Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
A great film for the whole family covering all the seasons but especially the Halloween and Christmas holidays. I actually grew up in St. Louis myself though not at the turn of the 20th Century like in this film. Great songs from its star Judy Garland including the title song (around the time of the 1904 World’s Fair) the Academy Award nominated Trolley Song (#26 on AFI’s 100 Top Movie Songs of All Time) and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (#76 on AFI’s 100 Top Movie Songs of All Time) which became a Christmastime favorite after its debut in this film. The film’s musical Score received an Oscar nomination as well. Mary Astor plays the mother of the family Lucille Bremer the oldest daughter; Leon Ames is the father Tom Drake the boy next door; Marjorie Main plays the family maid Harry Davenport is Grandpa June Lockhart is a rival debutante and scene stealing Margaret O’Brien is (the youngest daughter) little ‘Tootie’. Director Vincente Minnelli met his future wife (Garland) on this set. From the novel by Sally Benson Irving Brecher and Fred Finklehoffe earned their only Oscar nominations for their screenplay; the film’s Color Cinematography was also Oscar nominated. It was added to the National Film Registry in 1994 (the year TCM was born!). #10 on AFI’s 25 Greatest Movie Musicals list.