Meet Me in St. Louis
Release Date: 12th July 1945 - Australia
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (presents)
Genre: Musical
Rating: G
Runtime: 108 minutes
Budget: $1,885,000
Box Office Gross: $12,883,122 (Worldwide)
Plot Summary
The year is 1903; the place
is St. Louis. The wealthy
Smith family has four
daughters, including
Esther and young Tootie.
Esther, 17, has fallen
in love with John, the boy
who just moved in next
door. Initially, however,
he barely notices her.
To the family's shock,
Mr Smith announces he
lucrative position in New
York, meaning they will
have to leave St. Louis
and miss the World's Fair.
Cast
Judy Garland - Esther Smith
Margaret O'Brien - "Tootie" Smith
Leon Ames - Alonzo Smith
Mary Astor - Anna Smith
Lucille Bremer - Rose Smith
Tom Drake - Tom Truett
Marjorie Main - Katie (Maid)
Henry H. Daniels Jr. - Lon Smith, Jr.
Joan Carroll - Agnes Smith
June Lockhart - Lucille Ballard
Robert Sully - Warren Sheffield
Hugh Marlowe - Colonel Darly
Chill Wills - Mr. Neely
Crew
Director - Vincente Minnelli
Based on the Book - Sally Benson
Screenplay - Irving Brecher,
Fred F. Finklehoffe, Victor
Heerman (Uncredited),
William Ludwig (Uncredited),
and Doris Gilver (Uncredited)
Producer - Arthur Freed
Associate Producer/Music (Uncredited)/Musical
Adaptation - Roger Edens
Art Directors - Lemuel Ayers, Cedric Gibbons and Jack Martin Smith
Set Decorations - Edwin B. Willis
Costume Designer - Irene Scharaff
Makeup Creator - Jack Dawn
Director of Photography -
George J. Folsey
Dance Director - Charles Walters
Musical Director - Georgie Stoll
Songs & Lyrics - Hugh Martin 
Film Editor - Albert Akst
Recording Director - Douglas Shearer
Music (Uncredited)/
Orchestrations - Conrad Salinger
Awards
1945 Academy Awards
Juvenile Award - Margaret O'Brien (Won)
-------------------------------
Best Writing, Screenplay -
Irving Brecher and Fred F.
Finklehoffe (Nominated)
Best Music, Scoring of a Motion Picture - George Stoll (Nominated)
Best Music, Original Song "The Trolley Song" - Ralph Martin and Hugh Blaine (Nominated)
Review
A charming, entertaining vintage musical, it hasn't lost its appeal since its 1944 release. MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS was released as the war neared its end. It is a step up from those old-time MGM musicals of the 1940s and early 1950s. Producer Arthur Freed and director Vincente Minnelli deserved all the credit for the movie's production. They made this a more sincere effort for its star, Judy Garland, who had previously played a Kansas farm girl in The Wizard of Oz. She has matured and plays her part as the leading lady very well, adding refined elegance to the film. I'm still not a huge fan of her other talents, including her music. The movie has its moments, with songs such as the catchy "Trolley Song" and the melancholy "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas."
MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS is probably not my favourite movie, but it's a great musical that I must see again. In the future, you could watch the cinematic version or, if you prefer, a live stage production.
Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie
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