State Fair (1962)

My Review

“State Fair” tells the story of teen siblings who find fun at the Texas state fair, with their parents in tow. First time director Jose Ferrer did a mediocre job at the helm of this project, especially miscasting a number of roles, with the exception of stars Pat Boone and Ann-Margret. Bad reviews and poor attendance in theaters for this film were major factors in ending Ferrer’s directorial career before it started, although his vocation as an actor continued unabated for decades.

The cast includes Pat Boone, Ann-Margret, Bobby Darin, Pamela Tiffin, Tom Ewell, Alice Faye, Wally Cox, Clem Harvey, Robert Foulk, Linda Heinrich, David Brandon, and Tap Canutt (son of Yakima Canutt). The still marginally watchable “State Fair” was a flop at the box office for 20th Century Fox. The music was composed by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and the screenplay by Richard L. Breen.