Meet Me in St. Louis-1944
Director Vincente Minnelli
Starring Judy Garland
Top 250 Films #83
Scott’s Review #845
Reviewed December 19, 2018
Grade: A
With talents such as Vincente Minnelli and Judy Garland involved in a project, it is tough for the results not to be resounding, and this is the case with Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), a treasured musical with enough songs and melodrama to last a lifetime.
The film is a lively and earnest achievement from both stars when each was at their prime. It is rich in flavor and contains a myriad of good touches.
Meet Me in St. Louis is an ensemble piece featuring many actors, but the film belongs to Garland for the musical numbers alone. The film is groundbreaking and sets the tone for the slew of MGM musicals to follow during the 1950s and 1960s.
The film is considered one of the greatest and most memorable musicals of all time, and I share this sentiment.
The story revolves around the upper-middle-class Smith family, set in 1903, St. Louis. In its lovely form, the film has been composed of seasonal vignettes for over a year.
Trials and tribulations erupt, especially involving the romantic entanglements of eldest sisters Rose (Lucille Bremer) and Esther (Garland), as well as the possibility of the family relocating to New York City.
Rose and Esther are two of the siblings, along with the Smith parents, Grandpa, and Katie, the maid.
The household is filled with glee, music, and heartbreak.
The film’s setup is a considerable success, eliciting a warm sensation. As the title card reads, “Summer 1903,” we are welcomed into a sunny and picturesque street, set against the backdrop of St. Louis, which is perfectly midwestern.
The Smith home is showcased, and the viewer is welcomed into the idyllic world of a bonded family.
Meet Me in St. Louis feels homespun and like a good best friend. It can be watched and re-watched often, regardless of the season, as it features a summer fair, a spooky Halloween sequence, and a dazzling Christmastime segment.
Other than Esther, the most memorable and fascinating character is Tootie (Margaret O’Brien). O’Brien gives a startlingly good performance and packs an emotional wallop, enriching a character arguably interpreted as obsessed with death with some needed humor.
She buries her dolls on a dare and throws flour in a man’s face on Halloween, thereby “killing” him.
Her most significant scene, though, occurs during a meltdown when Tootie destroys her beloved snowmen on the family lawn. The actress portrays such rage and despair during this scene that it is easy to forget, at the time, how young she was.
She was honored with an honorary Oscar for her efforts.
The musical numbers by Garland are absolute treasures. Highlights include “The Trolley Song,” performed as Esther rides the afternoon trolley across town, hoping that the boy next door with whom she is madly in love, John (Tom Drake), will be on the same trolley.
The gorgeously performed number “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” is my favorite. Following a lavish Christmas Eve ball, Esther sings the song to Tootie, and nestled within its lyrics are emotions such as hope and sadness.
Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) is a film that has it all and can be enjoyed by audiences of all ages. With memorable musical numbers, romance, drama, and a wholesome, timeless sensibility, it is a favorite that deserves to be revisited.
Like the finest wines, this film improves with age.
Oscar Nominations: Best Screenplay, Best Scoring of a Musical Picture, Best Song-“The Trolley Song”, Best Cinematography, Color
