MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS [1944 / 2011] [Deluxe Limited Edition DigiBook] [Blu-ray + CD] [USA Release] M-G-M’s Glorious Love Story With Music! M-G-M’s Big Happy-Hearted Hit!
St. Louis 1903. The well-off Smith family has four beautiful daughters, including Esther Smith [Judy Garland] and 'Tootie' Smith [Margaret O'Brien]. Seventeen-year old Esther Smith has fallen in love with Tom Drake [John Truett], the boy next door who has just moved in. He, Tom Drake, however, barely notices her at first.
Judy Garland and Margaret O'Brien star in this heart-warming tale of the emotional trauma the colorful members of an early 20th Century St. Louis family experience. The family is shocked when Mr. Smith reveals that he has been transferred has to leave St. Louis just before the start of the St. Louis 1904 World's Fair.
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 1945 Academy Awards®: Win: Juvenile Award for Margaret O'Brien for outstanding child actress of 1944. Nominated: Best Writing or Screenplay for Fred F. Finklehoffe and Irving Brecher. Nominated: Best Cinematography in Color for George J. Folsey. Nominated: Best Music for Scoring of a Musical Picture for George Stoll. Nominated: Best Music for an Original Song for Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane for the song "The Trolley Song." 1944 National Board of Review, USA: Win: NBR Award for Top Ten Film. Win: NBR Award for Best Acting for Margaret O'Brien. 1989 ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards: Win: Most Performed Feature Film Standards for Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane for the song "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."
FILM FACT No.2: The film 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 under the title "5135 Kensington", and later in novel form as “Meet Me in St. Louis.” Judy Garland debuted the standards "The Trolley Song", "The Boy Next Door", and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", all of which became hits after the film was released. Arthur Freed, the producer of the film, also wrote and performed one of the songs. The musical score for the film was adapted by Roger Edens, who also served as an uncredited associate producer. Georgie Stoll conducted the orchestrations of Conrad Salinger. Some of the songs in the film are from around the time of the St. Louis Exposition. Others were written for the movie.
Cast: Judy Garland, Margaret O'Brien, Mary Astor, Lucille Bremer, Leon Ames, Tom Drake, Marjorie Main, Harry Davenport, June Lockhart, Henry H. Daniels Jr., Joan Carroll, Hugh Marlowe, Robert Sully, Chill Wills, Sidney Barnes (uncredited), Judi Blacque (uncredited), Victor Cox (uncredited), Donald Curtis (uncredited), Kenneth Donner (uncredited), Mary Jo Ellis (uncredited), Helen Gilbert (uncredited), Buddy Gorman (uncredited), Gary Gray (uncredited), Sam Harris (uncredited), Darryl Hickman (uncredited), Charlotte Hunter (uncredited), Victor Kilian (uncredited), Beverly Luff (uncredited), The Music Maids (uncredited), Mayo Newhall (uncredited), Sid Newman (uncredited), Robert Emmett O'Connor (uncredited), John Phipps (uncredited), Ellen Ray (uncredited), Dorothy Raye (uncredited), Beth Renner (uncredited), Billy Royle (uncredited), Group Seckler (uncredited), William Smith (uncredited), Myron Tobias (uncredited), Dorothy Tuttle (uncredited), Leonard Walker (uncredited), Frank Whitbeck (uncredited) and Kenneth Wilson (uncredited)
Director: Vincente Minnelli
Producer: Arthur Freed and Roger Edens (uncredited)
Screenplay: Fred F. Finklehoffe (screenplay), Irving Brecher (screenplay), Doris Gilver (uncredited), Sarah Y. Mason (uncredited), Victor Heerman (uncredited), William Ludwig (uncredited) and Sally Benson (based on the novel)
Composers: Conrad Salinger (uncredited) and Roger Edens (uncredited)
Costume Design: Irene Sharaff
Cinematography: George Joseph Folsey, A.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Audio: English: 5.0 DTS-HD Master Audio
French: 1.0 Dolby Digital Mono Audio
Spanish: 1.0 Dolby Digital Mono Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
Running Time: 178 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 2
Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer / Warner Home Video
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS’ [1944] is a delightful, classic, nostalgic, poignant, and romanticized musical film and one of the greatest musicals ever made. It tells the story of a turn-of-the-century family in suburban, Midwestern St. Louis of 1903, who live in a stylish Edwardian home at 5135 Kensington Avenue. The city, and the well-to-do Smith family (with four beautiful daughters), is on the verge of hosting and celebrating the arrival of the spectacular 1904 World's Fair. However, the family's head of the house is beckoned to New York due to a job promotion - an uprooting move that threatens to indelibly change the lives of the family members forever. Filmed during WWII, the decision to remain in St. Louis in the film's conclusion affirmed that nothing will be altered for the American family. This gem of cinematic, picture-postcard Americana and youthful romance is richly filmed in Technicolor. It marked the beginning of the golden age of M-G-M musicals and producer Arthur Freed's unit, and ultimately became the second most successful film for M-G-M.
