Meet me in St. Louis, Louis.
Meet me at the fair.
Don't tell me the lights are shining
Any place but there.

We will dance the hoochie coochie.
I will be your tootsie wootsie
If you will meet me in St. Louis, Louis.
Meet me at the fair.

   --by Kerry Mills and Andrew B. Sterling (1904)

MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (1944) was a landmark among movie musicals.  First, it was a period piece set in the American Midwest at the turn of the century.  Second, its plot didn't revolve around Broadway or show business or show people, concentrating instead on a typical upper-middle class family.  And third, the songs and dances were so well integrated into the plot of the film--yes, a musical with a plot--that they actually advanced the storyline and revealed the personalities of the characters.  The characters sang and danced because they felt like it, not because the script called for it, and the atmosphere this creates for the story is beyond anything seen in a musical before.

The year is 1903 and St. Louis teenager Esther Smith (Judy Garland) develops a crush on "The Boy Next Door," John Truett (Tom Drake), who just moved into town.  The complication is that although she lives at 5135 Kensington Ave. and he lives at 5133, they've never met.  So Esther and her older sister Rose (Lucille Bremer)  throw a going-away party for their brother Lon (who is off to Princeton) as an excuse to invite John over.

And quite a lively party it is.  Esther's youngest sister Tootie (Margaret O'Brien) even sneaks downstairs and gets to join the fun, singing "Under the Bamboo Tree" and dancing a cakewalk with Esther, delighting their guests.

Music Clip:

"Under the Bamboo Tree" (clip) sung by Judy Garland and Margaret O'Brien (a .MP3 file courtesy Rhino Records).

(For help opening this file, visit the plug-ins page.)

Memorable Quotations:

• "Personally, I wouldn't marry a man who proposed to me over an invention." --Katie.
• "My dear, when you get to be my age you'll find there are more important things in life than boys." --Rose.
• "Mrs. Smith, if I have to keep lying for your girls, I'm going to need more money." --Katie.
• "Wasn't I lucky to be born in my favorite city?" --Tootie.
• "Personally, I think I have too much bloom." --Esther.
• "That Welsh rarebit was ginger peachy." --John.
• "Well, certainly is dark in here with the lights off." --Esther.
• "No, it wasn't the street car.  It was John Truett.  He tried to kill me!" --Tootie.
• "It's no worse than football practice, except it's better with a girl." --John.
• "If you're not busy tomorrow night, would you beat me up again?" --John.
• "You know, you've got a mighty strong grip for a boy." --Esther.
• "It'll take me at least a week to dig up all my dolls in the cemetery." --Tootie.
• "I've worked all my life to be a senior." --Esther.
• "Money.  I hate, loathe, despise and abominate money!" --Rose.
• "Aren't you afraid to stay here alone with a criminal?" --Mr. Smith.
• "You know, suits are like men.  They like to step out every once in a while with a pretty dress." --Grandpa.

When the party is over, John stays behind to help Esther put out the lights, and as the gas light dims, John and Esther spark "Over the Banister."

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