
DespiteitsebullienttitleandthepresenceoflightweightdancingstarDanDailey,MeetMeattheFairhasalotmoremeatonitsbonesthanmostmusicalsoftheearly1950s.Daileyplaysanearly-1900smedicineshowhucksterwhofindshimselfthereluctantguardianoforphanageescapeeChetAllen.Ashegrowsfondoftheboy,Daileybecomesdeterminedtothwartthecorruptsystemthatallowssubstandardorphanasylumstooperatewhilepoliticalhacksgetrichongovernmentfunding.Daileywinstheconfidence(andlove)oforphancommitteememberDianaLynn,whohelpstofoilthemachinationsofcrookeddistrictattorneyHughO'Brien.ThedarkeraspectsofMeetMeattheFairarelightenedbydirectorDouglasSirk'smarvelousrecreationsofbackstagelifeattheturnofthecentury.ThefilmisalsoaspecialtreatforfansofScatmanCrothers,whoisneverlessthanterrificasDanDailey'ssidekick.






