Which film introduced the song 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas'?

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” was introduced in the 1944 film Meet Me in St. Louis. Judy Garland sang it as Esther Smith, performing it to comfort her young sister Tootie during an emotionally difficult Christmas Eve scene.

The song was written in 1943 by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s musical film. The story follows the Smith family through seasonal episodes in St. Louis during 1903 and 1904, as they anticipate the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, commonly called the 1904 World’s Fair.

The original draft was considerably darker. Lyrics suggesting that the Christmas might be the family’s last and that they might soon be living in the past were changed after Garland, Tom Drake and director Vincente Minnelli found them too depressing. Later, Frank Sinatra prompted further revisions toward the warmer version most listeners know.

The film also introduced “The Trolley Song” and “The Boy Next Door.” Confusion often arises because later recordings—especially Sinatra’s—made the song seem like a standalone standard, but its first appearance was cinematic and specifically tied to Garland’s performance.