Meet Me in St. Louis is quite possibly one of the most iconic musicals from the Golden Age of Hollywood. While it might feel a bit too sentimental or cloying at times, its visuals, performances, and festive spirit are worth anyone’s time.
Vincente Minnelli’s classic musical is an odd Christmas film in that, apart from including one of the most famous Christmas songs ever written, the plot does not revolve around Christmas at all. Yet, there is no denying that its overall warmth, atmosphere, and family-oriented themes embody a classic festive vibe.
The film follows a year in the life of the upper-middle-class Smith family, beginning in the summer of 1903 and culminating in the spring of 1904, just before the St. Louis World’s Fair. For a classic Hollywood studio film, Meet Me in St. Louis is somewhat unique in that it does not centre on a specific conflict. The main issue here is a father moving to New York for work, leaving his family behind in their beloved St. Louis. However, this secular plot device is introduced only halfway through the film and resolved with few significant obstacles.
Instead, Meet Me in St. Louis is told through a series of vignettes, one for each season. Each one portrays the successes and hardships of the family members. This includes the disagreements between Mum and Dad (Leon Ames and Mary Astor) and the two oldest children, Rose (Lucille Bremer) and Esther (Judy Garland), who search for love. At the same time, the two youngest, Agnes (Joan Carroll) and Tootie (Margaret O’Brien), search for security and warmth. Here, we find all the core elements of the classic coming-of-age tale long before it was labelled as such, as Minnelli dutifully adapts the short stories by Sally Benson published in The New Yorker.
As the first collaboration between Minelli and Garland, Meet Me in St. Louis is the epitome of a classic Hollywood romantic musical, with everything you would expect from the genre. The majestic settings, authentic costumes, and incredibly vibrant, gorgeous colours make it clear how high the budget must have been. At the same time, the cast is outstanding as an ensemble, with Margaret O’Brien’s 6-year-old Tootie stealing some scenes. However, this is Judy Garland’s film – her voice is incredible as she belts out the timeless classics “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “The Trolley Song”.
Meet Me in St. Louis is quite possibly one of the most iconic musicals from the Golden Age of Hollywood. While it might feel a bit too sentimental or cloying at times, its visuals, performances, and festive spirit are worth anyone’s time. It may now be considered a Christmas classic, but the film is primarily a love letter to St. Louis.
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