In St. Louis, Missouri, on the brink of the 1904 World's Fair, the well-off Smith family are living a comfortable life. Mr. Alonzo Smith (Leon Ames) and Mrs. Anna Smith (Mary Astor) have four beautiful daughters: Esther (Judy Garland), Rose (Lucille Bremer), Agnes (Joan Carroll) and Tootie (Margaret O'Brien); and a son, Lon Jr. (Henry H. Daniels, Jr.) 17-year old Esther has fallen in love with the boy next door who has just moved in, John Truitt (Tom Drake). However, her chances of romancing him don't go exactly to plan. The family is soon shocked when Alonzo reveals that he has been offered a nice position in New York, which means that the family may have to leave St. Louis and the St. Louis Fair.
Released in 1944, Meet Me in St. Louis is a captivating musical from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film is perfect MGM, and Vincente Minnelli directs it with panache; allowing the camera to flow through the scenes, picking up every detail. The cinematography, set direction, costumes, songs--everything is perfection. The film has this magical way of captivating the viewer and winning them over. It is a pure delight from start to finish. The acting is excellent especially the luminous Judy Garland. Judy and Vincente met on this film, married a year later and the year after that had their first child, Liza. The way he directs Judy is almost a valentine to her talents. The rest of the cast is also on par. Mary Astor and Leon Ames give sterling support as the parents, while Marjorie Main and Margaret O'Brien steal almost every scene they are in as mouthy the cook, Katie, and the adorable youngest sister, Tootie.
The film displays an idealized homely complacency with ingredients so fine that one cannot help but be enchanted. Part of the film’s success can be attributed to the songs. The most fun song is The Trolley Song which was directed in one take, but perhaps one of the most popular tunes (Christmas and otherwise) is Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, which originated here. The song has become a yuletide classic, and the context in which it is portrayed in the film fits perfectly. Viewing the film, one realizes that all of the musical numbers, while showstopping on some level, are never over the top, and appear seamlessly as part of the story.
Terrific in many ways, the film is charming and fun and never getting bogged down by its running time, it is highly entertaining. Since the film encompasses a year in the life of the Smith family, it is not necessarily a “Christmas movie” but more of a holiday movie. It is a picture which can be watched anytime of the year, yet it evokes a nostalgic feeling that is so genuinely Christmas that one cannot help but watch it specifically at that time of the year. With memorable music, great direction and a talented cast, Meet Me in St. Louis is a captivating musical portraying young love and childish fears and is a delightful antidote to the harshness and cynicism of the world.
- Directed by--Vincente Minnelli
- Produced by--Arthur Freed
- Written by--Irving Brecher, Fred F. Finklehoffe, Sally Benson (Story by)
- Starring--Judy Garland, Margaret O'Brien, Mary Astor and Leon Ames
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