The story is based on the book of the same name from Sally Benson's memoirs of her life in St. Louis, Missouri from 1903 – 1904 and they were recalled and written in multiple issues of The New Yorker Magazine from 1941 – 1942 and originally published under the title "5135 Kensington" and eventually gathered together as “The Kensington Stories.” The charming stories, a dozen in all that represents each of the twelve months of the year, are expressed in the film in its musical numbers. The film abandoned the “put-on-a-show” mentality of so many other backstage song and dance films. Its songs and wonderful performances are carefully and naturally integrated into the story of the close-knit family's day-to-day life, and serve to advance the action and plot from one season to the next. This most popular and financially-successful film was produced by the legendary Arthur Freed.
Vincente Minnelli and Judy Garland’s collaboration did not get off to a happy start, thanks to the director's perfectionism and his star's determination to parody the sweet, naïve 17-year-old she was playing. Judy Garland, now in her early 20s, was weary of playing juveniles and wanted to move on to more sophisticated roles. During the first day of shooting, Vincente Minnelli demanded endless retakes because of dissatisfaction with Judy Garland's line readings, while Judy Garland was reportedly in near-hysterics and demanded that producer Arthur Freed intercede. Gradually, however, Judy Garland began to appreciate her director's vision and settled down to deliver an unaffected performance of great sincerity. Soon Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli became a couple and were engaged by the end of filming. They would wed on the 15th June, 1945, and divorced in 1952.
‘MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS’ broke all box-office records and won high critical praise including The Hollywood Reporter's description, "a warmly human entertainment which has captured a nostalgic charm rarely if ever equalled on the screen." A critic for Variety wrote, "Miss Garland achieves true stature with her deeply understanding performance."
MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS MUSIC TRACK LIST
THE TROLLEY SONG (1944) (Written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane) [Sung by Judy Garland (uncredited) and chorus]
THE BOY NEXT DOOR (1944) (Written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane) [Played during the opening credits and also in the score] [Sung by Judy Garland] (uncredited)
SKIP TO MY LOU (1944) (Written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane) [Sung by Judy Garland (uncredited), Lucille Bremer (uncredited), Henry H. Daniels Jr. (uncredited) and Ensemble]
HAVE YOURSELF A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS (1944) (Written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane) [Played during the opening credits and also in the score] [Sung by Judy Garland] (uncredited)
MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, LOUIS (1904) (uncredited) (Music by Kerry Mills) (Lyrics by Andrew B. Sterling) [Performed by Judy Garland and Lucille Bremer] [Played during the opening credits, hummed, whistled, various times throughout and at the end]
I WAS DRUNK LAST NIGHT (uncredited) (Composer unknown) [Sung a cappella by Margaret O'Brien]
UNDER THE BAMBOO TREE (1902) (uncredited) (Music by Rosamond Johnson) (Lyrics by Bob Cole) [Sung and Danced by Judy Garland and Margaret O'Brien]
OVER THE BANISTER (1944) (uncredited) (Written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane) [Sung by Judy Garland]
YOU AND I (1944) (uncredited) (Music by Nacio Herb Brown) (Lyrics by Arthur Freed) [Played on piano by Mrs. Smith and Sung by Mary Astor and Leon Ames and dubbed by Arthur Freed and Denny Markas]
GOODBYE, MY LADY LOVE (1904) (uncredited) (Written by Joseph E. Howard) [Played at the Dance]
LITTLE BROWN JUG (1869) (uncredited) (Written by Joseph Winner) [Played at the Dance]
DOWN AT THE OLD BULL AND BUSH (1903) (uncredited) (Music by Harry von Tilzer) [Played at the Dance]
HOME, SWEET HOME (1823) (uncredited) (Music by H.R. Bishop) [Played at the Dance]
AULD LANG SYNE (uncredited) (Traditional Scottish ballad) [Played at the Dance]
THE FIRST NOEL (uncredited) (Traditional) [In the film score on Christmas, near the end of the film]
AURA LEE (1861) (uncredited) (Music by George R. Poulton) [Played in background as Esther cries to her grandfather]
BRIGHTEN THE CORNER WHERE YOU ARE (1913) (uncredited) (Written by Ina D. Ogdon and Charles Gabriel) [Performed by Margaret O'Brien]
NARCISSUS (1891) (uncredited) (Written by Ethelbert Nevin)
