This week’s mystery movie was the 1933 Fox film “State Fair,” with Janet Gaynor, Will Rogers, Lew Ayres, Sally Eilers, Norman Foster, Louise Dresser, Frank Craven and Victor Jory. Screenplay by Sonya Levien and Paul Green, from the novel by Philip Stong, photography by Hal Mohr, sound recorder A.l. Kirbach, settings by Duncan Cramer, wardrobe by Rita Kaufman, musical direction by Louis De Francesco. Directed by Henry King.
“State Fair” is not commercially available on DVD. Amazon Prime seems to offer a streaming version of a lousy print and the accompanying reviews are of the later musicals. TCM occasionally airs a fairly good print of this version and that’s where I got it.
Writing in the New York Times (Jan. 27, 1933), Mordaunt Hall said:
Watching this film is almost as interesting as going to a state fair, for nothing seems to be neglected during the week in which it is supposed to take place. It is a homey tale, with many an intriguing bit. The outcome of some of the incidents may be anticipated, but that does not mitigate against them. In fact, when Melissa Frake, Abel Frake’s sensible wife, wins first prizes with her pickles, jams and mincemeat there was probably not a soul among those who crowded into the big theater yesterday who did not feel highly pleased, even though they well knew that Abel had poured brandy into the mincemeat and Mrs. Frake had flavored it still further with the same stimulant.
…. Mr. Rogers is excellent in his role. Frank Craven supplies some well-spoken lines. Mr. Foster is a bit too intelligent to be convincing as the rustic Wayne. Louise Dresser is highly satisfactory as Mrs. Frake and Victor Jory is good as a barker. Lew Ayres is sympathetic as Gilbert.
“State Fair” is also worth noting if you remember the controversy a while back about how movie titles were just boring lists of names. “State Fair” uses a billboard for the credits:
And another billboard appears at the end. No fade out on the final embrace of Lew Ayres and Janet Gaynor.
Instead, the “State Fair” billboard slowly peels away to reveal…
… “The End.”
For Monday, we have a mystery gent. He most heartily approves of such goings-on.
Update: This is Harry Holman as one of the hog judges. One of the other judges (Hobart Cavanaugh) lacked sufficient mysteriousness.
For Tuesday, we have a mystery guest from the animal kingdom.
Update: This is Dike of Rosedale as Blue Boy.
We also have a mystery gent. Our leading lady has been cropped out due to her insufficient mysteriousness. She will appear Friday.
Update: This is “nice guy but not her type” Frank Melton.
Brain Trust roll call: Mike Hawks (Monday’s mystery gent), Patrick (Monday’s mystery gent) and Mark Alan Vieira (Monday’s mystery gent). I don’t always say this, but I appreciate the level of research that goes into the Brain Trust’s detective work in identifying the mystery movies. Your film knowledge is most impressive!
For Wednesday, we have a mystery woman.
Update: This is Louise Dresser.
And also a natty mystery gent.
Update: This is Norman Foster.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie, and Monday’s and Tuesday’s mystery guests), Mike Hawks (mystery movie, and Tuesday’s mystery gent), Dan Nather (mystery movie, and Monday’s and Tuesday’s mystery guests), Sheila (mystery movie, and Monday’s mystery guest), Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie, and Monday’s and Tuesday’s mystery guests), Gary (mystery movie, Monday’s mystery gent and our unseen mystery leading lady, and mystery pig), Sylvia E. (mystery movie, Monday’s and Tuesday’s mystery gents and our mystery pig) and L.C. (mystery movie and mystery cast).
Note: There are several mystery pigs in our mystery movie. Tuesday’s mystery pig is the leading pig.
For Thursday, Wednesday’s mystery chap seems to have made a friend.
Update: This is Norman Foster and Sally Eilers in a Pre-Code segment.
Also this not terribly mysterious gent.
Update: This is young Victor Jory.
Brain Trust roll call: Bob Hansen (mystery movie and mystery cast), Mary Mallory (Wednesday’s mystery guests and peering into the future to see Friday’s mystery guests), Beachgal (mystery movie, mystery guests, mystery pig and seeing into the future for Friday’s mystery leading lady), David Inman (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery gent), Mike Hawks (Wednesday’s mystery guests), Anne Papineau (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery woman), Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mystery guests), Floyd Thursby (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery guest) and Sylvia E. (Wednesday’s mystery guests, peering into the future for Friday’s mystery guests).
For Friday, we have an entirely unmysterious guest.
Update: Will Rogers.
And also two non-mystery guests.
Update: This is Lew Ayres and Janet Gaynor.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mystery guests), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery guests), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery guests), Dan Nather (Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mystery guests), Patrick (mystery movie, Wednesday’s mystery guests and Thursday’s carnival barker), Sylvia E. (Thursday’s mystery guests and peering into the future to see Friday’s mystery guests), Anne Papineau (Thursday’s mystery carnival barker), Beachgal (Thursday’s mystery guests and peering into the future for today’s mystery guests).
ladailymirror.com 
Let’s get the obvious out of the way: Berton Churchill.
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Good guess, but alas, you’re right. It’s not Mr. Churchill.
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Ferdinand Munier.
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An excellent guess! Excellent. But alas, no.
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Could it be George Barbier?
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Another excellent guess. But… alas, I’m afraid not.
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Harry Holman.
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Charles Coleman?
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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Harry Holman on Monday?
