State Fair (1933)

Director:

Henry King

Writers:

Philip Stong (novel)
Sonya Levien (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

10 February 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Plot Keywords:

Horse Racing | Contest | Band | Cynic | Acrobat

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Janet Gaynor	...	Margy Frake
Will Rogers	...	Abel Frake
Lew Ayres	...	Pat Gilbert
Sally Eilers	...	Emily Joyce
Norman Foster	...	Wayne Frake
Louise Dresser	...	Melissa Frake
Frank Craven	...	Storekeeper
Victor Jory	...	Hoop Toss Barker
Frank Melton	...	Harry Ware
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Erville Alderson	...	Martin - Hog Breeder (uncredited)
Bell Boy	...	A Hog (uncredited)
Joe Caits	...	Baker A. Noblemable - Judges' Secretary (uncredited)
Hobart Cavanaugh	...	Professor Fred Coin - Hog Judge (uncredited)
Judge Dike	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Harry Holman	...	Professor Tyler Cramp - Hog Judge (uncredited)
Doro Merande	...	Mrs. Metcalfe's Acquaintance at Food Contest (uncredited)
Dike of Rosedale	...	Blue Boy - a Hog (uncredited)
John Sheehan	...	Barker at Aerial Act (uncredited)
Lucille Ward	...	Woman in Cranapple Contest (uncredited)
Ruth Warren	...	Mrs. Edwin Metcalfe (uncredited)

Directed by
Henry King

Writing credits
Philip Stong		(novel)
Sonya Levien		(screenplay) and
Paul Green		(screenplay)
Frank Craven		contributing writer (uncredited)
Julien Josephson		contributing writer (uncredited)
Philip Stong		contributing writer (uncredited)
Henry Wales		contributing writer (uncredited)

Produced by
Winfield R. Sheehan	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Louis De Francesco		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Hal Mohr		(photographed by)

Film Editing by
Robert Bischoff		(uncredited)

Set Decoration by
Duncan Cramer		(settings)

Production Management
Edward Butcher	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ray Flynn	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Arthur von Kirbach	....	sound recordist (as A.L. Von Kirbach)

Camera and Electrical Department
Milton Gold	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Edwin Hammeras	....	photographer: Des Moines (uncredited)
Clifton Maupin	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Irving Rosenberg	....	camera operator (uncredited)
William V. Skall	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Robert Surtees	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Joseph A. Valentine	....	photographer: Des Moines (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rita Kaufman	....	wardrobe
Sam Benson	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Music Department
Louis De Francesco	....	musical director
Peter Brunelli	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Arthur Lange	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Charles E. McCarthy	....	publicist (uncredited)
Bernard McEveety	....	business manager (uncredited)
R.C. Moore	....	location manager (uncredited)
Edgar Vess	....	supplier: Loop-the-Loop aerial equipment (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Fox Film Corporation (1933) (USA) (theatrical)

Runtime:

USA:97 min (FMC Library Print) | 99 min (copyright length)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #1460-R, 4 September 1935 for re-release) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-G (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Des Moines, Iowa, USA

Company:

Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Director Henry King and crew were invited to the 1932 State Fair and Exposition in Des Moines, Iowa to film background material, including the racing scenes and midway. After the fair, they purchased three hogs, including the grand champion, Dike of Rosedale, who was cast as Blue Boy.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Lest We Forget (1937)

Soundtrack:

Romantic

A Hard Film to Find

State Fair is actually a pretty good movie that's mostly just a vehicle for Janet Gaynor. But it ends up being more than that with the help of Will Rogers and Lew Ayres.

The story revolves around a farming family who enters a prize pig in the State Fair. The two children of the family go off on their own separate adventures while the two parents stay with the pig.

Gaynor is one of the children and she meets and falls in love with Ayres. Their chemistry together is a very intriguing one. Will Rogers is the father who is mostly the comic relief.

You'll most likely like the film and it deserves to be liked. Its a great gem from the early '30s that isn't seen much anymore.

I was able to finally watch the film when it was on The Fox Movie Channel last year. It might be on again soon. I suggest you find out.