SUMMER STOCK

US, 1950, 109 minutes, Colour.
Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Gloria de Haven, Carlton Carpenter, Eddie Bracken, Phil Silvers, Hans Conried, Marjorie Main.
Directed by Charles Walters.

Summer Stock was Judy Garland's last musical at M.G.M. She had established herself for a decade with The Wizard of Oz, the musicals with Mickey Rooney and a number of musicals with her husband Vincente Minnelli, including Meet Me At St Louis. Here she is teamed with Gene Kelly, with whom she worked in For Me And My Gal. Gene Kelly was still to make his successful films On the Town, An American in Paris, Singin' In The Rain. There is enjoyable support from a cast led by Phil Silvers. The production was difficult because of Judy Garland's health and weight problems. However, it all comes together as a typical enough M.G.M. musical with some entertaining numbers, especially in the finale show. Direction is by Charles Walters, who choreographed many of Judy Garland's early musicals and directed her in Easter Parade with Fred Astaire. Other Walters musicals include Good News, Lili, The Glass Slipper, High Society and The Tender Trap.

1. The popularity of the M.G.M. musicals in the 1940s and 1950s? Their impact now? Stars, songs, thin plots, comedy routines, choreography?

2. The colour photography, the use of the sets? Costumes and decor? Insertions of songs, choreography?

3. The impact of the stars - Judy Garland and her style, singing, dancing? Gene Kelly and his dancing? Phil Silvers and Marjorie Main and their comedy? Eddie Bracken's comic contribution?

4. The thin plot and its plausibility: the difficulties of Jane on the farm, the pride of the town and its exclusive attitude towards visitors, the summer stock company coming for rehearsals? Romantic tangles? Work? The crisis for the show and its success? Typical musical comedy material?

5. Judy Garland as Jane, giving greater strength and some depth to the character - farm, buying the tractor, the help of Esme, exasperation with Abigail, the work routines, the antagonism towards Ross and the troupe? Gradual interest? The historic dance? The clashes with Orville and his father? Abigail's leaving the show and Jane stepping in? Judy Garland's songs and dancing?

6. Gene Kelly as hero - producer, director, relationship with Abigail, exasperation with Blake, attraction towards Jane, explaining show business and the nature of songs in musical comedy to her? Direction of the show and the happy ending with Jane?

7. The support of Eddie Bracken and the bossed-about son and the comedy of father-son relationships? His final defiance of him? Abigail as the spoilt sister and her avoiding work, acting as a prima donna, being disappointed in going to New York? Esme as the Ma Kettle type of housekeeper? Phil Silvers and the American style zany comedy - and the wrecking of the tractor? Hans Conried as the inflated musical comedy star? Ray Collins as Orville's father?

8. The humour of the clash between country people and city people? The awkwardness of the troupe going out to do the farm chores? Their watching the country dance and then taking it over?

9. The show business atmosphere of the plot? 'The show must go on'? The insights into production, rehearsals, techniques? The contribution of the songs and dances?

10. The place of American musicals in the film tradition? The contribution of this kind of musical?