THE HARVEY GIRLS

US, 1946, 101 minutes, Colour.
Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, John Hodiak, Preston Foster, Virginia O'Brien, Angela Lansbury, Marjorie Main,
Chill Wills, Kenny Baker, Selena Royle, Cyd Charisse.
Directed by George Sidney.

The Harvey Girls is a pleasant Judy Garland vehicle of the mid-'40s. Direction was by George Sidney who was making many musicals at M.G.M. at the time, from Thousands Cheer to Showboat and to several Esther Williams vehicles. Sidney made many musicals and comedies throughout the '50s and '60s e.g. Half A Sixpence in England. Judy Garland was very popular at the time. She is joined by a number of M.G.M. regulars who have the opportunity to show their particular talents e.g. Virginia O'Brien and her deadpan singing, Ray Bolger and his dancing. Cyd Charisse appears, singing and dancing, in an early role. John Hodiak is quite genial as the hero. The film is a tribute to the waitresses who went out to work in the Harvey chain of restaurants in the West. The film won an Oscar for Best Song with the Johnny Mercer- Harry Warren song, The Atchison Topeka and the Santa Fe - it receives quite a show-stopping presentation. The songs are quite pleasant and while the story is slight, it is an enjoyable musical.

1. The status of M.G.M. musicals and their popularity in the time? Quality and style? Their appeal then and now?

2. The work of producer Arthur Freed and his reputation, George Sidney and his lavish musicals? The popularity of Judy Garland? The supporting stars? The film as a concoction for them all to display their talents?

3. Colour photography, studio sets. the atmosphere of the West? The insertion of the songs - especially the show-stoppers e.g. Atchison Topeka and the Santa Fe, The Harvey Girls Song, learning to waltz? Choreography? The importance of the editing especially for the songs?

4. The background of the Harvey Girls - the film as a tribute, the traditions of the West. lawlessness and civilisation, the railroads, the restaurants? Sand~ rock as a typical town? The romanticising of the West?

5. Judy Garland as Susan - the initial song on the back of the train and her hopes for home in the valley? Her pretending to be well-to-do, eating her lunch, the girls supporting her, her showing the dress, telling her story? The quick establishing of the situation? H. H. Hartsey and Ned and his proposing? Saying 'no' to H.H.? The initial clash with Ned? Her becoming a Harvey Girl, the song with the girls being trained? The continued clashes with Ned and the Alhambra - taking the gun to get the steaks back? The clashes with Emma? Deborah and her flirting with the singer and the consequent fight with all the women? Guns, snakes? The songs with Cyd Charisse and Virginia O'Brien? Going out to talk with Ned and overlook his valley? Being deceived by the judge? The party and the learning to waltz? The build-up to the fire? Her decision to give in to Ned, her going on the train? The happy ending? A strong characterisation -the Ohio country girl, prim and nice, changing, pioneering, strong? The American heroine?

6. The Harvey Girls and their work, their background as explained in the Atchison Topeka song, their fears, gunshots and snakes, Virginia O'Brien and her comic song and helping Chris? Deborah and her song and dance? The Harvey girls as pioneers?

7. Ned as the conventional gambler of the West, his clashes with the judge? His proposing for H. H. by letter? The entanglement with Emma and her jealousy? His infatuation with Susan, enjoying the insults? The incidents with the steaks? His not collaborating with the judge? The talks with Susan at the valley? The waltz? The fire and his fight with the judge? His decision to stay for Susan's sake? The happy ending? The colourful traditional character of the West?

8. The judge and the villainous types of the West - tough, underhand, guns, snakes, fire?

9. Emma and the girls - the tough saloon girls, Emma's jealousy, her clashes with Susan, going to the ball? The end and her talk with Susan and letting her go, stopping the train?

10. H.H. Hartsey and Sonora Cassidy - comedy, Marjorie Main's singing and dancing?

11.The contribution of the songs - the initial song about the valley, the three girls singing about the cold, Virginia O'Brien and the Blacksmith song, Kenny Baker and Cyd Charisse and their duet, the Harvey Girls' song, learning to waltz, the Oscar-winning Atchison Topeka and the Santa Fe?

12.The film providing solos for the particular talents of its stars: Judy Garland, Ray Bolger and his dancing and comedy, Virginia O'Brien, Cyd Charisse and her dancing, Kenny Baker and his singing? An enjoyable and typical Hollywood M.G.M. musical?