MovieChat Forums > Meet Me in St. Louis Discussion > MR. SMITH SHOULD NOT HAVE CAVED IN

MR. SMITH SHOULD NOT HAVE CAVED IN

posted 8 years ago by snsurone
14 replies | jump to latest

While I do believe that Alonzo should have discussed the impending move with his wife, I'm PO'd that it was the brat Tootie's tantrum that made him change his mind.
And his speech about the importance of St. Louis was totally unconvincing.
I'm not certain, but I think that St. Louis became important when it franchised a baseball team!
OK, OK, I'm prejudiced because the Cards defeated the NY Mets (of which I am a fan) in the 2006 playoffs (LOL).

But I think the family would have adapted well in NYC.
Besides, Rose, Esther, and probably Lon, Jr. would have been married and living outside the parental home.
And if Tootie didn't like New York, well, tough s**t!

I like Mr. Smith, but sometimes I wonder if he's too much of a softie.

[–] tmaj48 8 years ago

"But Tootie, that's where Bellevue is!" he should have explained.

He also should have told the spoiled daughters that if he stayed, the money would be a lot tighter--no more parties, formal dances, or expensive clothing.
That might have changed their tune. At any rate, they would have been closer to
Lon at Princeton; Rose would have been closer to Warren Scheffield; Lucille Ballard could make friends with Esther and her grace and sweetness would hopefully rub off on her; and Agnes and Tootie could have joined a girl gang.

I'm not crying, you fool, I'm laughing!

Hewwo.

[–] snsurone 8 years ago

Yes, they might have joined the Dead Rabbits in the Tenderloin district of NYC.

[–] Forlorn_Rage 7 years ago

I loved when Mr. Smith put Rose in her place.

Mr. Smith: I've got to think about where the money's coming from!
Rose: Money! I hate, loathe, and despise money!
Mr. Smith: You also spend it.

Seriously, I felt bad for Lon. His family always shut him out for no good reason! Grandpa merely mentioned that Lon had the "privilege" of working for all of them (seriously), he can't have "everything." Mrs. Smith hardly even blinked at the idea of possibly being separated from her husband for a year.

I would love to have seen the looks on their faces if one day Lon was to tell them how they'd like it if he were to *really* go away and leave them to fend for themselves.

Old Katie would've probably been made to get a 2nd job to take care of them all while Mrs. Smith and the kids would just mope around all day about not having pretty clothes or parties to go!

[–] kaskait 8 years ago

Well, take heart, the real Mr. Smith didn't cave. All of them moved to New York, they didn't even return to see the world's fair. Of course, following that real story would have been a real downer.

[–] snsurone 8 years ago

I doubt that the real life family was so devoted to either St. Louis or the fair.
I believe most of the story is greatly embellished.

[–] crlnrgbrght5 8 years ago

I wonder if Mr. Smith spanked Tootie, like he promised he'd do, after dinner was over.

[–] snsurone 8 years ago

I'd like to think so, but I'm doubtful.

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Sober-Friend 8 years ago

First of all its a movie not "Keeping up with the Kardashians". The fact is nobody wanted to go to New York. His oldest daughters were still in high school. Most kids do not want to move.

Mr Smith did the correct thing. He put his family needs before his own!

[–] kaskait 7 years ago

LOL

He gave up a better job position, bigger salary and brownie points with his bosses just so Esther could go see a plaster of paris fairground. But he put her needs before his own. Bully for him.

[–] steshot 7 years ago

I like musicals anyway, and this is a great musical, but this movie has an extra emotional resonance for me because I moved many times in my childhood. Six times to be exact, and three of those moves occurred during the Christmas break, including the moves in 9th and 11th grade. I don't want to expound on this, but it's a tough thing for a kid, particularly in the later school years.
I think Mr. Smith did the right thing. And I believe a majority of psychologists, those who have studied this issue, would concur.

[–] kaskait 7 years ago

The needs of the family come before the desires of children. The psychologists are wrong. The self-satisfaction of little special snowflakes should not get in the way of a parent's job opportunities. Particularly if the special snowflake would get a better start in life from it.

I moved several times too. I survived.

[–] steshot 7 years ago

My comment was also considering a family's needs rather than their desires -- the need for a sense of rootedness and a healthy social development. Of course, financial well-being is also a family need, so speaking generally, there is no pat answer to this problem. It's too complicated, with all kinds of possibilities, positive and negative.

As for the Smith family, their life in St. Louis appears so comfortable and happy, idyllic even, it's hard to find serious fault with the father's decision.

[–] steshot 7 years ago

I just want to add... While Mr. Smith's decision change follows shortly after Tootie's tantrum, I don't see it as placating a child's wishes. I see it as recognizing all the blessings that the family enjoyed presently. In his declaration, he states how "the grass is always greener..." He's talking about his own prior attitude there.