BT1886

In the Good Old Summertime

As much as I like to think of myself as an enjoyer of film, old Hollywood remains one of the most unexplored eras in my journey. In the Good Old Summertime marks my first encounter with both Judy Garland (yes, I still haven’t seen The Wizard of Oz, I know) and Van Johnson. While the film as a whole doesn’t entirely work, the interactions between both Veronica and Andrew carry what little weight the story has—not that they’re particularly extraordinary, but they’re certainly the highlights. The film’s biggest flaw lies in the distracted nature of its direction. Robert Z. Leonard’sromance feels scattered, constantly shifting attention away from the central pair to shoehorn in painfully unfunny comedy bits with side characters, never allowing the story to fully capitalize on its leads’ charm. In the Good Old Summertime is far from a cult classic in the making, nor is it particularly memorable, funny, or, well, good. If there’s one surprising aspect in the film, it’s watching Buster Keaton steal a few moments with his pratfalls. • Watched on 2024 — Ranked (https://boxd.it/rMle4)