Once work began on the film, Freed, along with his right-hand man, Roger Edens, and Minnelli, decided on the music. Lucille Bremer and Judy Garland sing “Meet Me In St. He also assuaged her fears that it would become “Margaret O’Brien film” (O’Brien played younger sister “Tootie”). The story goes, whether true or not, that Judy went to Minnelli and said “It’s not very good, is it?” to which Minnelli replied, “I think it’s magical.” Judy’s response, “Oh, I’ve already done ‘magical.’” Minnelli was able to help Judy see how the role was perfect for her and that it would advance her career. Freed and director Vincente Minnelli was able to convince the studio and Judy that the film if made right, would be a success. She had just begun the tricky transition into adult roles and didn’t want to backtrack. Judy was rightfully concerned that playing another teenager would be a setback in her career. It took some doing to convince the studio and Judy Garland that the film “with no plot” could be a hit and could advance her career. Freed was ready to move into making original film musicals with integrated scores, whether in full or in part. Louiswent into production, everything was in place. For the next several years Freed built his own “musical unit” at MGM, bringing in talent from the Broadway scene, mostly making screen adaptations of Broadway musicals. Before that film was finished he was made a producer and immediately put Babes in Arms into production. It still holds the record as the longest-running non-musical show on Broadway.įreed had served as an uncredited co-producer on 1939’s The Wizard of Oz. Any film version of “Life With Father” wouldn’t happen for several years due to the play’s hugely successful run so any adaptation was a way off. MGM producer Arthur Freed was unable to secure the film rights so he went in search of something similar. Meanwhile, the similarly themed “Life With Father” had premiered on Broadway in 1939 and was a smash. Published by the New Yorker magazine as “5135 Kensington Avenue” in 1941 the charming articles were compiled into book format in 1942 titled “The Kensignton Stories.” Louis, Missouri, in the early years of the 20th century. Louis began with the publication of articles written by Sally Benson about her childhood in St. Louis Street” on MGM’s Backlot #3, built specifically for Meet Me In St. The Smith family home set on the recently built “St. For this reason, I thought it would be nice to honor the film’s anniversary by focusing on its music. One of the biggest reasons for its success and lasting legacy is the glorious combination of songs and music which is as important as the direction of (and attention to detail by) director Vincente Minnelli and, of course, Judy Garland’s glowing performance. 2019 marks the 75th anniversary of the 1944 MGM musical masterpiece, Meet Me In St.
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