Movie Info
Movie Name: Meet Me in St. Louis
Studio: MGM
Genre(s): Musical/Family/Seasonal
Release Date(s): November 28, 1944
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Leaving St. Louis?
The 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition World Fair and St. Louis is getting ready. The holidays are coming and the Smith family is preparing for what could be St. Louis’ biggest year. The Smiths’ daughter Rose (Lucille Bremer) is hoping for a marriage proposal. Esther (Judy Garland) loves the new boy next door John Truitt (Tom Drake). The Smiths learn however that they might not be in St. Louis when their father Alonzo Smith (Leon Ames) gets word that he is transferring to New York City after Christmas.
Meet Me in St. Louis was directed by Vincent Minnelli (and introduced him to his future wife Judy Garland) and based on the Sally Benson’s New Yorker stories. The movie is a musical but most of the music is actually incorporated into the movie with the characters really singing songs within the story (as opposed to a traditional musical where the numbers happen out of context of story…the characters stop and sing).
Clang, Clang, Clang went the trolley!
Despite being a great movie by itself, Meet Me in St. Louis has gained notoriety due to the introduction of one of Christmas’ greatest holiday tunes…and it almost didn’t happen.
Meet Me in St. Louis is one of those “faux” holiday movies. There is a bizarre Halloween scene where an early version of Halloween involves children running around unsupervised starting fight fires and “killing” people by throwing flour in their faces. The main holiday scene is the Christmas scene which gave us one of the best Christmas songs ever. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” was almost deemed too depressing for the movie and the line “have yourself a merry little Christmas…It could be your last” was changed.
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Judy Garland does a nice job. She almost didn’t take the role because she was tired of playing kids by this point. She is backed by a nice supporting cast by playing her odd family especially by her younger sister Tootie (Margaret O’Brien) who has a nice scene at Halloween and the classic “Have Yourself a Merry Christmas” scene.
Meet Me in St. Louis is a good holiday movie and a good movie in general. It is a rather modern feel with a classic musical look. The musical aspect might turn some off but younger kids will enjoy it along with adults. It has a nice bright Technicolor look and should be checked out if you’ve never seen it.
