Meet Me In St. Louis - a Treasured Film Classic with Beautiful Christmas Scenes!

Available on DVD

MOVIE REVIEW

Meet Me In St. Louis - Original Air Date: 1944

*Movie Musical starring Judy Garland and Margaret O'Brien!

If you are searching for a timeless movie treasure, then take an excursion back in time to Meet Me in St. Louis!


See my Movie Review below...

 

 

CAST:

Judy Garland ... Esther Smith
Margaret O'Brien ... 'Tootie' Smith
Mary Astor ... Mrs. Anna Smith
Leon Ames ... Mr. Alonzo Smith
Lucille Bremer ... Rose Smith
Henry H. Daniels Jr. ... Lon Smith Jr.
Joan Carroll ... Agnes Smith
Tom Drake ... John Truett
Marjorie Main ... Katie (Maid)
Harry Davenport ... Grandpa
June Lockhart ... Lucille Ballard
Robert Sully ... Warren Sheffield
Hugh Marlowe ... Colonel Darly
Chill Wills ... Mr. Neely

PLOT:

Brief Synopsis via TCM:

Young love and childish fears highlight a year in the life of a turn-of-the-century family.

My Movie Review:

If you are searching for a timeless movie treasure, then take an excursion back in time to 'Meet Me in St. Louis'...

By far, one of the best musicals ever maid! Judy Garland sings "The Boy Next Door", "The Trolley Song", and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," still a Christmas standard favorite all these years later! All three songs are absolutely beautiful and a joy to watch! There are also wonderful dancing scenes, as well. At one point everyone at Lon's going away party is dancing to "Skip to my Lou" and then later, Esther's little sister, Tootie, talks her into doing a special song and dance number with her.

'Meet Me in St. Louis' is such a sweet story about the everyday life, in one year, of the Smith family, which consists of their father, Alonzo (a prominent attorney), their mother, Anna, grandpa, one son, Lon (who is the eldest and goes to college), and 4 daughters: Rose, Esther (Judy Garland), Agnus, and Tootie, who is the youngest and quite spirited.

This wonderful family film centers around the excitement of the Smith family just as the World's Fair will be coming to their hometown of St. Louis. Everything is tranquil and ideal in their little world until the day when Alonzo (the father) announces they will be moving to New York. At first, the family is not thrilled with this idea. Esther has just recently caught the eye of the "boy next door" and doesn't want to leave and everyone else is also attached to their home, friends, community, and simple way of life. The family, however, eventually comes around, and is supportive, yet still very sad, that they will have to leave their friends and home. Their father promises them that at least they will come back for the fair, maybe.

Near the end of the movie, there is a touching Christmas scene that is beautiful and sure to warm your heart!

'Meet Me in St. Louis' is as wholesome and American as Apple Pie. It's purity and sweetness is why I love it so much; it may also be the reason why it has reached the hearts of generation after generation.

When to watch 'Meet Me In St. Louis' on TCM:

*December 4, 2021 at 3:30pm/2:30c.

*December 21, 2021 at 8pm/7c.

*December 24, 2021 at 6pm/5c.

See or Skip? :

See! Perfect for a Family Movie Night - any season of the year!

Meet Me in St. Louis is available on DVD.

Classic Movies Come to the Theater!

If You LOVE to Watch... one of those Phenomenal, Classic Black & White Films on TCM, then this NEWS is for YOU!!!

Audrey Hepburn in 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'

As part of their Big Screen Classics series, every month in 2016 - TCM and Fathom have been showing movies in theaters, much like what they've done the past two years at Christmastime! You can find out further details here!

Highlights for this year, were 'The Ten Commandments' in March and 'Ferris Bueller’s Day Off 30th Anniversary' in May!


For the rest of the year, you can see:

National Lampoon's Animal House (1978) - Sunday, August 14 & Wednesday, August 17

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The King and I 60th Anniversary (1956) – Sunday, August 28 & Wednesday, August 31

Dr. Strangelove: or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1963) – Sunday, September 18 & Wednesday, September 21

Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining (1980) – Sunday, October 23 & Wednesday, October 26

Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) – Sunday, November 27 & Wednesday, November 30

From Here to Eternity (1953) – Sunday, December 11 & Wednesday, December 14


(Please note: I have not seen all the movies mentioned above. This is not an endorsement of these films.)


Visit the Fathom Events web-site for more details!

*A Special Thank You to Cathie for discovering & sharing this Classic Movie news!

James Garner Movie Tribute on TCM - Monday, July 28, 2014

Actor James Garner, who passed away on July 19th,

will be honored in an all day Movie Tribute on TCM.

