lugonian
IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME (A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Silver Anniversary Picture, 1949), directed by Robert Z. Leonard, is not exactly a beach movie, nor a movie taking place entirely in the good old summertime, but one of the many nostalgic musicals with old-time music commonly produced during the time. Following the formula turn-of-the century pattern made popular by 20th Century-Fox with those starring Alice Faye, Betty Grable or June Haver, this MGM Technicolor release consists of its own studio contract players of Judy Garland and Van Johnson for the first and only time together. The plot, taken from the screenplay by Samson Raphaelson, was, in turn, a remake of MGM's earlier comedy-drama adaptation titled THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER (1940) featuring Margaret Sullavan and James Stewart in the Garland and Johnson roles, switching its locale and time frame from contemporary Budapest, Hungary, to turn-of-the century Chicago, Illinois.As the camera captures the modern view of Chicago, it soon shifts back to in old Chicago of the early 1900s with the narration and introduction by Andrew Delby Larkin (Van Johnson). Larkin, a single man living in a boarding house, works as head salesman at $15 a week for Oberkogen Music Company with violin playing Otto Oberkogen (S.Z. Sakall, in a role originated by Frank Morgan in 1940) in charge. Also under his employ are Nellie Burke (Spring Byington), cashier, accountant, secretary and Mr. Oberkogen's love interest for twenty years; Hickey (Buster Keaton), Oberkogen's bumbling nephew; and Rudy Hansen (Clinton Sundberg) the sales clerk. Although very good friends with Louise Parks (Marcia Van Dyke), Andrew really has no steady girlfriend. He does, however, communicate with a female pen-pal he writes to on a regular basis, a girl he has yet to meet. As he comes onto the post office steps to get one of those letters, Andrew bumps into a passerby named Veronica Fisher (Judy Garland). Their introduction followed by a series of unforeseen mishaps finds Andrew giving this young lady his business card where he could be reached to help pay for any damages to her wardrobe. Later in the day, Veronica enters the music store where he works. Rather than coming for the money, she asks Andrew for a job. As he tries to discourage her, she proves herself capable to Mr. Oberkogen after selling a harp to a customer. As a new member of the team, Veronica is well liked by all except Andrew, each unaware the "dear friend" letters they write every evening happens to be to each other.In between the Veronica/Andrew bickering, old-time songs featured include: "In the Good Old Summertime," "Meet Me Tonight in Dream Land," "Put Your Arms Around Me Honey, Hold Me Tight," "Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nellie," "Play the Barber Shop Chord," "I Don't Care," Violin Concerto; "Merry Christmas" and "In the Good Old Summertime" (reprise/finale). The film's best moments, contributed to Judy Garland's oft singing, are highlighted by her energetic solo effort of "I Don't Care." Though "Merry Christmas" is another good Christmas song Garland introduced to the screen, it's not as famous as her earlier treatment to "Have Yourself a Very Merry Christmas" from MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (1944).Overall, IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME actually belongs to Van Johnson. Introducing himself through off-screen narration for its opening segment, it's somewhat odd that Garland, its full-fledge star, didn't do a similar introduction to herself prior to their hilarious first meeting reminiscent to those great silent film comedy days of Buster Keaton, the one possibly responsible for this great gag material. As in the days of old, Keaton's pratfalls and bumbling character is further evidence how he's still being capable of getting audience attention and laughs all to himself, whether he'd be his humble self or doing his traditional hapless "Buster" character. Aside from the benefit of such likable co-stars as S.Z. Sakall and Spring Byington, there's also Lillian Bronson as Veronica's Aunt Addie; and in smaller roles, Charles Smith ("Dizzy" from Paramount's "Henry Aldrich" film series (1941-1944) as one of the members of the singing quartet; and little Liza Minnelli, Judy Garland's daughter, briefly captured before the film's conclusion.Using the same basic premise of THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER, with added songs and straightforward comedy, IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME, formerly on video cassette, currently on DVD, is good enough entertainment to enjoy not only during the Christmas season whenever shown on Turner Classic Movies, but anytime of the year. (***)
moonspinner55
Musical remake of "The Shop Around the Corner" from 1940 concerns a bachelor (Van Johnson) in 1930s Chicago who shares an intriguing pen-pal relationship with a single gal (Judy Garland), unaware his mystery lady is actually the brash co-worker whom he hates. MGM product with decidedly less gloss and panache than usual. The leads do all right, supporting cast (including S.Z. 'Cuddles' Sakall and Buster Keaton, who reportedly directed some scenes) is very good, but the songs are middling and the story seems to take forever to wind up. Liza Minnelli makes her screen debut here...as the dark-eyed, ruby-lipped toddler in the final scene. Material was later transformed into a Broadway musical entitled "She Loves Me", and was the basis yet again for 1998's "You've Got Mail". ** from ****
Mike_Noga
As has been noted, this formula has been filmed several times, most recently as "You've Got Mail", with Tom Hanks and Meg"Trout Pout" Ryan. Of the several versions, this is my least favorite. The problem i think is that the studio coasted on the Stars charisma, which doesn't quite cut it here.The chemistry betwixt the two leads never comes to a boil in this movie. There are no real sparks. Van Johnson and Judy Garland remind me of day old donuts, pleasant but bland. And when the leads are boring the rest of the movie can only follow. Judy in particular is disappointing. She looks like she has no neck! I don't know if she was having trouble with pain or something but she looks like a turtle trying to pull it's head into it's shell, all hunched up and everything. I couldn't figure out what Van Johnson was getting so hot about. I would have made a bee line for that cute violin player. And Van wasn't great either. I've always thought of him as a rather generic Hollywood leading man and he doesn't do anything to dispel that image here.If you're a fan of the stars or the early 1900's then you might like this movie. But there are a lot more entertaining romantic comedies out there, and they offer you much more than a mouthful of stale confection.
