Classic Movies - MGM Musicals and Christmas Classics: Meet Me in St. Louis

We would like to wrap up our month of MGM Musicals, and begin our new month with a Christmas classic all in one film. The movie we would like to feature in today's post is probably one of our favorites - Meet Me In St. Louis (1944). Even though the Christmas season is short-lived in this film, it is still one the the most memorable Christmas scenes debuting a Christmas song which has been sung and re-recorded by many singing artists throughout the years, and has become one of America's favorite, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas".

Meet Me In St. Louis is a romantic musical film from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer which tells the story of four sisters and a brother living in St. Louis at the time of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition World's Fair in 1904. It stars Judy Garland, Margaret O'Brien, Mary Astor, Lucille Bremer, Tom Drake, Leon Ames, Marjorie Main, June Lockhart, and Joan Carroll, and was released by MGM. The movie was adapted by Irving Brecher and Fred F. Finklehoffe from a series of short stories by Sally Benson, originally published in The New Yorker magazine, and later in the novel 5135 Kensington.

The film was directed by Vincente Minnelli, who met his future wife, Judy Garland, on the set. In the film, Garland debuted the standards "The Trolley Song" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", which both became hits after the film was released. Another wonderful song, "The Boy Next Door", is Judy Garland at her best.

Meet Me in St. Louis is a heart-warming story about the Smith family, who lead a comfortable middle-class life in St. Louis, Missouri. Mr. Alonzo Smith (Ames) and Mrs. Anna Smith (Astor) have four daughters: Rose (Bremer), Esther (Garland), Agnes (Carroll), and Tootie (O'Brien); and a son, Lon Jr. (Henry H. Daniels Jr.) The film highlights a year in the life of the Smith family, beginning in the summer of 1903. Esther, the second eldest daughter, is in love with the boy next door, John Truett (Drake), although he does not notice her at first. Rose is expecting a phone call in which she hopes to be proposed to by Warren Sheffield (Robert Sully). Agnes has been keeping cool at the swimming hole. Tootie is delightful on the ice wagon helping Mr. Neely (Chill Wills) deliver ice to his customers. The Smith household are anticipating the upcoming World's Fair in St. Louis, echoing the song throughout the opening scenes, Meet Me in St. Louis.

The fall season arrives and Esther finally gets to meet John properly when he is a guest at the Smith's house party, although her chances of romancing him don't go to plan. Agnes and Tootie are up to mischief on Halloween, which is one of our favorite scenes of the movie. Tootie is declared "The Most Horrible" from all the neighborhood kids because of her bravery. After all the chaos from the young Smith girl's prank, the family enjoys each other's company while having cake made by their maid, Katie (Main). Then Mr. Smith announces to the family that he is to be sent to New York on business and eventually they will all move. The family is devastated and upset at the news of the move, especially Rose and Esther whose romances, friendships, and educational plans are threatened. Esther is also aghast because they will miss the World's Fair. But father insists that they will move shortly after Christmas. Everyone in the Smith household deems Mr. Smith as a villian and leaves him alone to eat the cake, but Anna consoles him. As Alonzo and Anna sing a duet, one by one the family decides to join them.

Meet Me in St. Louis forwards to the next season, Christmas. The family has been packing and preparing for their move. An elegant ball takes place on Christmas Eve. Esther is devastated when John cannot take her as his date, due to his leaving his tuxedo at the tailor's and being unable to get it back. But she is relieved when her grandfather (Harry Davenport) offers to take her instead. While dancing with Grandpa, she is overwhelmed when John unexpectedly turns up after somehow managing to obtain a tuxedo, and the pair dance together for the rest of the evening, followed by a marriage proposal. Esther returns home to an upset Tootie. She sings her "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". Tootie, however, does become more upset at the prospect of the family's move and runs downstairs, out into the cold to destroy the snowman they have made. Mr. Smith sees his daughter's upsetting outburst.

Mr. Smith later announces that the family will not leave St. Louis after all when he realizes how much the move will affect his family. He also discovers that St. Louis is a wonderful city, with the 1904 World's Fair just around the corner. John declares his love for Esther and Warren declares his love for Rose and together they state that they will marry at the first possible opportunity. And all of the family finally are able to attend the World's Fair in the spring season.

We highly recommend Meet Me in St. Louis. It is a wonderfully, inspiring movie. The music is great - mixed with romance, laughter and emotions, Meet Me in St. Louis is one of the finest musicals ever made. This film holds a special place in our hearts because we live only 40 miles away from St. Louis! Read "Let's Talk Classic Movies" every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for more classic movie presentations and trivia.

