MovieChat Forums > Meet Me in St. Louis Discussion > A Tenement?

A Tenement?

posted 11 years ago by crlnrgbrght5
5 replies | jump to latest

When the Family is moaning about moving to New York, and one of them makes the comment that Families like them would end up living in a tenement, that was a little melodramatic wasn't it? Father was a Lawyer with five Kids, one He's putting through College, living in a quiet neighborhood in a beautiful Victorian Home, with a live in Maid, and an elderly Parent that they've taken in. That tenement comment was an attempt to scare the Family so they wouldn't change their minds about moving.

[–] Piperson 11 years ago

Yes, they were trying to make New York sound scary and awful. It was a way of injecting a little conflict into what was a pretty conflict-free movie. (Unless you count Tootie pulling out John Truitt's hair.)

[–] crlnrgbrght5 11 years ago

I had seen on TCM a special on this Movie, that New York was supposed to be the villain

[–] Helpfan65 11 years ago

I was always thought that line was over the top as well. The Day family in "Life With Father" lived in a very nice home and I would assume the Smith's would live in something comparable.

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[–] flowergirlz_us-1 11 years ago

I think they were just projecting their worst fears on the situation. I think any world outside of St. Louis was terrifying to them. JMO.

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[–] sherm456 10 years ago

I'm sure that the family wouldn't have moved into a tenement if they did go to New York, but perhaps there was a kernel of truth that was exaggerated upon. Given New York prices, the family probably would have had to exchange their big house for rather tight living quarters.