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Months ago I looked him up on IMDb after seeing him in Turn Back the Clock. And promptly forgot his name. Today I saw your post. For an hour I went through pre-Code films, title by title, looking for a credit. I gave up. Then, hours later, when I woke up from a nap, I heard a voice. “Harry. My name is Harry. Harry Holman.”
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STATE FAIR. Harry Holman Monday and Frank Melton today along with Bell Boy.
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Bell Boy and Frank Melton in STATE FAIR 1933.
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Well, if you have a mystery animal, would the movie be the 1933 version of STATE FAIR?
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Is Monday’s gent Lionel Belmore?
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Harry Holman for Monday, ‘State Fair’.
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STATE FAIR (1933)
Monday: Harry Holman.
Tuesday: Bell Boy; Frank Melton.
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The pig gives it away: Monday: Harry Holman in 1933;s State Fair with Janet Gaynor.
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Another (I think) ‘lucky Tuesday’ for me. We’ll see
The film is State Fair 1933
Mon. – Harry Holman
Tues. – Dike of Rosedale (an actual State Fair winning hog) as Blue Boy
and I found a shot from a different angle on the guy, who I think must be Fran Melton.
This should be another fun one.
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Plus Harry Holman on Monday, and (I think) Frank Melton today.
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Doing some research I discovered that the hog, here named Blue Bell is none other than The Dike of Rosedale.
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State Farm (1933) w/Janet Gaynor, Will Rogers, Lew Ayres, Sally Eilers, …
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Oops that should be State Fair
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I believe the movie is State Fair from 1933. The stars are Janet Gaynor and Will Rogers, but I can’t name these actors.
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Louise Dresser who’s so great in THE GOOSE WOMAN and Norman Foster. Janet Gaynor would be our unseen mystery woman yesterday. I’m going to the SFSFF so hope to answer the next few days. Of course I know that Will Rogers, Janet Gaynor, and Lew Ayres will come into play, if not others.
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I think our film this week is the 1933 Will Rogers version of State Fair.
Monday might be Harry Holman
Tues we might have Dike of Rosedale as our mystery hog, Blue Boy.
Wed our in the window lady is Louise Dresser
Wed our naty gent is Norman Foster
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Opps; I missed our Tues gent after our pig. He’s the ‘feller’ who plays Harry, Frank Melton. He’s sitting next to our star (who’s cropped out and will appear on Friday), Janet Gaynor. .
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Norman Foster today. And I think that’s Frank Albertson on Tuesday. “State Fair,” mayhaps?
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Further research tells me that this was a pre-code film: here the wholesome brother was shown to have bedded the girl he met at the fair …no Dick Haymes/Pat Boone in this version.Tra la la!
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Louise Dresser and Norman Foster.
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On Wednesday, Louise Dresser in “State Fair”
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Louise Dresser; Norman Foster.
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Mr. Monday is Harry Holman and the movie is “State Fair.” I don’t know who Mr. Wednesday is, but it is a struggle to not accuse him of being Zeppo Marx.
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Wednesday – Louise Dresser (Will Rogers favorite movie wife – I’m assuming he’ll arrive on Friday)
and the guy in the straw hat is Norman Foster (I think)
Just realized that on Tuesday you indicated a mystery woman (who will also arrive Friday) so that must be Janet Gaynor.
By the way, the Dike of Rosedale was my big clue to the movie, because I recalled seeing Ozzie Nelson sing “More Than Just a Friend” on some variety show years ago. Mr. Nelson explained that this ‘love song to a pig’ was from the musical State Fair. That memory set me on the trail of movie versions of State Fair. Ahh…the things that come back to you.
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One correction for Tuesday – Frank (not Fran) Melton – but thanks for giving me credit anyway.
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A comment from the pig. “What do yah mean do I wanna come over for dinner”
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He doesn’t know that the book “To Serve Pigs” is actually a cookbook!
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Sally eilers and norman foster and harry green.
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Sally Eilers and Norman Foster; Victor Jory.
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Sally Eilers seems to like Norman Foster while Victor Jory leers on.
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Actually victor jory in last photo for today.
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Omigosh, I missed Wednesday’s stars! That’s Louise Dresser and future director Norman Foster.
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And for today, Norman’s friend is Sally Eilers, and the barker in the boater is Victor Jory.
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Louise Dresser, Norman Foster, Janet Gaynor and Victor Jory in State Fair from 1933.
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Thurs. – Sally Eilers with Norman Foster and photo #2 is a very young Victor Jory.
Friday should bring Janet Gaynor (but no longer mysterious), Lew Ayres and Will Rogers.
I’m looking forward to the Saturday rundown.
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Victor Jory!
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Thurs in photo 1 we have Sally Eilers along with Norman Foster. In photo 2 we have Victor Jory
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Tomorrow we should see our top stars, Will Rogers, Janet Gaynor and Lew Ayers.
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Will Rogers, Lew Ayres and Janet Gaynor.
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Is the movie “Steamboat ‘Round the Bend”? It’s been years since I last saw it.
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For Friday we have Will Rogers in #1 slot and in #2 slot we have Janet Gaynor and Lew Ayers
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Will Rogers,Janet Gaynor, Norman Foster, Lew Ayres in State Fair from 1933.
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I recognize Janet Gaynor and Will Rogers, so this must be “State Fair,” also starring Norman Foster, Sally Eilers and Louise Dresser
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Friday – There they are at last! Will Rogers, Lew Ayres and Janet Gaynor.
This was fun to look up. Thanks
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Will Rogers; Lew Ayres. Janet Gaynor.
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And the stars of the film — Will Rogers, Janet Gaynor, and Lew Ayres. We need more Will Rogers on DVD!
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