Main Cast: Dan Dailey, Diana Lynn, Chet Allen, Scatman Crothers, Hugh O'Brian
Release Year: 1952
Country: US
Run Time: 87 minutes
Plot
Despite its ebullient title and the presence of lightweight dancing star Dan Dailey, Meet Me at the Fair has a lot more meat on its bones than most musicals of the early 1950s. Dailey plays an early-1900s medicine show huckster who finds himself the reluctant guardian of orphanage escapee Chet Allen. As he grows fond of the boy, Dailey becomes determined to thwart the corrupt system that allows substandard orphan asylums to operate while political hacks get rich on government funding. Dailey wins the confidence (and love) of orphan committee member Diana Lynn, who helps to foil the machinations of crooked district attorney Hugh O'Brien. The darker aspects of Meet Me at the Fair are lightened by director Douglas Sirk's marvelous recreations of backstage life at the turn of the century. The film is also a special treat for fans of Scatman Crothers, who is never less than terrific as Dan Dailey's sidekick. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Carole Mathews - Clara Brink; Rhys Williams - Pete McCoy; Thomas E. Jackson - Billy Gray; Russell Simpson - Sheriff Evans; George Chandler - Deputy Sheriff Leach; Virginia Brissac - Mrs. Spooner; John Maxwell - Mr. Spooner; Doris Packer - Mrs. Swaile; Edna Holland - Miss Burghey; George Spaulding - Governor; Paul Gordon - Cyclist; Iron Eyes Cody - Chief Rain-in-the-Face; Franklin Farnum - Wall Street Tycoon; Jack Gargan - District Attorney's Secretary; Donald Kerr - Stage manager; Sam Pierce - Party stooge; Max Wagner - Iceman; Harte Wayne; George Riley - M.C.; Brick Sullivan - Cop; George Arglen - Howie; Dante DiPaolo - Specialty dancer; Jon Gardner - Ed; Roger Moore - Wall Street Tycoon
