In the Good Old Summertime (1949)

Color / 103 mins

"In the good old summertime, in the good old summertime. Strolling through the shady lanes with your baby mine!"

Quaint, lush, and beautiful, the MGM Silver Anniversary picture "In the Good Old Summertime" captures Victorian America with style, grace, and nostalgia. Set in long-ago Chicago, the film takes the viewer back to the happy, simple days of neighborhood shops and community picnics.

The film is essentially a remake of 1940's "The Shop Around the Corner", which starred Margaret Sullavan and James Stewart, and the story would later be turned into Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan's hit "You've Got Mail". In all three movies, store clerks who hate each other fall in love through romantic pen pal letters. Although the plot was by no means original, director Robert Z. Leonard knew how to make it work in a splendidly fun musical comedy.

Andrew Delby Larkin (Van Johnson) narrates the opening sequence, a light musical bit that establishes his industrious, if somewhat goofy character. Though he spends much of his time flirting with pal Louise (Marcia Van Dyke) and reading romantic letters from a mysterious pen pal, he is gainfully employed in the music shop of Otto Oberkugen (S.Z. "Cuddles" Sakall). One day, on his way to work, he knocks over a thoroughly disgusted Veronica Fisher (Judy Garland), who later enters the shop and applies for a position. After doing a better job selling a harp than Andrew, she is hired as the newest staff member, to both parties' disliking. After this, Veronica rushes home to her aunt Addie (Lillian Bronson) and pores over her romantic letter of the day.

After a while, the secret lovers decide to meet up. To both Andrew and Veronica's dismay, Mr. Oberkugen keeps them late on the special night to do inventory, but Veronica makes it to the restaurant with time to spare. Andrew shows up and sees her through the window. He has trouble realizing what has just happened, but joins her and annoys her in the restaurant without letting on that he's the writer. Veronica returns home in tears after having her night of bliss with the secret suitor ruined by Andrew Larkin of all people.

Mr. Oberkugen finally proposes to his longtime cashier Nellie (Spring Byington), and the two throw an engagement party in which a rather skilled barbershop quartet entertains. Judy also sings two numbers, the harmonious "Play That Barbershop Chord" and the flighty, silly "I Don't Care".

After all this, Veronica realizes that she has fallen in love with Andrew, but when she sees him hugging Louise, she is devastated. Andrew quickly devises a plan to dethrone the unknown letter writer and win Veronica's heart.

"In the Good Old Summertime" is simply a delightful movie from the start to finish. As it is one of Judy's last films at MGM, the viewer can see the progression of filmmaking in general from her early movies. The plot is very fast-paced, the dialogue is funny and witty, and the Technicolor is beautiful and easy on the eyes. Every player in the cast is wonderful in his or her role, particularly Van Johnson, who carries the film, and the costumes and sets are impeccable.

Even five years later, MGM was still trying to cash in on the success of 1944's "Meet Me in St. Louis", Judy's biggest movie. Set around the turn of the century, "In the Good Old Summertime" shows nostalgia for old America in much the same way, and Judy is cast as the young girl who has no experience with boys, although she had married twice in real life and had a daughter. She also wore a red dress and hairdo very reminiscient of her famous "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" scene (in "St. Louis"), which was a bad move by MGM, as this similarity only heightened the differences between her 1944 and 1949 demeanor. By this time, Judy's drug use had escalated to the point where she was nearly impossible to work with, and she looks tired and washed-up in this film. She would only make one more movie, "Summer Stock", before being fired from MGM.

Perhaps the weakness of this movie is its rather forgettable slew of musical numbers; while mildly entertaining, none are destined for success except for the old tune "In the Good Old Summertime". However, the score is fantastic, and one cannot help but feel that they have traveled back in time.

You would like this movie if: you love the Victorian era, you're a fan of Van Johnson, you want a good old-fashioned romance movie, you want to see Judy be witty, or....the real treat for some may be the introduction of two-year-old Liza Minnelli in the closing scene!

You probably wouldn't be a big fan if: you're intent on hearing Judy sing tremendously memorable songs, you need big musical numbers, you don't enjoy the somewhat saccharine peace and harmony of the early 1900's.

Rating: ***
Judy score: **