If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

As long as you watch this film in context - and consider when it was set (Arizona in the 1890s) and where it was made (1946 Hollywood), you'll enjoy it for what it is: a simple and really sweet romance set in the Wild West.The costumes are wonderful, the songs catchy (catchy enough to pick up the Oscar for Best Song that year) and the dancing divine and, of course, Judy Garland shines, as does a 20-year-old Angela Lansbury.Garland plays Susan Bradley, a feisty lass on her way to Saltrock, Arizona to meet - and marry - the gent who has been courting her, most eloquently, via letter. On the fateful train trip from Ohio, aboard the storied Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, she meets and befriends a charming group of girls also heading to Saltrock. They're trainee waitresses on their way to set up the latest branch of the equally famous Harvey House chain of restaurants. Unfortunately for Susan, her betrothed turns out to be a little too fond of gamblin' and boozin' - and not so fond of marriage, and the pair agree to part ways, but not before he confesses to not being the author of the oh-so-sweet letters she received. Rather than heading back home, Susan decides to train as a 'Harvey Girls,' which pits her against the owners of the local saloon, which is owned by the dashing Ned Trent (John Hodiak) who, it turns out, is the actual author of the letters which tugged so deeply at Susan's heart. It really is a sweet story and you'll be singing the lead song, On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe, weeks later...

Very good film, maybe not the very best of Judy's, but there are no bad Judy Garland films. A film will never be that bad with that pretty, beautiful voiced angel on the screen, no matter how bad the rest of the film is."The Harvey girls" had some pretty good parts. The Harvey girls were a group of girls who took the train down to the old west town of Sandrock in the 19th century. Judy was on the train with them, and very hungry with nothing but a half slice of bread while seeing other girls holding big pieces of fried chicken. Then this little girl stops and looks at Judy begging for something to eat. I was sort of curious why she begged Judy for food when she hardly had anything when there was clearly those other girls nearby with the big pieces of fried chicken and such (including a corned beef sandwich that one of the girls had Judy try a couple moments later). Well perhaps she didn't see the other girls' food, she was quite small. Once the train arrived in Sandrock, the girls, and the townfolk started singing the best song of the film, "The Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe". Across the street was an old west saloon with drinking, rowdyness, and burlesque girls led by Angela Langsbury, who they and saloon owner Jon Hodiak did not like the Harvey girls moving into their town. Judy was on her way to Sandrock to marry a man there she'd never met yet but had been writing and receiving letters from. Once there, Judy found out that the whole thing was a prank. Judy, upset, confronted the man behind the prank, John, who retaliated, Judy retaliated back. Then things between John and other members of the saloon and Judy and the other Harvey girls (who Judy now joined) escalated. John and his crew stole the Harvey girl's meat. Judy came into the saloon holding two guns demanding it back (she did look sort of comical and silly doing that). John had one of his friends, the town judge, shoot a bullet through the Harvey girl's window as they were going to bed. At one point, there was a literal brawl between the burlesque girls and the Harvey girls (which did looka sort of corny). Judy's singing definitely, as always, was beautiful. The song "Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa fe" was wonderful, very elaborate with nearly the entire town taking part in it. The middle of the song parts with different girls singing their personal lines which were charming such as Virginia O'brien with "I said goodbyo Ohio" and one of the other girls with "I came from Paris, was married in Paris, almost buried in Paris, so I then left Paris, (girls join in) Paris, Illinois". I liked that. I also liked Judy, Virginia, and Cyd Charrise singing "It's a great big world", and the girls' "Round and round" at the dance. All beautiful songs. There was also some of Ray Bulger's ("Oz" scarecrow) rubber legged dancing. Ray became the new blacksmith who was to say the least, sort of a coward of guns shooting off and of horses. Maybe they should've had Bert Lair as the cowardly lion play this part instead of Ray the scarecrow. I liked Virginia joining in to help out Ray shoe the horse. The scene with Cyd and the saloon piano player singing "Just you wait and see" was very nice. I love Cyd Charrise. I also liked a scene with Judy and John outside of the town with them sitting down againced some rocks. Then when they get up, John trips and Judy laughed. Her laughter there reminded me of her laughter in "Girl crazy" when she kept laughing at Mickey Rooney. I love Judy's laugh. I love her singing, her passion, and her beauty. I love Judy Garland. There is no bad Judy movie.

Okay, if unmemorable, Western-based musical starring Judy Garland. The main reasons to watch it are for her and the Oscar-winning song, "On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe", which, even if the name doesn't ring a bell, if you heard the tune, you'd recognize it. Ray Bolger reunites with Garland as the town's new blacksmith. He has some amusing dance numbers. Also, a very young Angela Lansbury. There's nothing much else to the film. The other songs are forgettable. They must have known this, since the Oscar winner keeps reappearing in the underscore throughout the picture. John Hodiak is a terrible choice for Garland's enemy-but-soon-to-be-beloved. I could never get past that shark grin. Marjorie Main annoys with her scratchy voice. For some reason, the filmmakers think it's hilarious to have her contribute to several of the musical numbers. It sounds like she underwent torture. All in all, it's amiable, but not really worth the time.

For reasons that need not detain us here my life is punctuated by movies that for one reason or another - I wasn't born yet, they never played in my neighborhood or I just plain missed them - I never got to see on their initial release. Wizard of Oz was one, Meet Me In St Louis was another as was The Harvey Girls. I remember catching up with a revival of Meet Me In St Louis in my teens. I was blown away and went back three times. I've just caught up with The Harvey Girls and my overall reaction is so what. True, there's a great production number and there's another number 'It's A Great Big World' that is light years better than Atchison, Topeka and finally there is Virginia O'Brien but once you've said that there is little left to praise. As a Judy completist I'm glad to have it on my shelves but that's about it.