Wednesday, April 30, 2014

April - Meet Me In St. Louis

Today’s movie is a musical with a scene that happens on April 30. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS              

In St. Louis, Missouri  Alonso and Anna Smith have four daughters Rose, Esther, Agnes, Tootie and a son Lon, Jr. Esther loves the boy next door, John and Rose loves Warren. On Halloween Tootie returns home saying John attacked her. Esther berates him. Tootie later confesses that in fact John protected her and Agnes from the police when a prank of theirs went wrong. Rose rushes to apologize to John and they share a kiss.   When Mr. Smith announces that due to his job they are all moving to New York the girls are devastated about leaving their beaux. John can’t take Esther to the Christmas Eve ball as he’s left his tuxedo at the cleaners and can’t get it back. Her grandfather takes her instead. There she fills up a perceived rival’s dance card with losers, but has to switch with her when Esther learns the girl likes her brother and not John. John retrieves his tux and dances at the ball with Esther. Mr. Smith says they won’t be moving. The family visits the St. Louis World’s Fair on opening day, April 30, 1904 [1:49:02 to 1:52:36] where John and Warren propose to Esther and Rose, ensuring a happy ending.   
                       
One of the classic MGM musicals. They don’t make ‘em like this anymore. Sentimental but watchable.
                    
American Decades 1900-1909 ed by Vincent Tompkins (Gale Research, Inc., Detroit, MI, 1996) at page 25 gives the date the fair opened

Producer - Arthur Freed

Director -  Vincente Minnelli

Screenplay - Irving Brecher and Fred Finklehoff

Awards - The film was nominated for the Best Cinematography, Best Original Music Score, Best Song and Best Adapted Screenplay Oscars at the 17th Academy Awards

Running Time – 1 hour 53 minutes

Released - November 28, 1944

Starring -         

Judy Garland as Esther Smith
Margaret O'Brien as "Tootie" Smith
Mary Astor as Mrs. Anna Smith
Lucille Bremer as Rose Smith
Tom Drake as John Truett
Leon Ames  as Mr. Alonzo Smith
Harry Davenport as Grandpa
June Lockhart as Lucille Ballard
Tom Sully as Warren Sheffield

Copyright by Ivan Walters 2014.





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