**Trivia Question for Today: Who was originally cast as John Truett in Meet Me in St. Louis?

Bonus Trivia: The house at 5135 Kensington Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri was the actual home of Sally Benson, author of the short stories that Meet Me in St. Louis was based on. There was another well-known movie of the 1940s that used this same house for a family based on a true story. What was the name of the film?

Trivia Answer for Previous Post: Liza Minnelli appears in the final scene of In the Good Old Summertime. She's the little girl with Van Johnson and her mother, Judy Garland.

Classic Movies - Famous Child Star: Margaret O'Brien - Little Women

Starring
June Allyson
Peter Lawford
Margaret O'Brien
Elizabeth Taylor
Janet Leigh

and
Mary Astor

Today let's conclude talk Classic Movie Child Star - Margaret O'Brien. We are going to skip ahead a few years to 1949. The featured movie for today is Little Women. Louisa May Alcott's beloved novel is brought to life by a stellar cast: June Allyson, Peter Lawford, Margaret O'Brien, Elizabeth Taylor, Janet Leigh, Mary Astor, Rossano Brazzi, Lucile Watson, C. Aubrey Smith, Leon Ames, and Harry Davenport.

Little Women is an autobiographical account of Alcott's life with her three sisters in Concord, Massachusettes in the 1860s. Set in New England during the Civil War, Little Women chronicles the lives and loves of four sisters. Meg, Josephine, Amy and Beth March are the little women who, together with their mother "Marmee" (Astor), keep the home fires burning while their father (Ames) serves with the Union army. The March ladies must rely on each other for strength as they face tragedies both large and small. Meg (Leigh), the eldest, is a second mother to the troupe while "Jo" (Allyson), the tomboy, takes on the role of man of the house in the absense of their father. Amy (Taylor) is proud and yearns for the good things in life, and Beth (O'Brien), the youngest and frailest of the four, overcomes her shyness as she seeks comfort in gentle music. Little Women is a simple tale of four young girls coming to womanhood, finding love and their place in the world. In the novel, Amy is the youngest sister, but in order to use Margaret O'Brien as Beth, Beth was made the youngest in the 1949 version of Little Women.

We highly recommend watching Little Women. There have been several versions made throughout the years that are exceptional. Our favorite versions are the 1933 and 1949 versions. Read "Let's Talk Classic Movies" for more classic movie presentations and trivia.

**Trivia Question for Today: The basket that Margaret O'Brien carries around in Little Women is the same basket that was carried in a previous movie. What was the name of the movie and who carried it?

Bonus Trivia: In which scene in Little Women did June Allyson actually cry real tears?

Trivia Answer for Previous Post: Van Johnson was originally cast as John Truett in Meet Me in St. Louis.

Bonus Trivia Answer for Previous Post: The house at 5135 Kensington Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri was the actual home of Sally Benson, author of the short stories that Meet Me in St. Louis was based on. Cheaper By The Dozen (1950) was the other well-known movie that used this same house for the Gilbreth family's house set in Montclair, New Jersey.

Classic Movies - Famous Child Star: Margaret O'Brien - Meet Me In St. Louis

Judy Garland and

Margaret O'Brien - 1944

Today we will continue to talk Classic Movie Child Star - Margaret O'Brien. The movie we would like to feature in today's post is probably one of our favorite movies, at least one of our favorite musicals - Meet Me In St. Louis (1944). In her most memorable performance and the one for which she earned her special juvenile Oscar, Margaret O'Brien played Judy Garland's youngest sister "Tootie" in Vincente Minnelli's turn-of-the-century mid-western musical.

Meet Me In St. Louis is a 1944 romantic musical film from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer which tells the story of four sisters living in St. Louis at the time of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition World's Fair in 1904. It stars Judy Garland, Margaret O'Brien, Mary Astor, Lucille Bremer, Tom Drake, Leon Ames, Marjorie Main, June Lockhart, and Joan Carroll, and was released by MGM. The movie was adapted by Irving Brecher and Fred F. Finklehoffe from a series of short stories by Sally Benson, originally published in The New Yorker magazine, and later in the novel 5135 Kensington.

The film was directed by Vincente Minnelli, who met his future wife, Judy Garland, on the set. In the film, Garland debuted the standards "The Trolley Song" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", which both became hits after the film was released. Another wonderful song, The Boy Next Door, is Judy Garland at her best.

