The film portrays the "Frake" family—"Abel" (Charles Winninger), his wife "Melissa" (Fay Bainter), and their children "Wayne" (Dick Haymes) and "Margy" (Jeanne Crain)—as they experience the Iowa State Fair year after year. The fair provides a backdrop for numerous interwoven narratives, including romantic interests centered around pig care and pie competitions, alongside familiar love triangle situations; "Margy" finds herself caught between two men (Dana Andrews), while Wayne develops an infatuation with big band singer "Emily" (Vivian Blaine). The plot unfolds in a conventional manner, featuring memorable performances from supporting actors such as Harry Morgan, who operates a dishonest stand, and Donald Meek, known for his meticulous food evaluation. Rodgers and Hammerstein contribute the well-known songs "It Might as Well be Spring" and "It's a Grand Night for Singing," which help to maintain the film’s pace. It’s an unabashedly sentimental portrayal of American life—full of pleasantries, floral patterns, and sentimentality. While the script occasionally offers some humor, it doesn’t quite match up with the musical numbers; the overall effect is somewhat insubstantial and overly sweet. Crain, Andrews, and a slightly awkward Haymes deliver competent performances, but their repeated romantic entanglements eventually became tedious for me. It's fascinating to see how people in rural communities were entertained during that era, though this isn’t one of Hammerstein’s stronger stories. I found it agreeable enough as entertainment, but it doesn’t have the sophistication of the Gaynor/Foster film from twelve years prior.

Source on TMDB