Blu-ray Image Quality – The Technicolor film ‘MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS’ is accurately framed at 1.37:1 and presented in a stunning 1080p image. The transfer features a number of impressive and outstanding qualities, not least of which is the Technicolor process. Viewers should be thrilled by its depth and fidelity, particularly in the final act where the reds and greens of the Smith Sisters’ gowns look incredibly rich and luxurious. Detail is also excellent, revealing healthy levels of grain uncompromised by noise reduction or other digital processing measures. Contrast and black levels are likewise strong, displaying the full range of values with no signs of compression. More eagle-eyed viewers will probably notice a few instances of very slight colour shifts and blemishes, but nothing that isn’t understandable given the film’s age. So all in all, Warner Hove Video has given us a Technicolor image of outstanding beauty and quality.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – The audio dialogue in the film ‘MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS’ is in the brilliant remixed 5.0 DTS-HD Master Audio experience and is consistently very clear, detailed and intelligible. Vocals in the musical numbers are especially pleasing, exhibiting really fine audio detail and dynamic range as well. Surround channel activity is very minimal, providing only very light support for the films music score. But the track shows consistent depth and fullness throughout the film’s 178 minutes, especially for a film released in 1944.
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: Introduction by Liza Minnelli [2004] [480i] [1.37:1] [4:59] Offers up some interesting titbits about the film relating several stories from her mother and father, Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli, including Louis B. Mayer’s scepticism after hearing the initial storyline. Nice to have Liza Minnelli does the introduction in light of it being her mother’s favourite film.
Audio Commentary by John Fricke, Margaret O'Brien, Irving Brecher, Hugh Martin and Barbara Freed-Saltzman: This is a really unusually excellent and informative audio commentary that is hosted by John Fricke, who wrote one of the best biographies of Judy Garland, and features a wealth of background data on the production from virtually every imaginable angle, but he also introduces archival recordings of actress Margaret O'Brien, screenwriter Irving Brecher, composer Hugh Martin, Barbara Freed-Saltzman (producer Arthur Freed's daughter), and actress June Lockhart. There is a lot of heartfelt reminiscing from Margaret O'Brien, who has a very funny anecdote about her mother spiriting her off to Morocco after Louis B. Mayer refused a pay increase, and Hugh Martin, who reveals some surprising information about his collaboration with Ralph Blane. Also John Fricke has a bit too much enthusiasm for all things Judy Garland, I wonder if he is a friend of Dorothy? But despite this, we do get to find out about John Fricke’s infectious and his meticulous research that yields fresh nuggets that will enlighten even massive fans of Judy Garland. We also get lots of extra audio reminiscent information about Judy Garland at M-G-M from the scholarly historian Rudy Behlmer. We also get lots of other extra information from John Fricke informing us of background on other cast members who appeared in the film and M-G-M production crew, and other historical perspective information, and discusses many deleted scenes from the film, which sadly no longer exist. This again is a very informative audio commentary, especially anyone interested in extra Hollywood history, other Hollywood musicals, and especially film trivia. So all in all, this is a five star audio commentary.
Special Feature: Meet Me in St. Louis: The Making of an American Classic [1994] [480i] [1.37:1] [30:47] This features tons of clips and interviews with many of the film’s participants, including Margaret O’Brien’s [Tootie Smith] Honorary Oscar acceptance speech and older footage of Vincente Minnelli. The special feature delves into great detail about the set built on the M-G-M back-lot, as well as the set decorators and costumers. Considering that ‘MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS’ was one of the best award winning films of the 1940s, it seems only fitting that Turner Entertainment brings you this high quality documentary concerning its creation. In addition to interviews, inserting photos and rare film clips which is lovingly narrated by Roddy McDowell. If you are a fan of the original M-G-M film, then it's imperative you see this documentary. By the way, my favourite part of this documentary was when the song writer sings his original version of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," the words he admitted, were very maudlin and just awful and unintentionally funny! This is a very solid and is very well presented special feature. Contributors include: Roddy McDowall (Narrator), Barbara Saltzman, Lucille Bremer, Dorothy Raye, Vincente Minnelli (archive footage), Liza Minnelli (voice) and Hugh Martin.