Please see the complete schedule below, via TCM:

James Garner Movie Tribute - Monday, July 28, 2014:


Toward The Unknown (1956) ... 6:00 AM

A dishonored pilot who is no longer allowed to fly attempts to clear his name.

Dir: Mervyn LeRoy Cast: William Holden , Lloyd Nolan , Virginia Leith .

C-115 mins,

---------------------------

Shoot-Out at Medicine Bend (1957) ... 8:00 AM

Army veterans are on a mission to find out who sold faulty ammunition to a cavalry troop.

Dir: Richard L. Bare Cast: Randolph Scott , James Craig , Angie Dickinson .

BW-87 mins, CC,

---------------------------


Grand Prix (1966) ... 9:30 AM

Auto racers find danger and romance at the legendary European road race.

Dir: John Frankenheimer Cast: James Garner , Eva Marie Saint , Yves Montand .

C-176 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

---------------------------

Cash McCall (1960) ... 12:30 PM

A corporate spoiler makes a play for a failing company and the owner's daughter.

Dir: Joseph Pevney Cast: James Garner , Natalie Wood , Nina Foch .

C-102 mins, Letterbox Format

---------------------------

Wheeler Dealers, The (1963) ... 2:15 PM

Texas tycoons try to mix love with finance on a trip to New York.

Dir: Arthur Hiller Cast: James Garner , Lee Remick , Phil Harris .

C-106 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

---------------------------

Darby's Rangers (1958) ... 4:00 PM

An Army Major leads his men behind enemy lines during World War II.

Dir: William A. Wellman Cast: James Garner , Etchika Choureau , Jack Warden .

C-121 mins, Letterbox Format

---------------------------

Mister Buddwing (1966) ... 6:15 PM

A man suffering from amnesia confronts a series of women in his search for his memory.

Dir: Delbert Mann Cast: James Garner , Jean Simmons , Suzanne Pleshette .

BW-99 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

---------------------------


Thrill Of It All, The (1963) ... 8:00 PM

A doctor tries to cope with his wife's newfound stardom as an advertising pitch woman.

Dir: Norman Jewison Cast: Doris Day , James Garner , Arlene Francis .

C-108 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

---------------------------

Americanization of Emily, The (1964) ... 10:00 PM

A British war widow falls for an opportunistic American sailor during World War II.

Dir: Arthur Hiller Cast: James Garner , Julie Andrews , Melvyn Douglas .

BW-115 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

---------------------------

Children's Hour, The (1961) ... 12:00 AM

A malicious student tries to destroy the teachers at a girls' school.

Dir: William Wyler Cast: Audrey Hepburn , Shirley MacLaine , James Garner .

BW-108 mins, CC,

---------------------------

Victor Victoria (1982) ... 2:00 AM

An unemployed female singer poses as a female impersonator and becomes a star.

Dir: Blake Edwards Cast: Julie Andrews , James Garner , Robert Preston .

C-134 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

---------------------------

Marlowe (1969) ... 4:30 AM

Detective Philip Marlowe probes the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles in search of a woman's missing sister.

Dir: Paul Bogart Cast: James Garner , Gayle Hunnicutt , Carroll O'Connor .

C-96 mins, CC, Letterbox Format



*schedule above is excerpted from TCM.com

It's nice to see they will be including one of my favorite James Garner movies, The Thrill of it All, in the memorial tribute. I hope one of your favorites is included, too.

My prayers are with his dear family and friends.You can see my original tribute to James Garner, here.

Another Christmas Movie Night in March on TCM!

TCM will play 2 Christmas Movies back-to-back
on Wednesday - March 26, 2014

as a tribute to Actress Mary Astor, who is TCM's Star of the Month!

Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, the classic version with June Allyson, Peter Lawford, Margaret O'Brien, Elizabeth Taylor, and Mary Astor, will air at 8/7c.

Meet Me in St. Louis, the classic Christmas Musical starring Judy Garland, Margaret O'Brien, and Mary Astor, will air at 10:15/9:15c.

Both of these films are Family-Favorite, Timeless Christmas Movie gems, from a bygone era. I hope you and your family will "Meet Me in" front of the TV and enjoy this special "Christmas" movie night on TCM!

Shirley Temple T.V. Tribute on TCM

America’s Sweetheart. Little Princess. Goldilocks.

Living Doll. Dimples. Curly Top.

Since her acting career began at the age of 3, Shirley Temple has captured the hearts of several generations. Through wars and a depression, her spirited performances came at a time when the nation needed an uplifting promise for the future.

On March 9th, TCM (Turner Classic Movies) will honor the career and recent passing of Shirley Temple Black with a marathon of her delightful movies.

