Sometimes it is just difficult to move on from a good idea. In 1940, audiences fell in love with the charming Ernst Lubitsch romantic comedy The Shop Around The Corner starring Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullavan which was based on the 1937 Miklós László play Parfumerie. With the film being so beloved, it is not entirely surprising that there would be another take on the material – although you might expect the period of time before such an idea would be longer than it was. It was only a short time later in 1949 that we would see the material adapted into a Technicolor musical with In The Good Old Summertime. Judy Garland (The Wizard of Oz, The Harvey Girls) was a money-making machine for MGM at this point in her career, so any ideas to get her singing on screen were welcome. Director Robert Z. Leonard (A Tale Of Two Cities) would take on the directing duties this time around, but everyone knew Judy was running the show. MGM would soon lose their golden goose, but the great box office success gave them something to celebrate for the time being.
Those who watch In The Good Old Summertime in close proximity to The Shop Around The Corner (or even You’ve Got Mail for that matter) will notice very few differences between the different versions. This adaptation trades in the quaint Budapest locale for a bustling turn-of-the-century Chicago setting. Van Johnson (The Caine Mutiny, Action Of The Tiger) fills in for Jimmy Stewart as Andrew Larkin, the senior salesperson at Oberkugen’s music shop. Andrew has a close relationship with Louise Parkson (Marcia Van Dyke), but who he really longs to be with is his secret pen pal with whom he has formed an intellectually fulfilling connection. One day, after a perfectly delightful and chaotic meet-cute on the street, a young, flustered Veronica Fisher (Judy Garland) walks into the music shop in hopes of finding a job. While the belief is that the shop has no need for another salesperson, she quickly proves her worth while endearing herself to the shop’s owner Otto Oberkugen (S. Z. Sakall, Romance On The High Seas) much to the chagrin of Andrew.
The close proximity between Andrew and Veronica at work leads to quite a bit of bickering back and forth, but what they do not know is that they are each other’s “perfect” pen pal that they have been writing to – it’s only a matter of time before they see one another in a different light. The plot is fairly formulaic, especially if you have seen any of the other versions, but it is the way that it is executed that really matters. While Margaret Sullavan was no weak link in the original film, it is fair to say that Judy Garland is an improvement just for the fact that it’s Judy freakin’ Garland. She is immeasurably gifted with grace and charm for days, and she spreads that throughout every scene even when she is not singing. Where the version does not quite compare is when comparing Van Johnson with Jimmy Stewart. Johnson does a serviceable job, but he is really just a vanilla body for Judy to prop up with her more standout moments. Judy carries the romance in this film completely on her shoulders.
Elsewhere the ensemble makes more of an impression than Johnson, especially Sakall as the spirited shop owner and a surprisingly talkative Buster Keaton as Hickey. The physical pratfalls that he brings to the film are among the most amusing of the picture. The real way this feature justifies its existence is the conversion it makes to being a musical. Garland understandably gets most of the songs throughout, and she does a magnificent job with each and every one of them. A late-film rendition of “Merry Christmas” will give you chills and put you in the holiday spirit immediately. The bustling and fitfully amusing “I Don’t Care” will likewise have you cheering. In terms of pure emotional punch, the original The Shop Around The Corner probably bests this version, but In The Good Old Summertime proves to be a solidly entertaining bit of spectacle that Garland would always deliver even in the most dire circumstances. If you are a Judy Garland fan, this is a solid addition to her later-period filmography.
Video Quality
Warner Archive presents In The Good Old Summertime with a sumptuous new 1080p master transfer in its original 1.37:1 aspect ratio. The exact details of the transfer were not made available, but the combination of Technicolor and Warner Archive always delivers an eye-popping presentation. One of the standout aspects of the film is the vibrant colors within the costumes and settings that practically leap off the screen in only the way Technicolor can. The film exhibits no signs of any damage or debris, which is typical of the magic that the workers at Warner Archive pull off. Detail and clarity is off the charts with the beautiful, natural film grain intact and well resolved. The black levels are very deep with impeccable stability throughout. There does not appear to be any digital nuisances such as compression artifacts, banding or any other such issues. This presentation offers a lovely viewing experience from start to finish.
Audio Quality
Warner Archive has delivered via DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio presentation that is incredibly pleasing. Dialogue comes through clearly from beginning to end without being stepped on by any musical beats or sound effects. This track also effortlessly handles all of the music that is so integral to shaping this story with nothing ever sounding blown out. Every single element seems clearly defined and in balance as everything is presented with a flawless fidelity. Warner Archive has provided a five-star audio presentation that does not exhibit any glaring signs of age-related wear-and-tear. The disc also comes with optional English (SDH) subtitles.
Special Features
- Introduction By Judy Garland Biographer John Fricke: A four-minute introduction that traces the origins of the story, the involvement of Buster Keaton in front of and behind the camera, a look at the performers in the film, the film’s legacy and more.
- Vintage Fitzpatrick TravelTalks Shorts – Chicago, the Beautiful: A ten-minute vintage short which takes you through the city of Chicago and its various interesting locations.
- Vintage Fitzpatrick TravelTalks Shorts – Night Life In Chicago: A nine-minute vintage short which takes you through the varied nightlife entertainment that Chicago has to offer.
- Theatrical Trailer: A three-minute trailer for the film is provided here.
Final Thoughts
In The Good Old Summertime is a very pleasing adaptation of an oft-told tale of romance. The story pretty seamlessly lends itself to becoming a musical, and Judy Garland really shines both in these moments as well as the comedically romantic exchanges with Van Johnson. The chemistry between the two is held up more by Garland, but there is a core believability between the two that works well enough. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray with an incredible A/V presentation and a decent collection of special features. If you are a fan of the film, you could not ask for better. Recommended
In The Good Old Summertime can be purchased directly through the Warner Archive Amazon Store or various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
