As a lover of musicals and of Judy Garland, I watched The Harvey Girls and I really liked it on the whole. The plot though is cardboard especially in the second half and John Hodiak for my liking gives a rather lacklustre performance. Still it is worth seeing. The film with its beautiful costumes, scenery and photography does look gorgeous, the music is fantastic particularly the climatic set-piece On the Atchison, Topeka and The Santa Fe, the choreography is magnificent and the first half is great fun. The film is directed lovingly by George Sidney, and while Angela Lansbury and Ray Bolger are excellent, this is Judy Garland's film and she is absolutely wonderful. Overall, a lovely film. 8/10 Bethany Cox

"We ought to be able to lick a hand full of girls with our hands tied behind our backs!". This amazing quote, surely the thing of double-entendres, actually sums up the plot quite well. A train filled with waitresses come to a western town to work for one of many restaurants run by the Harvey chain--and some powerful folks in the town will do practically anything to get them to leave as this restaurant is competition to the bar/whorehouse. However, despite this dangerous story, it's not all seriousness as this is a Judy Garland musical--filled with many bright and peppy production numbers. In fact, this is THE problem with the movie. Even for an MGM musical, there are too many song and dance numbers and this made it seem as if dialog and plot were, at best, secondary. It's a shame, as the film looks dynamite---with its intense 1940s color, wonderful costumes and HUGE song and dance numbers that you just have to see to believe.For lovers of musicals, I'd rate this one an 8. For folks like me that love classic films but don't love every musical, a 6. And, for folks who aren't familiar with or don't like older films (they must be crazy), I'd say it's better just to avoid this one. I really wanted to love the film--as I do love Judy Garland in "Meet Me in St. Louis" and "In the Good Old Summertime". Plus, Garland is wonderful in the film--and she gives it her all. However, this one, clearly, is not in the same league as these great films.

Susan Bradley( Judy garland) goes out on an adventure with hope that her new husband is and wonderful and gorgeous as his letters. On the train going to Sandrock a little mining town, she meets the "Harvey Girls", girls who leave home to be waitresses at "The Harvey House". And how they meet is when they see Susan has nothing to eat except literally a couple of crumbs. They offer her a sandwich, which she accepts and while she's eating it, they all ask her why she's going to Sandrock. She tells them all about her new husband Mr H.H. Hartsey "esquire" (Chill Wills) She reads them the letters which she finds out soon that are fake. When the get off the train Mr. Hartsey mistakes the Harvey House cook for Susan. He kisses her and she gives him a beating while the whole train station laughs. But Before this happens they all sing for literally I think about half an hour. (I fast-forwarded it. Warning: never watch this with someone who remembers this when it came out! I watched it with my grandma who thought the singing was good and wouldn't let me skip it!) After they leave the train station and Susan finds out Who's letters they are actually written by, She confronts Mr. Ned Trent about it. She tells him "Oh I'm just someone who doesn't like you Mr.Trent. I don't know if you're a thief or a murderer but I know one thing,you're worse! You're a yellow dog Mr.Trent, Good-day!" And when he goes after her out side she says "You mean I've come 2 thousand miles for a joke?! wouldn't you just love it if I went back home?! Me and all the other nice girls that came out here today! If I have anything to say about it you're going to have to eat all those pretty letters you wrote and yes I hope you choke on them too!" Thus the western romance begins. So Watch this movie girls! you'll adore it!

"The Harvey Girls" is MGM at its very best. The near perfection of the "On the Atchison, Topeka and Sata Fe" number is worth a viewing if for nothing else. If you want to see what Hollywood's Golden Age was all about see this film. Judy Garland and the entire cast turn in A+ performances. Virginia O'Brien's deadpan delivery is understated genius. An interesting note, in an era when African-American performances were usually cut out of films in the South, director George Sidney has actor Ben Carter (as John Henry) begin the main number of the film, thus ensuring that he would not be cut out of the film. Sidney proves his worth as a director and gives a preview of his accomplishments to come on "Annie Get Your Gun".