Summer Stock

Summer Stock


MGM, 1950, Color, 110 minutes, ***

Released August, 1950



Forget your troubles by watching Judy Garland and Gene Kelly in this favorite MGM musical about a farm overrun by a summer theater troupe. Features "Get Happy" and Kelly's "newspaper dance"; with Eddie Bracken, Marjorie Main, Phil Silvers.


This film is very popular with Judy Garland fans. I find it to be yet another "let's put on a show" story, and somewhat of a yawner. High points in the film are Gene Kelly's "newspaper dance" number, Judy's "Get Happy" number, and Judy and Gene's competitive dance number to the tune of "Blue Jean Polka" or "The Portland Fancy" (sources disagree on the name of this number). Watching Gene and Phil's "Heavenly Music" accompanied by singing dogs is also fun.



Produced by: Joe Pasternak

Directed by: Charles Walters

Screen Play by: George Wells and Sy Gomberg

Story by: Sy Gomberg

Songs by: Harry Warren and Mack Gordon

Additional Songs: "All for You," "Heavenly Music" (by) Saul Chaplin; "You, Wonderful You" (by) Harry Warren, Saul Chaplin and Jack Brooks; "Get Happy" (by) Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler

Musical Direction: Johnny Green and Saul Chaplin

Orchestration: Conrad Salinger and Skip Martin

Dances Staged by: Nick Castle

Art Directors: Cedric Gibbons and Jack Martin Smith

Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis

Associate: Alfred E. Spencer

Costumes by: Walter Plunkett

Gloria DeHaven's Costumes by: Helen Rose

Hair Styles Designed by: Sydney Guilaroff

Make-Up Created by: William J. Tuttle

Recording Supervisor: Douglas Shearer

Director of Photography: Robert Planck

Color by Technicolor

Technicolor Color Consultants: Henri Jaffa, James Gooch

Film Editor: Albert Akst



Cast: Judy Garland [Jane Falbury], Gene Kelly [Joe D. Ross], Eddie Bracken [Orville Wingait], Gloria DeHaven [Abigail Falbury], Marjorie Main [Esmé], Phil Silvers [Herb Blake], Ray Collins [Jasper G. Wingait], Nita Bieber [Sarah Higgins], Carleton Carpenter [Artie], Hans Conried [Harrison L. Keath], Additional Cast: Paul E. Burns [Frank], Carol Haney, Arthur Loew, Jr., Jimmy Thompson [Members of Stock Company], Bette Arlen, Bunny Waters [Show Girls], Erville Alderson [Zeb], Almira Sessions [Constance Fliggerton], Kathryn Sheldon [Amy Fliggerton], Michael Chapin, Teddy Infuhr [Boys], Cameron Grant, Jack Daley, Reginald Simpson [Producers], Eddie Dunn [Sheriff]



Musical Program: [0:00] Overture (played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:01] If You Feel Like Singing, Sing (sung by Judy Garland); [0:11] (Howdy Neighbor) Happy Harvest (sung by Judy Garland); [0:24] Dig-Dig-Dig-Dig for Your Dinner (sung and danced by Gene Kelly, Phil Silvers, Carleton Carpenter and the Summer Stock Players); [0:39] Mem'ry Island (sung by Gloria DeHaven and Pete Roberts dubbing for Hans Conried, danced by Ensemble); [0:44] The Portland Fancy (instrumental danced by members of the Wingait Falls Historical Society, then by the Summer Stock Players, then by Judy Garland and Gene Kelly); [1:00] You Wonderful You (sung and danced by Gene Kelly and Judy Garland); [1:06] Friendly Star (sung by Judy Garland); [1:17] You, Wonderful You (Newspaper Dance Reprise, danced by Gene Kelly); [1:35] All for You (sung and danced by Gene Kelly, Judy Garland and Chorus); [1:36] You Wonderful You (sung and danced by Gene Kelly and Judy Garland); [1:38] Heavenly Music (introduced by Chorus Girls, sung and danced by Gene Kelly and Phil Silvers with a pack of dogs); [1:42] Get Happy (sung and danced by Judy Garland and Mens Chorus); [1:48] (Howdy Neighbor) Happy Harvest (reprised by Judy Garland, Gene Kelly and Chorus)