Summer Stock

Summer Stock is a 1950 American Technicolor musical film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed by Charles Walters, stars Judy Garland and Gene Kelly, and features Eddie Bracken, Gloria DeHaven, Marjorie Main, and Phil Silvers. Musical numbers were staged by Nick Castle and Kelly.

Garland struggled with many personal problems during filming. Summer Stock was her final film for MGM, as well as her last onscreen pairing with Kelly. By mutual agreement, MGM terminated Garland's contract in September 1950, a decision the studio head Louis B. Mayer said he later regretted.

Jane Falbury, owner of a family farm in Connecticut, is told by her only two farm hands that they are leaving because she has not paid them in a long time. The farm is in financial straits, so she decides to acquire a tractor to help with the labor, since the farm hands are gone. She goes to her fiancé Orville Wingait, who runs a local store, about buying a tractor on credit. Orville's father Jasper agrees to loan Jane the tractor on the condition she agrees to marry Orville.

When Jane returns to her farm, she discovers her younger sister, Abigail, has arrived with a musical theater troupe. Abigail explains that, after she dropped out of art school, she met Joe Ross, the director of the show, and became an actress. She then decided to offer his troupe the family farm to rehearse their summer stock theater production for Broadway producers. Jane confronts Joe, demanding they leave, but allows them to stay for the night. During dinnertime, Jane agrees to let the troupe use their barn on the condition they perform chores around the farm.

The next morning, Jane learns that Abigail is engaged to Joe. Orville arrives, telling Jane her neighbors have been complaining about the troupe. Jane goes to Jasper, stating the summer stock musical will not interfere with her work around the farm. While the troupe is working around the farm, Herb Blake, one of the stage hands, uses the tractor to remove a tree stump. However, he loses control and crashes the tractor. Joe does not tell Jane and tries to have the tractor repaired.

At the annual historical society dance that night, Jane performs a country dance duet with Joe. But after the theater people take over with their jazz music and dancing, Jasper confronts Jane. They argue, and Jane decides to return the tractor to him. When Joe shows Jane the damaged tractor, she is furious and demands that the troupe leave. The following morning, she discovers the troupe members have pooled all of their money and purchased a new tractor. Jane relents and allows the troupe to finish their musical.

With the opening just days away, Joe encourages Jane's interest in the theater, and the two begin to realize their mutual attraction. Jane returns to the farmhouse, where she sets the date for her marriage to Orville, despite having fallen in love with Joe. During rehearsals the next morning, Abigail complains about Joe's stage directions, as she feels overworked and unappreciated. Joe complains that Abigail's timing and musical rhythm are off. Abigail is consoled by Harrison I. Keath, the musical's leading man, and the two leave the farm together to star in a play in New York City.

After learning about Abigail's abrupt departure, Joe replaces her with Jane. Orville learns about Jane's casting and vows to shut down the show. Before the musical begins, Joe expresses his desire to spend the rest of his life with Jane, to which she agrees. In the musical's penultimate number, Jane performs the song "Get Happy" in a tuxedo jacket, black fedora, and black nylons. Orville arrives with Abigail, who wants her role reinstated. Jane refuses to relinquish the part. When Orville threatens to close the show, Abigail knocks him out but comforts him when he comes to. The troupe closes the show with a reprise of "Happy Harvest".