Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

كًتبت بواسطة CinemaSerf في يونيو 30, 2022

The trick with this film is not to look for anything serious or complicated in it. It is an engaging early 20th century bit of Americana - a charming costume drama peppered with gentle comedy, some fantastic songs, and Judy Garland probably the most comfortable in any role that I have sever seen her play (except, perhaps in "Easter Parade" released 4 years later in 1948). The story is set across a year in the life of the well-to-do "Smith" family from St. Louis. Mary Astor and Leon Ames try to raise their daughters "Esther" (Garland), "Rose" (Lucille Bremer) and the youngest, "Tootie" (Margaret O'Brien), whom I have to say stole most of the scenes the she was in (and I really don't like children in films). It tackles courtship - and a fairly clumsily carried out courtship at that - with Tom Drake ("Truett") and the poor men in the family - son "Lon Jr." (Henry Daniels) and "Grandpa" (Harry Davenport) are consistently run rings around... "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", "The Trolley Song" and "Skip to My Lou" keep the toes-a-tapping - well maybe not the first one, so much - and the ensemble provide for a colourful, entertaining piece of cinema that Vincente Minnelli can be proud of. Sure it is a bit gloopy at times, but that's part of the overall sentiment of the film so if you have any cynical bones in your body - perhaps this is not for you.