Meet Me in St. Louis

( 14 )

Overview

Sally Benson's short stories about the turn-of-the-century Smith family of St. Louis were tackled by a battalion of MGM screenwriters, who hoped to find a throughline to connect the anecdotal tales. After several false starts one of which proposed that the eldest Smith daughter be kidnapped and held for ransom, the result was the charming valentine-card musical Meet Me in St. Louis. The plot hinges on the possibility that Alonzo Smith Leon Ames, the family's banker father, might uproot the Smiths to New York, ...
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Overview

Sally Benson's short stories about the turn-of-the-century Smith family of St. Louis were tackled by a battalion of MGM screenwriters, who hoped to find a throughline to connect the anecdotal tales. After several false starts one of which proposed that the eldest Smith daughter be kidnapped and held for ransom, the result was the charming valentine-card musical Meet Me in St. Louis. The plot hinges on the possibility that Alonzo Smith Leon Ames, the family's banker father, might uproot the Smiths to New York, scuttling his daughter Esther Judy Garland's romance with boy-next-door John Truett Tom Drake and causing similar emotional trauma for the rest of the household. In a cast that includes Mary Astor as Ames' wife, Lucille Bremer as another Ames daughter, and Marjorie Main as the housekeeper, the most fascinating character is played by 6-year-old Margaret O'Brien. As kid sister Tootie, O'Brien seems morbidly obsessed with death and murder, burying her dolls, "killing" a neighbor at Halloween she throws flour in the flustered man's face on a dare, and maniacally bludgeoning her snowmen when Papa announces his plans to move to New York. Margaret O'Brien won a special Oscar for her remarkable performance, prompting Lionel Barrymore to grumble "Two hundred years ago, she would have been burned at the stake!" The songs are a heady combination of period tunes and newly minted numbers by Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin, the best of which are "The Boy Next Door," "The Trolley Song," and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." As a bonus, Meet Me in St. Louis is lensed in rich Technicolor, shown to best advantage in the climactic scenes at the St. Louis World's Fair of 1904.
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Special Features

Introduction by Liza Minelli; Audio commentary by Garland Biographer John Fricke with Margaret O'Brien, Composer Hugh Martin, Screenwriter Irving Brecher and Barbara Freed-Saltzman; Lux radio theater broadcast (Audio only); Music-only audio track
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Editorial Reviews

All Movie Guide - Richard Gilliam
Meet Me in St. Louis is a "family values" exercise in traditional Americana, following the life of a midwest family as the World's Fair comes to early 20th century St. Louis. There are songs, family crises, more songs, more crises, and more songs. The highlight of the film is Judy Garland's singing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."" Meet Me in St. Louis was the first team-up for Garland and director Vincente Minnelli, whom Garland would go on to marry, producing their daughter Liza Minnelli, though they would divorce six years later, in 1951. Minnelli's talent for handling complex set pieces works well in this film, as does the lively Technicolor cinematography of George Folsey. At least some of the credit should go to songwriter turned producer Arthur Freed for his excellent work in bringing together the proper talent. Freed also doubled as the singing voice of actor Leon Ames. One piece of Hollywood backstage lore -- that this was the film for which the director (Minnelli) resorted to telling a child actress (Margaret O'Brien) that her dog had been run over and killed, in order to get her to cry properly in the next scene to be shot -- has since been denied by O'Brien. The actress recently told Turner Classic Movies' Robert Osborne that her impetus for crying in the scene was hearing (from her mother) that actress Jane Powell wouldn't have any problem drumming up tears. O'Brien - fiercely competitive with Powell -- then wept on camera without any problem. She cried at full volume, and she later received a special Oscar for her performance.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 12/13/2011
  • UPC: 883929189717
  • Original Release: 1944

    • Rating:

  • Source: Warner Home Video
  • Presentation: Remastered
  • Time: 1:53:00
  • Format: Blu-ray
  • Sales rank: 9,993

