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Judy Garland, Margaret O'Brien, Mary Astor, Lucille Bremer, Tom Drake ... see more see more... , Marjorie Main , June Lockhart , Leon Ames , Harry Davenport , Henry Daniels Jr. , Joan Carroll , Hugh Marlowe , Robert Sully , Chill Wills , Donald Curtis , Mary Jo Ellis , Helen Gilbert , Buddy Gorman , Sam Harris , Darryl Hickman , Victor Kilian , Belle Mitchell , Robert E. O'Connor , Ken Wilson , Mayo Newhall , Victor Cox , Leonard Walker

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. A... read more read more...fter 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

Flixster Users

83% liked it

35,133 ratings

Critics

100% liked it

30 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 53 min.

Directed by: Vincente Minnelli

Release Date: November 28, 1944

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DVD Release Date: April 6, 2004

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Stats: 1,620 reviews

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Meet Me In St Louis Cast Meet Me In St. Louis snow family at the fair the boy next door Meet Me In St. Louis trolley boy next door merry little christmas
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Flixster Reviews (1,620)

  • erika250
    January 28, 2011
    erika250
    Really good music but the acting and plot was lacking something .
  • Chiefilms
    December 24, 2010
    Chiefilms
    Childhood classic that gets better with age.
  • ajv2688
    October 17, 2010
    ajv2688
    A good musical with Garland, it's very sentimental and romantic and dramatic. I liked it, and if you like the combination of musical, romance, and drama, you'll like this movie too.
  • bottcorecords1
    April 2, 2010
    bottcorecords1
    Delightful film about the life of a family living in St. Louis around the time of the 1904 World's Fair. It's more noteable for it's famous songs (the title song appears no less than 100 times in the film) than for the story, which focuses on the older girls romantic relationshi... read moreps through the various holidays and parties throughout the year. The director, Vincente Minnelli, as in another of his period piece musicals "Gigi", is more interested in giving the audience a flavor of daily life and uncovering the quaint and long-forgotten customs of long ago (the children play pranks and set fires in the streets at halloween, rather than ask neighbors for candy). There's alot of charm in this film that makes one long for the old time-y family life. Meet me in St. Louie and I'll be your tootsi wootsi.
  • smith44
    March 2, 2010
    smith44
    Judy Garland singing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, one of the most touchingly beautiful film scenes ever. ESTHER SMITH (Judy Garland): "I can't believe it. Right here where we live - right here in St. Louis."
  • harrycaul
    September 20, 2007
    harrycaul
    It may not have the best songs, it may not have any dancing but this is still the greatest musical film ever made.
  • jennifxu
    August 13, 2007
    jennifxu
    Charming musical with infectious songs. You go, Judy Garland.
  • moonrivers
    July 9, 2007
    moonrivers
    okay, so maybe i only tolerate musicals for the most part...who breaks out into song or dance whenere the moment is right? maybe we should, it might be good for us...i don't really know. it's not a bad movie, no, with lots of swell sets and numbers...the chick flick before chick... read more flick was defined, eh? and chicks gotta go to the movie, too, right? right? well, why not?
  • jjnxn
    March 29, 2007
    jjnxn
    charming slice of americana
  • ceWEBrity
    February 5, 2007
    ceWEBrity
    A typical musical. I actually performed in the play version - not my favorite script in the world.

    Certainly didn't rock or change the face of musical cinema.

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Critic Reviews

Dave Kehr
December 15, 2008
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 tog... Full Review

Variety Staff
December 3, 2008
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. Full Review

Douglas Pratt
April 16, 2004
Douglas Pratt, Hollywood Reporter

The joys of the film linger with the music and encourage you to savor the true moments of family togetherness.

Bosley Crowther
May 20, 2003
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

In the words of one of the gentlemen, it is a ginger-peachy show. Full Review

Philip French
December 18, 2011
Philip French, Observer [UK]

Judy Garland has never been more spirited or more poignant. Full Review

Peter Bradshaw
December 15, 2011
Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]

An unmissable big-screen experience. Full Review

Cleaver Patterson
December 14, 2011
Cleaver Patterson, Little White Lies

The film really belongs to Garland and O'Brien. They make each scene they share pure magic, exuding an effortless confidence which lights up the screen, with the rest of the cast reduced to mere bysta... Full Review

Nell Minow
December 26, 2010
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media

One of the most loving of all movie families. Full Review

Nathaniel Rogers
March 13, 2009
Nathaniel Rogers, Film Experience

The onscreen blossoming of Judy Garland in Vincente Minnelli's career making hit. Pure heaven. Full Review

Michael E. Grost
August 26, 2006
Michael E. Grost, Classic Film and Television

Film mixes feminism with joyous color, music and composition. Full Review

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    • "Tootie" Smith: Wasn't I lucky to be born in my favourite city!
    • Esther Smith: I can't believe it. Right here where we live -- right here in St. Louis.
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Meet Me In St. Louis Trivia

  • This actress made "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" famous when she sang it first in 'Meet Me in St. Louis'...  Answer »
  • Which actress sang "The Trolley Song" in the musical movie Meet Me In St. Louis?  Answer »
  • when was meet Meet Me In St. Louis created  Answer »
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