None of the songs in this film bears any relation to the story line, but few people notice because there is no story line, no plot. Nothing, beyond, Will the family go to the fair?
So why watch such a boring movie? Nostalgia.
Set in 1903-4, made in 1944, Meet Me in St. Louis is the equivalent of looking back at 1971 today, at least mathematically. 1904 must have seemed so long ago, even in 1944, and in the depths of World War II, surely the peaceful normalcy must have had great appeal with audiences.
What makes St. Louis of some interest today is that it is a very early example of a full-blown modern movie musical, and of Technicolor. There were musicals in the Thirties, but much of the music was staged, performed by performers. Gradually, beginning perhaps with The Wizard of Oz, studios shifted over to free form musicals, where singing and dancing arose spontaneously from ordinary people. Garland played a key role in the evolution of these musicals because of her top notch musical interpretations.
To get a feel for the development of the modern musical, you need to see Meet Me in St. Louis, and see other movies around this time period to get perspective. Another key musical was State Fair in 1945, the first Rodgers & Hammerstein musical on the screen. State Fair copied the device of the opening song about the fair, passed around among the characters, but otherwise was distinct. Some say St. Louis was inspired by the theme of the earlier non-musical State Fair in 1933.
When you compare the two, the music in State Fair is far more closely integrated to the story line, and is an expression of the thoughts of the characters -- the Rodgers & Hammerstein hallmark. There is some free form singing, but much of it is tied to musical performances, so it is still mostly old form. On the other hand, The Trolley Song is great fun, but the words are glaringly inconsistent with what you see on the screen. State Fair has a stronger story line, and a more elaborate, expressive dance number choreographed by Hermes Pan, during the Iowa song. There is more humor and more pathos. But it is essentially a light, escapist story, like Meet Me in St. Louis.
When I look at the two, State Fair 1945 makes me heartsick for the normalcy and decency of an America we seem to be losing, while St. Louis produces no such emotion, perhaps because it is so long ago, but mostly because it looks so artificial.
St. Louis has Garland, the charming Margaret O'Brien, demonstrating her remarkable ability to cry on cue, and Marjorie Main, performing some delightful scenes. Some people love this movie, and these are probably why. And some people just go gaga over the theatricality of musicals, the color, dancing, music, even when there is little or no plot to hold it together.
The movie opens with the main characters singing the title song. Gee, I wonder what's going to happen? The suspense is killing me! What follows is a grab bags of scenes from family life, circa 1903-04, some cute, some quaint, but mostly cliché, and some nice songs we used to sing at summer camp. Let's face it, Meet Me in St. Louis is famous for its songs, especially the Trolley Song. Take out the music, and what have you? A movie without a plot, a slice of life story.
Garland is at her best singing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. But listen to the words closely; it is not Garland in 1903, it is Garland talking about WWII:
Next year all our troubles will be miles away,
Someday soon, we all will be together
If the Fates allow
What does this have to do with the movie? The song was first published in 1943.
Without the music I would rate this movie a 3 out of 10; with it, a 5. It is highly over-rated. State Fair 1945 is almost forgotten, yet has a lot of polish and fine detail, and a story line of eternal appeal, in short, a classic, so it is highly under-rated.
Part of the contemporary 10 star hype surrounding St. Louis may be because it is a clean family movie that mostly fits the bill of Christian fundamentalists, though there is a shocking premarital kiss or two. On the other hand, I feel sorry for those who are so jaded they give it 2 stars. It's still fun, in a brainless sort of way.
By all means, see Meet Me in St. Louis. It has an important place in the history of cinema. You will probably enjoy it and hear some fine singing by Judy Garland.
If you like this type of story, you should watch the 1949 Little Women, which stars a slightly older Margaret O'Brien. Or Life with Father, 1947. Or I Remember Mama, 1948. Or even Cheaper by the Dozen. They are all semi-autobiographical stories of family life, far more interesting and better acted. A fictional family slice of life movie with O'Brien is Our Vines Have Tender Grapes, also starring Edward G. Robinson and Agnes Moorehead. It is a clean family values film that anyone can enjoy.
And for a musical on a similar family theme, see the 1945 State Fair (not to be confused with the 1963 remake). The Technicolor work is actual much more impressive, though the sound quality is not as good. It is a vastly superior film than St. Louis, which will warm your heart.
Spoiler alert:
In the last two minutes, the family finally arrives at the fair. They spend the first minute talking about where to eat, and the second exclaiming how beautiful it is. The end.
