In the Good Old Summertime
by Robert Z. Leonard
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Chester Clute, Judy Garland, Lillian Bronson, Van Johnson, William ForrestDirector: Robert Z. Leonard
Brand: GARLAND,JUDY
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 102 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-04-06
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Movie Reviews of In the Good Old Summertime
Movie Review: "...Hang a wish from me on your Christmas tree, for a very Merry Christmas time."
Summary: 5 Stars
The title of this film is one of the oddest choices in motion picture history. Except for a brief bracketing in the beginning and end of the film of a summertime setting with rousing choral renditions of the title song, most of the film takes place in the winter specifically around the Christmas season. Film historian John Fricke in a brief history of the film as a special feature on the DVD, discloses the original working title was "The Girl from Chicago", while rather banal and trite still would have made more sense for the final film that was released rather than "In the Good Old Summertime"! At any rate, I for one, tend to view it as a holiday film, I only discovered it in the last few years, but it has been added to my list of favorite Christmas films.
This is a musical reworking of an earlier MGM hit of 1940, the delightful romantic comedy "The Shop Around the Corner" starring the enchanting Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart, and Frank Morgan directed by the skilled Ernst Lubitsch. The plot was of two co-workers in a leather goods shop in Budapest who detest each other, but unknowingly correspond as secret pen pals and fall in love through their letters. Besides adding musical numbers, the main changes were shifting the locale to turn of the century Chicago, and placing the embattled coworkers in a music shop, finally it would be shot in Technicolor not black and white as the original.
For me, this was the last of the golden MGM films to showcase the lustrous young Judy Garland, who had been in evidence since her first grown up role in "For Me and My Gal." She would make one final film at MGM "Summer Stock" the following year, but except for the exhilarating "Get Happy" number, she looked at least five years older than her twenty-eight years, bloated and tired looking with her hair dyed a harsh black, very matronly, totally foreign from the quicksilver charmer of earlier films. Veronica Fisher, her character in this film resembles a slightly older version of one of her most renowned roles, Esther Smith in the classic "Meet Me in St. Louis." While not quite as breathtakingly beautiful as she was in that, Garland is still quite lovely in the flattering period hairstyles and costumes, with those huge gorgeous velvet brown eyes. She looks particularly fetching when she performs two songs at an engagement party, clad in a crimson gown with a snug bodice that leaves her smooth creamy shoulders and arms bare, very alluring and desirable, with her own unmistakable radiance. Contrasting her performance with that of Margaret Sullavan's, she is every bit as good, two delicately shaded portrayals, with both droll and poignant moments. The singing is of course the difference between them, but in my humble opinion, there was no other singer that acted so superbly through her songs. Garland is the consummate actress who sings. My favorite songs contrast her talent, there is the merrily defiant "I Don't Care", where she twirls around a pillar and also hops backwards on one foot in putting the number across. Compare this to the holiday song "Merry Christmas" which she sings at a low point in her relationship with Van Johnson. She brings out all the warmth and tenderness of the lyrics, but with a bittersweet tinge of melancholy. By the way, this is an undiscovered gem, absolutely gorgeous; her rendition is almost on a par with her more famous song, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."
While I can pretty much take or leave Van Johnson, this is one of his better performances, playing the head clerk Andrew Larkin. He partners Garland well, and their next to last scene together on Christmas Eve in the darkened shop after closing is expertly played by both actors, first comic and then becoming ardent. The rest of cast, good reliable character actors give wonderful support beginning with former silent screen legend, poker faced Buster Keaton as Mr. Hickey, hapless nephew of shop owner Mr. Oberkugen, known for his physical comedy, he has a expertly executed pratfall which provokes a crisis. The noted Hungarian actor S.Z. Sakall plays Mr. Oberkugen, with his trademark hands slapped to the face, he's always a welcome addition to any film. As Nellie Burke, Mr. Oberkugen's fiancée and assistant, Spring Byington is spirited and attractive and a sympathetic ally to both Veronica and Andrew. Clinton Sundberg who was a usual addition to MGM musicals in the late 1940's, does quite well as Rudy Hansen the final employee at the shop, and Andy's best friend. The only oddity is Marcia Van Dyke, a very pretty and gifted violinist who made her film debut playing Louise Parkson, she seems an unnecessary addition. She has a pair of violin solos, but except towards the end of the movie she doesn't add to the story. There is a famous debut at the film's conclusion, three-year-old Liza Minnelli, playing (surprise!), the daughter of Judy Garland!
MGM veteran Robert Z. Leonard directed, he was a solid middle of the road professional who usually delivered the goods, and he does here. Albert Hackett, Frances Goodrich and Ivan Tors wrote a very entertaining adaption of the earlier Samuel Raphaelson screenplay. Final kudos to the outstanding work by legendary cinematographer Harry Stradling, art directors Randolph Duell and C Cedric Gibbons, set decorator Edwin B. Willis and costumers Irene and Vales that add so much to the production.
A holiday spirit seems to linger around this film despite the title, which is why I chose a lyric from "Merry Christmas" as the title for this review. It's just perfect for this time of year, and as such is always shown on Turner Classic Movies in December, this year both on December 17 and Christmas Eve. The only extras despite the aforementioned interesting introduction by John Fricke are trailers for "The Shop Around the Corner", this film and the vastly inferior 1998 remake called "You've Got Mail". There was a cut song that Garland did beautifully called "Last Night When We Were Young" that was shown I believe in one of the last "That's Entertainment" movies, that unfortunately isn't included here, which is a shame. Still, if nothing else, Judy Garland's exquisite rendition of "Merry Christmas" would make this film a must see, and aren't we the lucky viewers that there are still so many other delights to appreciate as well?
Summary of In the Good Old Summertime
Musical film adaptation of the movie \The shop around the corner"", about two employees of a Chicago music shop who fight but are really in love.Genre: Musicals
Rating: NR
Release Date: 6-APR-2004
Media Type: DVD"""
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