Harvest the Corn or Put On a Show
Farm work is important, sometimes desperate, hard work, and so is show business, as we see in 1950's Summer Stock. Gene Kelly and Judy Garland star in this musical, not one of the greatest musicals of all time but one with some very strong components.
I'm more of a Gene Kelly fan than a Judy Garland fan but I like how this movie starts with her character's point of view. She belongs to an old family, the Falburys who can trace their lineage back to the 17th century. An old man, Roy Collins, from another old family, the Wingaits, wants her to marry his timid son, Orville (Eddie Bracken). It's partly for this reason he gives her a tractor on credit when her farm is failing. Matters are complicated when her sister comes home with a theatre troupe looking to put on a show in their barn.
Gene Kelly plays the leader of the troupe. Just like Garland's character, he's in the middle of his last ditch effort to save his dreams.
The musical numbers don't quite flow smoothly with the story but some of them are great. Kelly dancing with a newspaper is a particular highlight, as is the final big number, "Get Happy". I like Garland early in the film but it was a mistake to have her perform part of her first number naked.
She was a great actress and singer but she was never sexy. She's no Kajol. However, I can't overstate how brilliant Garland's take on "Get Happy" is at the end of the film. Her legs do look terrific.
The costumes are nice. I also like this beautiful stove that makes exactly one appearance in the film.
Summer Stock is available on The Criterion Channel.