So why watch such a boring movie? Nostalgia.
Set in 1903-4, made in 1944, Meet Me in St. Louis is the equivalent of looking back at 1971 today, at least mathematically. 1904 must have seemed so long ago, even in 1944, and in the depths of World War II, surely the peaceful normalcy must have had great appeal with audiences.
What makes St. Louis of some interest today is that it is a very early example of a full-blown modern movie musical, and of Technicolor. There were musicals in the Thirties, but much of the music was staged, performed by performers. Gradually, beginning perhaps with The Wizard of Oz, studios shifted over to free form musicals, where singing and dancing arose spontaneously from ordinary people. Garland played a key role in the evolution of these musicals because of her top notch musical interpretations.
To get a feel for the development of the modern musical, you need to see Meet Me in St. Louis, and see other movies around this time period to get perspective. Another key musical was State Fair in 1945, the first Rodgers & Hammerstein musical on the screen. State Fair copied the device of the opening song about the fair, passed around among the characters, but otherwise was distinct. Some say St. Louis was inspired by the theme of the earlier non-musical State Fair in 1933.
When you compare the two, the music in State Fair is far more closely integrated to the story line, and is an expression of the thoughts of the characters -- the Rodgers & Hammerstein hallmark. There is some free form singing, but much of it is tied to musical performances, so it is still mostly old form. On the other hand, The Trolley Song is great fun, but the words are glaringly inconsistent with what you see on the screen. State Fair has a stronger story line, and a more elaborate, expressive dance number choreographed by Hermes Pan, during the Iowa song. There is more humor and more pathos. But it is essentially a light, escapist story, like Meet Me in St. Louis.
When I look at the two, State Fair 1945 makes me heartsick for the normalcy and decency of an America we seem to be losing, while St. Louis produces no such emotion, perhaps because it is so long ago, but mostly because it looks so artificial.
St. Louis has Garland, the charming Margaret O'Brien, demonstrating her remarkable ability to cry on cue, and Marjorie Main, performing some delightful scenes. Some people love this movie, and these are probably why. And some people just go gaga over the theatricality of musicals, the color, dancing, music, even when there is little or no plot to hold it together.
The movie opens with the main characters singing the title song. Gee, I wonder what's going to happen? The suspense is killing me! What follows is a grab bags of scenes from family life, circa 1903-04, some cute, some quaint, but mostly cliché, and some nice songs we used to sing at summer camp. Let's face it, Meet Me in St. Louis is famous for its songs, especially the Trolley Song. Take out the music, and what have you? A movie without a plot, a slice of life story.
Garland is at her best singing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. But listen to the words closely; it is not Garland in 1903, it is Garland talking about WWII:
Next year all our troubles will be miles away,
Someday soon, we all will be together
If the Fates allow
What does this have to do with the movie? The song was first published in 1943.
Without the music I would rate this movie a 3 out of 10; with it, a 5. It is highly over-rated. State Fair 1945 is almost forgotten, yet has a lot of polish and fine detail, and a story line of eternal appeal, in short, a classic, so it is highly under-rated.
Part of the contemporary 10 star hype surrounding St. Louis may be because it is a clean family movie that mostly fits the bill of Christian fundamentalists, though there is a shocking premarital kiss or two. On the other hand, I feel sorry for those who are so jaded they give it 2 stars. It's still fun, in a brainless sort of way.
By all means, see Meet Me in St. Louis. It has an important place in the history of cinema. You will probably enjoy it and hear some fine singing by Judy Garland.
If you like this type of story, you should watch the 1949 Little Women, which stars a slightly older Margaret O'Brien. Or Life with Father, 1947. Or I Remember Mama, 1948. Or even Cheaper by the Dozen. They are all semi-autobiographical stories of family life, far more interesting and better acted. A fictional family slice of life movie with O'Brien is Our Vines Have Tender Grapes, also starring Edward G. Robinson and Agnes Moorehead. It is a clean family values film that anyone can enjoy.
And for a musical on a similar family theme, see the 1945 State Fair (not to be confused with the 1963 remake). The Technicolor work is actual much more impressive, though the sound quality is not as good. It is a vastly superior film than St. Louis, which will warm your heart.
Spoiler alert:
In the last two minutes, the family finally arrives at the fair. They spend the first minute talking about where to eat, and the second exclaiming how beautiful it is. The end.