Le Chant du Missouri

Colorfully it is beautiful, that is simply the magic of Technicolor that always gets me, but when it comes to the story, it's not as captivating to knock me down. Judy Garland is adorable, moreover she yawns really beautifully, there are great scenes here, especially the Halloween one or the one with the snowmen, but otherwise it's a film that will please your heart on a Sunday afternoon, and then you will go do something else. (18/09/2014)

It’s good everywhere; in St. Louis, it’s the best. A wonderfully guileless musical from a time when the nation needed some cheering up. The strengthening of traditional values and the subliminal encouragement of love of country are encoded in practically every scene. Based on their surname alone, the Smiths are a typical American family experiencing traditional situations (Halloween, Christmas). All important decisions are made by the wise and, when the moment calls for it, benevolent head of the family, and other developments in the narrative are also reserved for men. The duty of the women and girls is to lie in the arms of a strapping young man from a better family, then later cook delicious meals and support their husband (Mr. Smith’s wife is the only one who accepts the offered piece of cake). That’s not a reason to sneer, as Meet Me in St. Louis serves superbly both as a feel-good movie and as a film through which one can get a feel for the nature of interwar American society. Furthermore, Judy Garland is much more likable here, in terms of both her appearance and her singing, than she was in The Wizard of Oz. 80% (21/08/2014)