State Fair

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State Fair

1933,

1h 36m,

Comedy/

Drama

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Watchlist

100%

47 Reviews

Tomatometer

52%

100+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

47 Reviews

52%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

An Iowa farmer (Will Rogers) and his wife bring their son, daughter (Janet Gaynor) and prize hog to a fair.

Critics Consensus

Possessing a palpable sense of place and a large ensemble of vivid characterizations, State Fair easily nabs the first place ribbon for fulsome family entertainment.

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Mae Tinée

Chicago Tribune

Nov 10, 2023

State fair, adapted from the popular novel by Phil Stong, is wholesome, homely, astute comedy drama. It abounds in clean humor, bunkless performance and interesting incident.

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Robert Randol

Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com

Nov 10, 2023

Its gay trappings are alluring to youth and although many of its pleasures prove to be as senseless as a ride on the merry-go-round, when the band stops playing and tents are struck one is loath to leave all of its excitements behind.

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H.H. Niemeyer

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Nov 10, 2023

[State Fair] is one of those agreeable little plays which doesn't get anywhere in particular but, being delightfully played by a big cast of favorite stars, it goes over with a real bang.

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Jack Moffitt

Kansas City Star

Nov 10, 2023

State Fair comes along at an auspicious moment to remind you that simple joys are fun as well as poetic and that you will find the most pleasing sort of amusement valentines both comic and sentimental among the situations.

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Pare Lorentz

Judge

Nov 10, 2023

As it uses also genuine Americana seldom dramatized in any form, State Fair becomes one of the few important productions of the year. And in case this academic discussion of it has wearied you, I might add that it is good-humored and even funny.

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Rollin Palmer

Buffalo News

Nov 10, 2023

This picture is mainly dependent for its entertainment value on its depiction of the scenes at the state fair and the good-natured shirtsleeve humor of Will Rogers... For [most] of its length, the picture is a rarely sensible and satisfactory production.

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Draco S

Nov 17, 2018

State Fair has its charming romantic moments for sure and it's certainly very well shot, but the overall plot is a rather uninteresting and slight stuff. The cast is strong, but they weren't given much to do owing to a weak script and characterization. Henry King's unremarkable direction and the film's obviously dated material led to what is probably the worst Best Picture nominee from this year.

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Henry King

Director

Will Rogers

Abel Frake

Janet Gaynor

Margy Frake

Lew Ayres

Pat Gilbert

Sally Eilers

Emily Joyce

Norman Foster

Wayne Frake

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Synopsis

An Iowa farmer (Will Rogers) and his wife bring their son, daughter (Janet Gaynor) and prize hog to a fair.

Director: Henry King
Producer: Winfield R. Sheehan
Screenwriter: Sonya Levien, Paul Green
Distributor: Fox
Production Co: Fox Film Corporation
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 10, 1933, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 21, 2014
Runtime: 1h 36m

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