The Harvey Girls (1946)
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100% of critics liked it
(8 reviews) -
78% of users liked it
(5,614 ratings)
This glorified Technicolor commercial for the Fred Harvey restaurants stars Judy Garland as a 19th-century mail-order bride. Upon arriving in New Mexico, Garland discovers that her husband-to-be is the town drunk. She cuts her losses and takes a job at the local Harvey restaurant, an establishment… More This glorified Technicolor commercial for the Fred Harvey restaurants stars Judy Garland as a 19th-century mail-order bride. Upon arriving in New Mexico, Garland discovers that her husband-to-be is the town drunk. She cuts her losses and takes a job at the local Harvey restaurant, an establishment which endeavors to bring a little civilization and class to the wide open spaces. Harvey's operation is challenged by saloon-owner John Hodiak, corrupt-judge Preston S. Foster, and local-madam Angela Lansbury. With the help of tenderfoot Ray Bolger, Garland and her fellow waitresses foil the corrupt elements in town. Prominent in the supporting cast are Cyd Charisse, Marjorie Main, Chill Wills, Kenny Baker and Virginia O'Brien (whose musical numbers aren't quite as rambunctious as the contributions of the others, mainly because O'Brien was pregnant during filming). The songs are for the most part perfunctory, with the spectacular exception of the Harry Warren and Johnny Mercer's Oscar-winning "Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe." The Harvey Girls is tenuously based on a more sober-sided historical volume by Samuel Hopkins Adams. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- George Sidney II
- Written By
- Edmund Beloin, Nathaniel Curtis, Harry Crane, James O'Hanlon, Samson Raphaelson
- Genres
- Western, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics, Comedy
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1946 Wide
- Studio
- MGM Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
George Sidney's musical western is a joyous, fictionalized tribute to the New England femmes who went out West to bring culture and food; best song is On the Atchison, Topeka, Santa Fe, which won an Oscar.
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Nathaniel Rogers, Film Experience
Though this creaky musical hasn't aged well, its peak moments are delightful: Dorothy and her Scarecrow reunited, "On the Atchison Topeka and the Santa Fe" and Garland's gift for physical comedy.
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Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Not quite top line Garland, but very much fun with a good score.
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Nick Davis, Nick's Flick Picks
Perhaps not a musical for the ages, but a larkish and exuberant joy all the same.
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Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
One classic song does not a good musical make
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Judy Garland
as Susan Bradley
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John Hodiak
as Ned Trent
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Ray Bolger
as Chris Maule
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Angela Lansbury
as Em
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Marjorie Main
as Sonora Cassidy
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Preston S. Foster
as Judge Sam Purvis
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Cyd Charisse
as Deborah
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Virginia O'Brien
as Alma
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Kenny Baker
as Terry O'Halloran
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Chill Wills
as H.H. Hartsey
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Selena Royle
as Miss Bliss
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Ruth Brady
as Ethel
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Jack Lambert
as Marty Peters
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Edward Earle
as Jed Adams
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Morris Ankrum
as Rev. Claggett
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William 'Bill' Phillips
as First Cowboy
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Ben Carter
as John Henry
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Norman Leavitt
as Cowboy
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Horace McNally
as Goldust McClean
- Hazel Brooks
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Vernon Dent
as Engineer
- Mary Jo Ellis
- Dorothy Gilmore
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Gloria Hope
as Harvey Girl
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Virginia Hunter
as Jane
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Mitchell Lewis
as Sandy
- Peggy Maley
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Catherine McLeod
as Louise
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Robert E. O'Connor
as Conductor
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Ray Teal
as Conductor
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Jim Toney
as Mule Skinner
- Bunny Waters
- Jacqueline White
- Eve Whitney
- Lucille Casey
- Kay English
- Mary Jane French
- Daphne Moore
- Erin O'Kelly
- Dorothy Tuttle
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Dallas Worth
as Dance Hall Girl