TCM MEMORIAL TRIBUTE: SHIRLEY TEMPLE

Sunday, March 9, 2014:

Heidi (1937) … 4:30 PM

Stowaway (1936) … 6:15 PM

Bright Eyes (1934) … 8:00 PM

The Little Princess (1939) … 9:30 PM

I'll Be Seeing You (1944) … 11:15 PM

The Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer (1947) … 12:45 AM

A Kiss For Corliss (1949) … 2:30 AM

That Hagen Girl (1947) … 4:15 AM



Please see my complete tribute to Shirley Temple, here.


We shall always cherish our memories of America’s Little Princess!


I hope you all enjoy this special Shirley Temple T.V. tribute.

Happy Birthday to the Legendary Actor...

" Mickey Rooney "

 

 

Born on September 23rd, 1920!

 

Though our "Summer Holiday" has just ended...

it's a wonderful occasion to celebrate!

 

 

For the Joy you have brought to Many,

on the Big Screen,

and for your Irresistible Charm...

 

We wish you a very Happy Birthday!!!

 

 

And, since Christmas is just right around the corner,

I thought I would include this delightful You Tube clip

of an Andy Hardy & Family Christmas:

 

 

The Most and Best to You!
God Bless You, Mickey Rooney!May you have a very Happy Birthday!

Movie Marathon to Remember the lovely Esther Williams

TCM will give a Special Movie Tribute,

June 13th and 14th, 

for Actress Esther Williams,

who passed away on June 6, at the age of 91.

TCM will play a 24 hour marathon of 13 films to honor her Acting Career, in which she starred opposite of the likes of Van Johnson, Fernando Lamas, Red Skelton, William Powell, Gene Kelly, and more. Esther's first film was "Andy Hardy's Double Life" in 1942, playing Mickey Rooney's love interest. He was also her first on-screen kiss.


Esther Williams, in first Movie, with Mickey Rooney



Esther Williams, dancing with Van Johnson




Esther Williams, with husband, Fernando Lamas


Esther Williams was known as the bathing beauty in many of her films... swimming her way across the big screen of MGM Musicals into stardom! She had hoped to be in the 1940 Olympic games, but World War II prevented it from happening. She was instead discovered pool side by MGM talent scouts, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Tribute begins Thursday, June 13 at 8pm ET on TCM, Turner Classic Movies.

The 13-film lineup includes the following films:

8:00 PM - Bathing Beauty

10:00 PM - Neptune's Daughter

11:45 PM - Million Dollar Mermaid

1:45 AM - Dangerous When Wet

3:30 AM - Andy Hardy's Double Life

5:15 AM - Thrill of a Romance

7:15 AM - Easy to Wed

9:15 AM - The Hoodlum Saint

11:00 AM - Fiesta

1:00 PM - This Time For Keeps

3:00 PM - On an Island with You

5:00 PM - Pagan Love Song

6:30 PM - Texas Carnival


My favorite of these films would be: Andy Hardy's Double Life, Easy to Wed, and Thrill of a Romance... all three are delightful romantic comedies.

I hope you will enjoy this farewell tribute to Esther Williams, a Hollywood Legend.

Prayers for her dear family and friends...

Movie Review - Life with Father

This review below was originally posted to be a part of TCM's "Summer under the Stars" event- which took place in August of 2012. During this event, TCM honored a different actor or actress by playing their movies all day! Irene Dunne was selected for August 24th, 2012 and as part of a special Blogathon by the web-sites, "ScribeHard on Film" and "Sittin on a Backyard Fence", to promote these films, I featured a Movie Review & Trailer (below) for the Irene Dunne Movie, Life with Father.






MOVIE REVIEW


Life with Father

Network: TCM

Original Air Date: 1947

Life with Father is available on DVD - click here!

Stars:  William Powell, Irene Dunne, and a young, Elizabeth Taylor.

CAST:

William Powell ... Father
Irene Dunne ... Vinnie
Elizabeth Taylor ... Mary
Edmund Gwenn ... Rev. Dr. Lloyd
Zasu Pitts ... Cora
Jimmy Lydon ... Clarence
Emma Dunn ... Margaret
Moroni Olsen ... Dr. Humphries
Elisabeth Risdon ... Mrs. Whitehead
Derek Scott ... Harlan
Johnny Calkins ... Whitney
Martin Milner ... John
Heather Wilde ... Annie
Monte Blue ... The Policeman
Mary Field ... Nora
Queenie Leonard ... Maggie
Nancy Evans ... Delia
Clara Blandick ... Miss Wiggins
Frank Elliott ... Dr. Somers

PLOT:

Life With Father was faithfully filmed by Warner Bros. in 1947. William Powell is a tower of comic strength as Clarence Day, the benevolent despot of his 1880s New York City household. Irene Dunne co-stars as Day's wife Vinnie, who outwardly has no more common sense than a butterfly but who is the real head of the household. The anecdotal story, encompassing such details as the eldest Day son's (James Lydon) romance with pretty out-of-towner Mary (Elizabeth Taylor), is tied together by Vinnie's tireless efforts to get her headstrong husband baptized, else he'll never be able to enter the Kingdom of God. Each scene is a little gem of comedy and pathos, as the formidable Mr. Day tries to bring a stern businesslike attitude to everyday household activities, including explaining the facts of life to his impressionable son.

