Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) – V. Minnelli

The film projects a homey (dare I say magical) glow of warmth and nostalgia, even for a time and place that none of us ever knew (St. Louis, MO, 1903, based on a memoir by Sally Benson).  We follow the Smith Family, helmed by Leon Ames and Mary Astor, across an eventful year that culminates with the announcement that they must move to New York City.  Of course, this throws everything into chaos.  After all, daughter Esther (Judy Garland) has just begun a starry-eyed romance with handsome boy-next-door John Truett (Tom Drake).  Things aren’t quite working out for older daughter Rose (Lucille Bremer) and her hoped-for beau but she doesn’t want to leave St. Louis.  Nor do the younger kids, Tootie (Margaret O’Brien) and Agnes (Joan Carroll).  During each season, we see their lives revolve around seasonal events (Halloween, Christmas) and we get a sense of the community spirit that exists amongst kids and families.  Vincente Minnelli masterfully directs film so that the interspersed musical numbers, mainly by Garland (and featuring “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”), seem to further the plot rather than distract from it.  Technicolor works its wonders.  I’m glad I stopped by to spend some time; this is true escapist fare (although perhaps Americans might be more likely to resonate with the major plot dynamic involving a move and that might have positive or negative connotations).