“You’ve Got Mail” (1998) is a remake of an old Jimmy Stewart movie by the name of “The Shop Around the Corner,” made in 1940. What I did not know is that “In the Good Old Summertime” is also a remake of “Shop,” filmed in 1949 and starring Van Johnson and Judy Garland.
Set around the turn of the century, “Summertime” is the story of a young man named Andrew Larkin (Van Johnson), head clerk at a music store. In his eagerness to get to the post office one morning, he runs down a young woman named Veronica Fisher (Judy Garland) ruining her dress, her hat, and umbrella. Later that afternoon when she comes into the music store looking for a job, a rivalry is created when she is able to sell a harp that he advised his boss not to purchase. Trying to outsell each other, one-upping each other at every opportunity, their relationship is so cold, it’s frigid.
Meanwhile, they are each corresponding with a mysterious friend through the mail, and, if you’ve seen either of the other two movies mentioned, you’ll know that they are writing to each other. That part of the plot plays out just like the other two films, no surprises there. What do we get from this movie that we don’t in the others? Judy Garland’s singing voice. As an employee in a music store, she is often called upon to sing a piece of sheet music for a customer as they decide whether or not to buy it. Later in the film we also see some dancing, as well.
I liked this movie quite a bit. I would say I liked it better than “Shop Around the Corner” but not quite as much as “You’ve Got Mail.” Van and Judy make a very cute couple, when they’re not fighting, and I especially liked the last scene when he tells her that he’s the one she’s been corresponding with. My only real complaint with this film was the strange title. The entire movie actually takes place in the fall and winter, with the ending scene on Christmas Eve. They throw in one tiny shot at the very end of the two of them in the summer, singing the song, just to tie it all in, but it was a clumsy attempt and I think it would have been much better to simply name the movie something else altogether. But with that off to the side, I think you’d enjoy this film.
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