Meet Me In St. Louis (1944)
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100% of critics liked it
(29 reviews) -
83% of users liked it
(35,970 ratings)
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… More 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. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Vincente Minnelli
- Written By
- Sally Benson, Irving Brecher, Fred F. Finklehoffe
- Genres
- Drama, Kids & Family, Romance, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics
- In Theaters
- Nov 28, 1944 Limited
- Studio
- MGM
Critic Reviews
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Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
One of the first films to integrate musical numbers into the plot, it explores, without condescension or simplemindedness, the feelings that drive the family members apart and then bring them back together again.
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Variety Staff, Variety
Garland achieves true stature with her deeply understanding performance, while her sisterly running-mate, Lucille Bremer, likewise makes excellent impact with a well-balanced performance.
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David Jenkins, Time Out
One of the great musicals.
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Douglas Pratt, Hollywood Reporter
The joys of the film linger with the music and encourage you to savor the true moments of family togetherness.
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Bosley Crowther, New York Times
In the words of one of the gentlemen, it is a ginger-peachy show.
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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Judy Garland
as Esther Smith
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Margaret O'Brien
as "Tootie" Smith
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Mary Astor
as Mrs. Anne Smith
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Lucille Bremer
as Rose Smith
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Tom Drake
as John Truett
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Marjorie Main
as Katie the Maid
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June Lockhart
as Lucille Ballard
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Leon Ames
as Mr. Alonzo Smith
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Harry Davenport
as Grandpa Prophater
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Henry Daniels Jr.
as Lon Smith Jr.
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Joan Carroll
as Agnes Smith
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Hugh Marlowe
as Col. Darly
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Robert Sully
as Warren Sheffield
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Chill Wills
as Mr. Neely
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Donald Curtis
as Dr. Terry
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Mary Jo Ellis
as Ida Boothby
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Helen Gilbert
as Girl on Trolley
- Buddy Gorman
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Sam Harris
as Mr. March
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Darryl Hickman
as Johnny Tevis
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Victor Kilian
as Baggage Man
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Belle Mitchell
as Mrs. Braukoff
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Robert E. O'Connor
as Conductor
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Ken Wilson
as Quentin
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Mayo Newhall
as Mr. Braukoff
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Victor Cox
as Driver
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Leonard Walker
as Conductor