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Judy Garland Esther Smith
Margaret O'Brien "Tootie" Smith
Mary Astor Mrs. Anne Smith
Lucille Bremer Rose Smith
Tom Drake John Truett
Marjorie Main Katie the Maid
June Lockhart Lucille Ballard
Leon Ames Mr. Alonzo Smith
Harry Davenport Grandpa Prophater
Henry Daniels Jr. Lon Smith, Jr.
Joan Carroll Agnes Smith
Hugh Marlowe Col. Darly
Robert Sully Warren Sheffield
Chill Wills Mr. Neely
Victor Cox Driver
Donald Curtis Dr. Terry
Mary Jo Ellis Ida Boothby
Helen Gilbert Girl on Trolley
Buddy Gorman
Major Sam Harris Mr. March
Darryl Hickman Johnny Tevis
Victor Kilian Baggage Man
Belle Mitchell Mrs. Braukoff
Mayo Newhall Mr. Braukoff
Robert E. O'Connor Conductor
Leonard Walker Conductor
Ken Wilson Quentin
Technical Credits
Vincente Minnelli Director
Albert Akst Editor
Lemuel Ayers Art Director
Ralph Blane Score Composer
Irving Brecher Screenwriter
Fred F. Finklehoffe Screenwriter
George Folsey Cinematographer
Arthur Freed Producer
Cedric Gibbons Art Director
Paul Huldschinsky Set Decoration/Design
Hugh Martin Score Composer
Irene Sharaff Costumes/Costume Designer
George Stoll Score Composer, Musical Direction/Supervision
Charles Walters Choreography
Edwin B. Willis Set Decoration/Design
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 14 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(10)

4 Star

(1)

3 Star

(2)

2 Star

(1)

1 Star

(0)

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Sort by: Showing all of 14 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Delightful!

    The cover on this DVD says this isthe "Two-Disc Special Edition". It'slike getting two movies in one! Iwon't get into the plot, as theformal reviews here cover that. I dobelieve this is THE movie to see forviewing a radiant Judy Garland anddarling Margaret O'Brien. This is arestored version and today's hi-techhas done the picture a great service.Colors are wonderful, the transferis clean. The movie also serves as away to appreciate musicals whenmusicals are not your forté. It'san upbeat picture, great escape andfine showcase of Hollywood costuming.The bonus features on the 2nd discare an entirely different mode. Youcan watch Judy Garland "changing" through trailers of her many movies.You also learn a bit about MargaretO'Brien, Mickey Rooney, the formerHollywood studio movie system, andother tidbits about the starsAmerica loved. The various trailersare NOT restored, and it's easy tosee how original film has deteriorated and makes you mostappreciative of the restoration jobachieved for Meet Me In St.Louis.This DVD edition is highly recommended for those interested inan alternative to The Wizard of Ozwhen an example of Judy Garland'smovie work is desired.

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted October 1, 2010

    I Also Recommend:

    Easter Parade
    Summer Stock
    For Me and My Gal
    The Harvey Girls

    One of Judy's finest

    Meet Me in St. Louis is one of Judy Garland's best films. The story travels a year from fall to summer in the Victorian era as St. Louis prepares for the World's Fair. The viewer is drawn into the life of the Smith family over the course of that year as the family celebrates Halloween, Christmas and family situations between father, mother and daughters. The movie is funny, entertaining but best of all has Judy. I heard once that Margaret O'Brien attempted to steal the scene several times in this movie. Not sure if it is true, but I can see it, Judy keeps up with her and stays in character. Judy Garland was a phenomenal actress. There was just something about her performances. She was comfortable behind the camera, a great comic, yet you could see her vulnerable side. When she sang, she became the song. That's what made all her movies great. There is no one like Judy.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted October 1, 2010

    I Also Recommend:

    Anne of Green Gables - Collector's Edition

    Classic Family Movie

    Great holiday and family scenes. Wonderful snapshot of life in a more innocent time. Wonderful Christmas ball with dance cards - why don't we celebrate like this anymore? Love the house.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    One of the essentials

    Here is a classic film that should be mandatory viewing for film buffs and family film enthusiasts. After 60 years and counting, it retains its artistic beauty, and glowing performance by Judy Garland...it introduces the classic Trolley Song and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. Added to this enjoyment is a 'time capsule' view of a bygone era of American life. It is timeless, and to be cherished.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    A reviewer

    this was another film i had watched in class and it was not bad, some of the songs were familar though i never knew where i had heard it from and now i know from this film. the story's about a family who ponders a move to a place new to them and leaving their beloved town that they grew up in and are starting to find love and etc.

    0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 19, 2011

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    Posted June 2, 2012

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    Posted May 8, 2010

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    Posted October 28, 2008

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    Posted May 7, 2010

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    Posted February 23, 2009

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 4, 2011

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    Posted September 16, 2011

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    Posted December 27, 2009

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Sort by: Showing all of 14 Customer Reviews