A fine cast, charming score, and excellent production values highlight this otherwise conventional musical inspired by real-life adventures of Harvey restaurant waitresses during the 1880s. Perhaps best described as Americana at its most milk-fed wholesome, the film concerns the clash between the influence of "good girl" waitresses (led by Judy Garland) and "bad girl" saloon hostesses (led by Angela Lansbury) as they square off over both customers and beaus in an Old West frontier town.
THE HARVEY GIRLS is justly famous for the production number "On the Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe," an extremely complex and exciting bit of work; other memorable moments include Garland, Virginia O'Brien, and Cyd Charisse's trio on "It's A Great Big World" and O'Brien's drop-dead witty "Wild Wild West." The enjoyable cast also includes charming performances by Ray Bolger, Chill Wills and Marjorie Main. Even so, the film seldom seems to rise above tepid, and THE HARVEY GIRLS lacks the inspiration of a truly great musical--particularly so when compared with such Garland classics as MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS and THE PIRATE. Recommended, but don't expect too much.
Gary F. Taylor, aka GFT, Amazon Reviewer
THE HARVEY GIRLS is justly famous for the production number "On the Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe," an extremely complex and exciting bit of work; other memorable moments include Garland, Virginia O'Brien, and Cyd Charisse's trio on "It's A Great Big World" and O'Brien's drop-dead witty "Wild Wild West." The enjoyable cast also includes charming performances by Ray Bolger, Chill Wills and Marjorie Main. Even so, the film seldom seems to rise above tepid, and THE HARVEY GIRLS lacks the inspiration of a truly great musical--particularly so when compared with such Garland classics as MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS and THE PIRATE. Recommended, but don't expect too much.
Gary F. Taylor, aka GFT, Amazon Reviewer