Meet Me in St. Louis is a heart-warming story about the Smith family, who lead a comfortable middle-class life in St. Louis, Missouri. Mr. Alonzo Smith (Ames) and Mrs. Anna Smith (Astor) have four daughters: Rose (Bremer), Esther (Garland), Agnes (Carroll), and Tootie (O'Brien); and a son, Lon Jr. (Henry H. Daniels Jr.) The film highlights a year in the life of the Smith family, beginning in the summer of 1903. Esther, the second eldest daughter, is in love with the boy next door, John Truett (Drake), although he does not notice her at first. Rose is expecting a phone call in which she hopes to be proposed to by Warren Sheffield (Robert Sully). Agnes has been keeping cool at the swimming hole. Tootie is delightful on the ice wagon helping Mr. Neely (Chill Wills) deliver ice to his customers. The Smith household are anticipating the upcoming World's Fair in St. Louis, echoing the song throughout the opening scenes, Meet Me in St. Louis.

Fall arrives and Esther finally gets to meet John properly when he is a guest at the Smith's house party, although her chances of romancing him don't go to plan. Agnes and Tootie are up to mischief on Halloween, which is one of our favorite scenes of the movie. Tootie is declared "The Most Horrible" from all the neighborhood kids because of her bravery. After all the chaos from the young Smith girl's prank, the family enjoys each other's company while having cake made by their maid, Katie (Main). Then Mr. Smith announces to the family that he is to be sent to New York on business and eventually they will all move. The family is devastated and upset at the news of the move, especially Rose and Esther whose romances, friendships, and educational plans are threatened. Esther is also aghast because they will miss the World's Fair. But father insists that they will move shortly after Christmas. Everyone in the Smith household deems Mr. Smith as a villian and leaves him alone to eat the cake, but Anna consoles him. As Alonzo and Anna sing a duet, one by one the family decides to join them.

Meet Me in St. Louis forwards to the next season, Christmas. The family has been packing and preparing for their move. An elegant ball takes place on Christmas Eve. Esther is devastated when John cannot take her as his date, due to his leaving his tuxedo at the tailor's and being unable to get it back. But she is relieved when her grandfather (Harry Davenport) offers to take her instead. While dancing with Grandpa, she is overwhelmed when John unexpectedly turns up after somehow managing to obtain a tuxedo, and the pair dance together for the rest of the evening. Esther returns home to an upset Tootie. She sings her "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". Tootie, however, does become more upset at the prospect of the family's move and runs downstairs, out into the cold to destroy the snowman they have made. Mr. Smith sees his daughter's upsetting outburst.

Mr. Smith later announces that the family will not leave St. Louis after all when he realizes how much the move will affect his family. He also discovers that St. Louis is a wonderful city, with the 1904 World's Fair just around the corner. John declares his love for Esther and Warren declares his love for Rose and together they state that they will marry at the first possible opportunity. And all of the family finally are able to attend the World's Fair in the spring season.

We highly recommend Meet Me in St. Louis. It is a wonderfully, inspiring movie. The music is great - mixed with romance, laughter and emotions, Meet Me in St. Louis is one of the finest musicals ever made. This film holds a special place in our hearts because we live only 40 miles away from St. Louis! Read "Let's Talk Classic Movies" every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for more classic movie presentations and trivia.

**Trivia Question for Today: Who was originally cast as John Truett in Meet Me in St. Louis?

Bonus Trivia: The house at 5135 Kensington Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri was the actual home of Sally Benson, author of the short stories that Meet Me in St. Louis was based on. There was another well-known movie of the 1940s that used this same house for a family based on a true story. What was the name of the film?

Trivia Answer for Previous Post: The 1942 movie Journey for Margaret inspired her to change her name from Angela to Margaret, because she so identified with the character she played in this film.

Classic Movies - Famous Child Star: Margaret O'Brien - Jane Eyre

Margaret O'Brien and

Joan Fontaine - 1944

This week we will conclude our Back to School month and talk Classic Movie Child Star – Margaret O’Brien. One of the most popular child actresses of the 1940s, Margaret O'Brien was precocious- yet-genuine, and unlike-any-other-girl-in-the-neighborhood in a variety of starring and supporting roles for MGM during the World War II and immediate post-war era. Set apart from other cute faces of the time by her mature acting abilities, Margaret even earned a special juvenile Oscar in 1944. Young Margaret made her film debut at age four in the Mickey Rooney/ Judy Garland musical Babes on Broadway (1941). She didn't sing, but had an uncredited "bit part" as a little girl who auditions for Broadway producer Thornton Reed crying, "Please! Please! Don't send my brother to the chair! Don't let him burn!" It was hardly a role, but it made an indelible impression.

