At the time it was made Summer Stock was a let down for Judy.  After her artistic growth (and triumphs) with the Freed Unit in the mid-to-late 40’s (Meet Me In St. Louis, Easter Parade), followed by the professional and personal lows of the late 1940’s, going into Summer Stock was a step backward to the “let’s put on a show” musicals she made with Mickey Rooney a decade earlier.  In fact, Summer Stock producer Joe Pasternak had originally wanted Rooney for the role of Joe Ross, intending the film to be a nostalgic reunion for the two stars.  But by 1949 Rooney’s box office clout had waned and Gene Kelly was offered the part. Kelly was definitely great box office, having just completed two major hits, both released in 1949: Take Me Out To The Ball Game and On The Town.  Thanks to Kelly’s guidance, On The Town was also an artistic success with its advancement of dance on screen.  Due to this, under normal circumstances Kelly would have rejected the Summer Stock script as not worthy of his talents.  But as a favor to Judy, who was his helpful champion during his film debut when they co-starred in For Me And My Gal in 1942, Kelly agreed to make the film.  He later said: “We loved her and we understood what she was going through, and I had every reason to be grateful for all the help she had given me.”