Back in 1940, Ernst Lubitsch directed the excellent film The Shop Around the Corner. Lubitsch is rightfully famous for his wonderful films, but somehow In the Good Old Summertime exceeds the original. This is rather surprising for me to admit, as I generally am not a big fan of musicals. However, the music never dominates the film, the supporting cast is GREAT (Cuddles Sakall, Spring Byington and Buster Keaton) and the mood of the picture is not as depressing and dark as Lubitsch's.
The plot is this: Van Johnson has a pen pal with whom he carries on long and philosophical discussions--and eventually, the letters result in him falling head over heels for this mystery woman. Judy Garland stumbles into the music store where Johnson works and is hired by the owner (Sakall). Almost immediately, Garland and Johnson can't stand each other even though unknown to them, they are each other's pen pal! It may sound a little far-fetched, but it somehow manages to work.
PS--this was recently made into the less stellar You've Got Mail. I wasn't as enamored with this re-make, as having BOTH characters emotionally and sexually involved with others during their correspondence seemed a little sleazy.
The plot is this: Van Johnson has a pen pal with whom he carries on long and philosophical discussions--and eventually, the letters result in him falling head over heels for this mystery woman. Judy Garland stumbles into the music store where Johnson works and is hired by the owner (Sakall). Almost immediately, Garland and Johnson can't stand each other even though unknown to them, they are each other's pen pal! It may sound a little far-fetched, but it somehow manages to work.
PS--this was recently made into the less stellar You've Got Mail. I wasn't as enamored with this re-make, as having BOTH characters emotionally and sexually involved with others during their correspondence seemed a little sleazy.