Special Feature: Hollywood: The Dream Factory [1972] [480i] [1.37:1] [50:31] This is a great 1972 M-G-M documentary that is narrated by Dick Cavett and it details some of Hollywood's greatest films, musicals and non-musicals and is a great documentary on the M-G-M studio. M-G-M Studios, which was formed the result of a merger between Metro Pictures and owned by the Loews Company and the Goldwyn Company, was the premier Hollywood movie studio from the mid 1920's to the end of the 1950's, when a court ruling dissolved the close association between film studios and movie theatres leading to the end of the studio system that controlled what happened in Hollywood, and when television became a rival form of accessible entertainment. Led by Louis B. Mayer and Irving Thalberg but not with obstacles, M-G-M was the best of the studios at perpetuating the dream that anything was possible, both in front of the cameras and in the lives of Hollywood royalty, namely the film stars. Within a generation, movies became the largest money making form of entertainment. The public went to see films in droves even during the depression, wanted to learn about and be close to the personal lives of the Hollywood rich and famous, and aspired to be part of that Hollywood royalty. Contributors include: Dick Cavett (Narrator voice), Fred Astaire (archive footage) (uncredited), John Barrymore (archive footage) (uncredited), Lionel Barrymore (archive footage) (uncredited), Wallace Beery (archive footage) (uncredited), Ingrid Bergman (archive footage) (uncredited), Charles Boyer (archive footage) (uncredited), Nigel Bruce (archive footage) (uncredited), Francis X. Bushman (archive footage) (uncredited), Harry Carey (archive footage) (uncredited), Joan Crawford (archive footage) (uncredited), Bing Crosby (archive footage) (uncredited), Robert Donat (archive footage) (uncredited), Melvyn Douglas (archive footage) (uncredited), Marie Dressler (archive footage) (uncredited), Margaret Dumont (archive footage) (uncredited), Clark Gable (archive footage) (uncredited), Greta Garbo (archive footage) (uncredited), Judy Garland (archive footage) (uncredited), John Gilbert (archive footage) (uncredited), Cary Grant (archive footage) (uncredited), Kathryn Grayson (archive footage) (uncredited), Jean Harlow (archive footage) (uncredited), Katharine Hepburn (archive footage) (uncredited), Bob Hope (archive footage) (uncredited), Howard Keel (archive footage) (uncredited), Gene Kelly (archive footage) (uncredited), Mario Lanza (archive footage) (uncredited), Charles Laughton (archive footage) (uncredited), Vivien Leigh (archive footage) (uncredited), Phyllis Loughton (archive footage) (uncredited), Myrna Loy (archive footage) (uncredited), Chico Marx (archive footage) (uncredited), Groucho Marx (archive footage) (uncredited), Harpo Marx (archive footage) (uncredited), Louis B. Mayer (archive footage) (uncredited), Tim McCoy (archive footage) (uncredited), Roddy McDowall (archive footage) (uncredited), Adolphe Menjou (archive footage) (uncredited), Robert Montgomery (archive footage) (uncredited), Chester Morris (archive footage) (uncredited), Paul Newman (archive footage) (uncredited), Ramon Novarro (archive footage) (uncredited), Maureen O'Sullivan (archive footage) (uncredited), Tyrone Power (archive footage) (uncredited), Duncan Renaldo (archive footage) (uncredited), Debbie Reynolds (archive footage) (uncredited), Edward G. Robinson (archive footage) (uncredited), Ginger Rogers (archive footage) (uncredited), Mickey Rooney (archive footage) (uncredited), Sig Ruman (archive footage) (uncredited), Russell Saunders (archive footage) (uncredited), David O. Selznick (archive footage) (uncredited), James Stewart (archive footage) (uncredited), Don Taylor (archive footage) (uncredited), Elizabeth Taylor (archive footage) (uncredited), Robert Taylor (archive footage) (uncredited), Irving Thalberg (archive footage) (uncredited), Franchot Tone (archive footage) (uncredited), Spencer Tracy (archive footage) (uncredited), Lana Turner (archive footage) (uncredited), Lester Vail (archive footage) (uncredited), Johnny Weissmuller (archive footage) (uncredited) and Esther Williams (archive footage) (uncredited).
