In the 1944 musical Christmas film Meet Me in St. Louis, Judy Garland plays Esther Smith. The movie follows the Smith family through four seasons in 1903 St. Louis as they anticipate the 1904 World's Fair and face a possible move to New York.
Esther is the family's second daughter and falls in love with the new next-door neighbor, John Truett. Garland performs several of the film's most famous songs, including “The Trolley Song” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” The latter was introduced in the film during a Christmas sequence in which Esther comforts her younger sister Tootie.
Vincente Minnelli directed the movie, which was adapted from Sally Benson's autobiographical stories. It is often called a Christmas movie because its final section is set during the holiday season, although its narrative covers an entire year. The film's portrayal of family life, neighborhood celebrations, and the 1904 fair helped establish it as a classic American musical. Judy Garland married Minnelli after working with him on the production.