Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

Judy Garland, Margaret O'Brien

Directed by Vincente Minnelli

Available to stream on Amazon Prime

Our next Christmas movie is a musical about family life in 1904 St. Louis where everyone is preparing for the World’s Fair. 

Why we love it: This is a classic Judy Garland musical featuring many of her most well known and beloved songs: "The Boy Next Door," "The Trolley Song," and, of course, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."

Fun facts:

• In this film Judy first sings the now classic “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” to little sister Margaret O’Brien. The song was written for the movie by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane. Garland made Hugh Martin change some of the original lyrics because she thought the song was just too depressing to sing to a child. His original lines, "Have yourself a merry little Christmas / It may be your last / Next year we may all be living in the past" became "Have yourself a merry little Christmas / Let your heart be light / Next year all our troubles will be out of sight".

• The film was nominated for four Academy Awards: Best Cinematography, Best Original Song for "The Trolley Song," Best Musical Score, and Best Screenplay.

• 7-year-old Margaret O'Brien won a special Oscar for Outstanding Child Actor of 1944.

Margaret O'Brien and Judy Garland in "Meet Me in St. Louis"

• The story is based on Sally Bensen's series of memoirs first published in The New Yorker in 1941. In the film, the family decides at the last minute not to move to New York and to stay in St. Louis for the World's Fair. In real life, Sally Bensen wasn't so lucky - her family did move to New York and she had to miss the Fair.

Ad from "Modern Screen" 1945

• Judy Garland and director Vincente Minnelli fell in love during production and were engaged by the end of filming. They went on to have daughter Liza Minnelli and make several more films together before their divorce in 1951.

For reviews and articles from the time, go to the Fan Magazine Reviews page.

Featured Cocktail:

Bamboo

Sherry cocktails were popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s, so would have been well-known in 1904, the timeframe for Meet Me in St Louis. Drinks made with sherry contain less alcohol but all of the flavor of their stronger cousins. The Bamboo is both easy to make and to drink.

1½-2 oz (45-60 ml) dry sherry (Fino is a good starting place)

1½-2 oz (45-60 ml) dry vermouth

Dash Angostura bitters

Dash orange bitters

Stir all ingredients over ice in a mixing glass. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon or orange twist.

Cheers to the Classics!