Just about every Vincente Minnelli film is based on a novel or theatrical show, and he doesn’t have a writing credit on any of them. And yet, by project selection and the shaping of narratives through his direction, he managed to return to some central themes.

One of those is the tension between work and personal life. That makes sense for a man who was married four times and whose one true love was likely his art. That theme shows up early on in Meet Me in St. Louis, when Mr. Smith has the chance to advance his career by uprooting his family. It shows up in his films about Hollywood, which all detail the negative impact of moviemaking on private lives. Lust for Life does the same for a different sort of artist, Vincent Van Gogh.

Continue reading →