Movie Review:

TCM describes this movie perfectly - It's about... "A straitlaced turn-of-the-century father who presides over a family of boys and the mother who really rules the roost."

Everything about this family is fascinating and interesting. It's definitely a story of a family who is from a complete different generation from where families and children are today. There is an innocence to the young boys that is honest, believable, and refreshing! The mother, Vinnie, played by Irene Dunne, is devoted to her husband and protective and caring with her sons. She is concerned over all their faith and devotion to God, and she is the one, in spite of what the father may think, who makes everything run smoothly in their home.

It is Vinnie's mission to have her husband baptized and we learn throughout the movie that she always finds a way to get things done. She's incredible! When the father, Clarence Day, (played by William Powell) thinks he may lose her, (due to illness), everything in life comes into perspective as he begins to appreciate his wife and family in a whole new way.

It's deeply touching, comical, at times... and insightful into an era so bygone from today's world.

After 5 minutes... you'll be sure to fall in love with the Day family and their every day life and family dramas.

See or Skip:

See! A wonderful family film for every generation!


Life with Father is available on DVD - click here!


--

Happy Birthday Doris Day! TCM's April Star of the Month!

TCM will honor my favorite actress, Doris Day, on their network April 2nd - April 6th, 2012! Her birthday just so happens to occur in the middle of this...

Happy Birthday Doris Day!

April 3rd ...

What a lovely day ~ 'April 3rd is' to have a Birthday Celebration - the beginning of Spring - and I ought to know because it just so happens to be my birthday, too!

How lovely for me to share my Birthday with such a lovely lady! I just adore her sense of style, from the movies she did - wearing such beautiful dresses, pearls, and gloves with such grace and elegance!

I just love this picture of Doris Day above - she reminds me of a dear Aunt of mine. She was just as beautiful as Doris Day and everyone thought she also looked like a movie star.

Thank you, Doris Day... for giving us such a wonderful collection of beautiful movies to cherish....



DORIS DAY - TCM's April Star of the Month!

April 2, 2012 Monday

The Lullaby of Broadway (1951) ... TCM ... 8 PM
By the Light of the Silvery Moon (1953) ... TCM ... 9:45 PM
My Dream Is Yours (1949) ... TCM ... 11:30 PM
On Moonlight Bay (1951) ... TCM ... 1:15 AM
Romance On The High Seas (1948) ... TCM ... 3 AM
Tea For Two (1950) ... TCM ... 4:45 AM


April 3, 2012 Tuesday

It's a Great Feeling (1949) ... TCM ... 6 AM
Starlift (1951) ... TCM ... 8 AM
Lover Come Back (1961) ... TCM ... 8 PM
That Touch of Mink (1962) ... TCM ... 10 PM
Move Over, Darling (1963) ... TCM ... 12 AM
Do Not Disturb (1965) ... TCM ... 2 AM
The Tunnel Of Love (1958) ... TCM ... 4 AM


April 4, 2012 Wednesday

Lucky Me (1954) ... TCM ... 6 AM
Billy Rose's Jumbo (1962) ... TCM ... 8 AM
Midnight Lace (1960) ... TCM ... 8 PM
Storm Warning (1950) ... TCM ... 10 PM
The Winning Team (1952) ... TCM ... 11:45 PM
Julie (1956) ... TCM ... 1:30 AM
West Point Story, The (1950) ... TCM ... 3:30 AM

April 5, 2012 Thursday

Please Don't Eat The Daisies (1960) ... TCM ... 8 PM
Thrill Of It All, The (1963) ... TCM ... 10 PM
Glass Bottom Boat, The (1966) ... TCM ... 12 AM
It Happened To Jane (1959) ... TCM ... 2 AM
April in Paris (1952) ... TCM ... 4 AM


April 6, 2012 Friday

Love Me Or Leave Me (1955) ... TCM ... 8 PM
Young Man With a Horn (1950)... TCM ... 10:15 PM
I'll See You in My Dreams (1951) ... TCM ... 12:15 AM


Doris Day Commentary with Video Preview of Movies airing on TCM:




Also, this is a Holy week as we celebrate Easter on Sunday, April 8th, 2012.
Please see the Family TV Schedule for Easter programming.

Happy Birthday Doris Day...
and God's Blessings to you all!