Sally Benson’s autobiographical stories about her childhood in St. Louis inspired this charming and nostalgic musical, one of the most beloved films of MGM’s Golden Age. Judy Garland plays Esther, one of five children in a happy middle-class family, and Margaret O'Brien, who plays the youngest daughter, “Tootie,” won a Special Award as “outstanding child actress of 1944.” Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane wrote the charming original songs, including the perennial “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” and the Oscar-nominated “The Trolley Song.” 

DIRECTOR: Vincente Minnelli. WRITTEN BY: Irving Brecher, Fred F. Finklehoffe. CAST: Judy Garland, Margaret O'Brien, Mary Astor, Lucille Bremer. 1944. 113 min. USA. Color. English. 35mm. New print courtesy of the Academy Film Archive. 

Family Matinees in September honor the centennial of the birth of screen legend Judy Garland. 

Academy Museum film programming generously funded by the Richard Roth Foundation.

Make It Dinner and a Movie

Fanny's Restaurant & Café

All guests who present a ticket for a film screening, Tuesday through Saturday (and the first Sunday of every month), receive 10% off all food and non-alcoholic beverages at Fanny's. Discount only applicable on the same day as the screening and cannot be redeemed for another screening or date. Dinner reservations can be made on OpenTable or Resy.