Special Feature: Becoming Attractions: Judy Garland [1996] [480i] [1.37:1] [46:10] This is a Robert Osborne hosted TCM special which looks back over Judy Garland's long career courtesy of trailers for her many films. This special reveals how Hollywood sold stars and their fans of her movies, featuring compilations of vintage film trailers. It has an in-depth look at the marketing of Judy Garland, tracing her rise from juvenile act to one of M-G-M's biggest stars.
Special Feature: Meet Me in St. Louis 1966 TV Pilot [1966] [480i] [1.37:1] [26:35] This never made it to air, but is a sweet little prospective series with Shelley Fabares, Celeste Holm, and Wesley Addy (Celeste Holm's husband). Based on the characters from the M-G-M hit of the same name, this TV pilot is about one day in the life of the Smith family. At the turn of the twentieth century, the family is throwing a party for a visitor in their neighbourhood. Heartaches and laughter ensue. Cast: Shelley Fabares, Celeste Holm, Wesley Addy, Reta Shaw, Larry Merrill, Morgan Brittany, Tammy Locke, Michael Blodgett, Judy Lang, Barbara Dodd, John Clarke, Charles Seel and Judi Hersey.
Special Feature: Bubbles [1930] [480i] [1.37:1] [7:54] This is a fantastic 1930 Warner Bros. Vitaphone Black-and-White short featuring a very young Judy Garland and still part of The Gumm Sisters. It also features costumed children, including The Meglin Kiddies in a cavern-like land of “make believe” where they sing and tap dance. Marjorie Kane sings an introductory song.
Special Feature: Skip to My Lou [1941] [480i] [1.37:1] [3:11] This is a rare 1941 “soundie” features future ‘MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS’ song writing team Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin as part of a singing group known as the Martins. The arrangement performed is the same version they interpolated into their film score three years later. Four dancers, two males and two females, merrily dance to the merry tune of " Skip to My Lou." Cast: Ralph Blane (Male dancer), Hugh Martin (Male dancer) and The Martins (Female dancer).
Special Feature: ‘MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS’ [Audio Vault] [1946] [57:00] This contains "Boys and Girls Like You and Me" Outtake. The Lux Radio Theater Broadcast was broadcast on the 2nd December, 1946 for the CBS network. ‘MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS’was Sponsored by: Lux. A charming turn-of-the century romance set in St. Louis before the opening of the great 1904 Fair. Judy introduces "The Trolley Song" (among others), and even Gale Gordon sings. Judy Garland and the young Margaret O’Brien reprise their roles from the Metro Goldwyn Meyer’s 1944 screen hit in this The Lux Radio Theater version of ‘Meet Me In St Louis’ based on the novel of the same name by Sally Benson. The story begins the year before the 1904 St Louis fair and revolves around the Smith family and the loves and romances of the four Smith daughters.
Theatrical Trailer [1994] [480i] [1.37:1] [1:42] This is actually the 1995 reissued Theatrical Trailer for the film ‘MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS.’
BONUS: Compact Disc Sampler includes the three Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin original songs from the film as well as Judy Garland and Lucille Bremer performing the title song. The four tracks include “Meet Me in St. Louis, Louis,” “The Boy Next Door,” “The Trolley Song,” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”
PLUS: This Deluxe Limited Edition DigiBook Packaging includes ‘MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS’ Sing-Along wording; A TIMELESS TALE OF AN AMERICAN FAMILY; TRIVIA; SKIP TO MY LOU Sing-Along wording; JUDY GARLAND; MARGARET O’BRIEN; MARGARET O’BRIEN MUST-SEES FILMS; MARY ASTOR, MARY ASTOR MUST-SEES FILMS; VINCENTE MINNELLI MUST-SEES FILMS; THE TROLLY SONG Sing-Along wording and SONGS FROM ‘MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS.’
Finally, Warner Home Video delivers a stellar image presentation for the film ‘MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS,’ which is of course a brilliant M-G-M musical that charms us with its unabashed idealism. With this Blu-ray package we get the extras that have the majority been carried over with the extras from the 2004 inferior DVD special edition release, and adding in a couple of extra special features. The Blu-ray release is an obvious upgrade for owners who owned the standard definition version. ‘MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS,’ is a classic Hollywood Musical that will never be forgotten, because it is fun, enjoyable and timeless and Warner Home Video presentation of the film is close to perfection and nothing short in giving us a stunning Blu-ray release that cannot be beaten. For first-time purchasers, it also definitely qualifies as a “must buy.” Very Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
