plot finds a family traveling to Dallas for the Texas State Fair. Singing commences on the ferris wheel, the merry-go-round and in other locales. The only real action is the anticipation of a drag race between Wayne (Pat Boone) and the carrot topped, malevolent motorhead Red (Edward "Tap" Canutt). ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 58 min.
Directed By: José Ferrer
Genres: Classics, Musical & Performing Arts

In Theaters: Mar 9, 1962 Wide
On DVD: Feb 21, 2006

Critic Reviews

Renee Schonfeld, Common Sense Media
Love and Rodgers & Hammerstein music in 1940s Iowa.
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
At least kind of fun in a zero-aspiring, Pat Boone sort of way.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Try the 1945 if you have to have a musical. Otherwise, try the 1933 Will Rogers picture
Nell Minow, Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies
Palid remake of two great films, but Ann-Margret is vavoom enough for three stars.

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Cast

            Pat Boone as Wayne Frake

            Bobby Darin as Jerry Dundee

            Pamela Tiffin as Margie Frake

            Ann-Margret as Emily Porter

            Tom Ewell as Abel Frake

            Alice Faye as Melissa Frake

            Wally Cox as Hipplewaite

            David Brandon as Harry

            Clem Harvey as Doc Cramer

            Robert Foulk as SquatJudge

            Edward "Tap" Canutt as Red Hoerier

            Margaret Deramee as Lilya

            Bebe Allan as Usherette

            George Russell as George Hoffer

            Anton Arnold as Lackey

            Jack Carr
            
            Claude Hall as Sime

            Albert Harris as Jim

            Linda Heinrich as Betty Jean

            Sheila Mathews as Hipplewaite's Girl

            Meat Loaf as Boy In Stands

            Carl Princi
            
            Kay Sutton
            
            Bob Larkin
            
            Freeman Morse
            
            Tom Allen
            
See full cast