Film Forum

U.S., 1944
Directed by Vincente Minnelli
Screenplay by Irving Brecher, Fred F. Finklehoffe
Based on the novel by Sally Benson
With Judy Garland, Margaret O’Brien, Mary Astor, Leon Ames, Lucille Bremer, Marjorie Main
Approx. 113 min. 4K DCP.

In turn of the century St. Loo-ee, Judy Garland sings about trollies and pines for “Boy Next Door” Tom Drake, Margaret O’Brien braves the terrors of Halloween, Mom Mary Astor looks lovely in Technicolored middle-age, and Dad Leon Ames debates taking that Gotham job as the 1903 World’s Fair beckons.

Reviews

“One of the finest MGM musicals… Every family deserved to share the adventures of the Smith household.”
– Leonard Maltin, Leonard Maltin's Family Film Guide

“A heavenly slice of brassy Hollywood romanticism that’ll still have you swooning all the way to the trolley stop.”
– Time Out

“One of the first films to integrate musical numbers into the plot, it explores, without condescension or simplemindedness, the feelings that drive the family members apart and then bring them back together again.”
– Dave Kehr, The Chicago Reader