After signing with MGM at age five, O'Brien was given her first starring role in Journey for Margaret (1942), also starring Fay Bainter, Robert Young, and Laraine Day. Her performance as a young war orphan in World War II London made her an instant audience favorite, and MGM wasted no time publicizing her as the most gifted child actress since Shirley Temple (avoiding comparisons with the 1930s song-and-dance prodigy). Recognizing her value as a performer lay in her grown-up acting talents, Journey for Margaret director W.S. Van Dyke called her a young Sarah Bernhardt, and the studio set about trying to find suitable vehicles for its rising star.

In 1944, Margaret was loaned to 20th Century-Fox for another supporting part. She portrayed a young French girl, Adele Varens, in Jane Eyre, which is the movie we would like to feature today. The film was adapted from Charlotte Brontë 's novel of the same name. Jane Eyre also featured two other rising child stars, Peggy Ann Garner and Elizabeth Taylor, though O'Brien received the highest billing of the three girls. Directed by Robert Stevenson, the film stars Joan Fontaine, Orson Welles, Margaret O’Brien, John Sutton, Agnes Moorehead, Sara Allgood, Henry Daniell, and Hillary Brooke.

Jane Eyre begins in Gateshead Hall, where a ten-year-old orphan named Jane Eyre (Garner) is living with her mother's brother's family. The brother, surnamed Reed, dies shortly after adopting Jane. His wife, Mrs. Sarah Reed (Moorehead), and their three children (John, Eliza and Georgiana) neglect and abuse Jane, for they resent Mr. Reed's preference for the little orphan in their midst. In addition, they dislike Jane's plain looks and quiet yet passionate character. Thus, the novel begins with young John Reed bullying Jane, who retaliates with unwonted violence. Jane is blamed for the ensuing fight, and Mrs. Reed has two of the servants drag her off and lock her up in the red-room, the unused chamber where Mr. Reed had died. Still locked in that night, Jane sees a light and panics, thinking that her uncle's ghost has come. Her scream rouses the house, but Mrs. Reed just locks up Jane for longer. Then Jane has a fit and passes out. A doctor, Mr. Lloyd, comes to Gateshead Hall and suggests that Jane go to school.

Mr. Brocklehurst (Daniell) is a cold, cruel, self-righteous, and highly hypocritical clergyman who runs a charity school called Lowood. He accepts Jane as a pupil in his school. Jane is infuriated, however, when Mrs. Reed tells him, falsely, that Jane is a liar. Jane finds life at Lowood to be grim, but is impressed with one pupil, Helen Burns (Taylor), who accepts the school's deficiencies with passive dignity, practicing the Christian teaching of turning the other cheek. Jane admires and loves the gentle Helen and they become best friends, but Jane cannot bring herself to emulate her friend's behavior. While the typhus epidemic is raging, Helen dies of consumption in Jane's arms. Jane refuses to go back to school and has given up until Dr. Rivers (Sutton) encourages her to go back to get educated and prepare her life to do God's work.

Eight years later – Jane Eyre forwards as Jane has been a teacher at Lowood for two years now, but she thirsts for a better and brighter future. Small, plain and poor, Jane Eyre comes to Thornfield Hall as governess to the young French girl, Adèle Varens (O’Brien), ward of Edward Rochester (Welles). Denied love all her life, Jane can't help but be attracted to the intelligent, vibrant, energetic Mr. Rochester, the brooding lord of a mysterious manor house and a man twice her age. But just when Mr. Rochester seems to be returning the attention, he invites the beautiful and wealthy Blanche Ingram (Brooke) and her party to stay at his estate. Meanwhile, the secret of Thornfield Hall could ruin all their chances for happiness.

Will Jane’s love be revealed? Will the secret of Thornfield Hall ruin their lives? We highly recommend watching 20th Century-Fox’s Jane Eyre. Read “Let’s Talk Classic Movies” for more classic movie presentations and trivia.

**Trivia Question for Today: Margaret O’Brien was named Angela Maxine O'Brien at birth. What inspired her to change her name to Margaret?

Trivia Answer for Previous Post: There were 11 movie adaptations made from the novel Treasure Island (including the 1934 version). The first film was made in 1920.