"Meet Me In St. Louis" is today's film and one of my favorites! This 1944 movie is stuffed with great music. Director Vincente Minnelli chose Judy Garland for the lead in this musical. This is a full cast though: Mary Astor, Margaret O'Brien, Lucille Bremer, Leon Ames, Tom Drake, and Marjorie Main, just to name a few. This is a musical that will stand the test of time, and continue to be one of the most beloved of all.
This movie is about a year in the life of the Smith family of St. Louis from 1903-1904, when the World's Fair was there. Garland plays Esther Smith, while Lucille Bremer plays Rose. These are the two oldest daughters in the Smith family, and whose love lives the movie revolves around, while incorporating other family story lines. The story begins in the summer. Esther is in love with John, who lives next door-enter song "The Boy Next Door." She plots to meet him at a party. After this comes the Trolley Song! Half these songs will be stuck in your heads for days. Next comes the autumn. This is the wonderful Halloween story. We get to see how the holiday was celebrated at the turn of the century and we get to see more of the younger Smith sisters. Tootie and Agnes are feisty tomboys! This is also when John kisses Esther and when father Smith lets the family know he has been transferred. The family will be moving to New York. This announcement does not go the way he had planned. They are shocked and unhappy. The family loves St. Louis. But Mother Smith comes around in support of her husband...enter song "You and I"...and the family follows suit. The winter comes and Christmas is a time of celebration and sadness as the family prepares to move. At the dance, we get to see Esther dancing hilariously with some interesting dance partners. After the Christmas dance, where Rose becomes reacquainted with Warren Sheffield and Lon gets his girl, too, John proposes to Esther to stay together. Tootie saddened...enter "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"...has a meltdown and gives Father a wakeup call. Money and promotions aren't everything. The family decides to stay in St. Louis!! And Rose gets engaged! The finale is shown in the spring of 1904 with the family visiting the St. Louis World's Fair and hearing the famous song.
Vincente Minnelli and Judy Garland were married for a time. Personally they did not last, but professionally they worked very well together. This is a great movie for any ages. I recommend it over and over again!!
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