in video format. "Hayride", sung by Garland and Ray Bolger, was prerecorded but not filmed. Critical response Howard Barnes wrote in the New York Herald Tribune that the film was "A great big animated picture postcard. Judy Garland is the film's bright ... star. Miss Garland is effectively glamorized in get-ups of the (18)90's and sings her songs pleasantly. The Harvey Girls is a perfect demonstration of what Hollywood can do with its vast resources when it wants to be really showy ... pretty girls – period sets and costumes – lilting tunes – super-speedy dance shuffles." The New York Daily News said it was "A nostalgic whiff of the old west. Judy sings several sentimental ballads, as well as On the Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe number. Her chief support in the way of real entertainment comes from Ray Bolger." Time wrote "A technicolored musical celebrating the coming of chastity, clean silverware, and crumbless tablecloths to the pioneer Southwest. The bearers of this culture, according to evidence presented here, were waitresses. The Harvey Girls is good fun in spots. Miss Garland doesn't seem as recklessly happy as she was in St. Louis but she still appears to be having a pretty fine time." Box office According to MGM records the film earned $4,112,000 in the US and Canada and $1,063,000. Awards and honors "On the Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe" won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for Harry Warren and Johnny Mercer. In addition, Lennie Hayton's score was nominated for Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture, but did not win; the Oscar went to Morris Stoloff for The Jolson Story. The film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists: 2004: AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs: "On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe" – Nominated 2006: AFI's Greatest Movie Musicals – Nominated References Notes Further reading External links The Judy Garland Online Discography "The Harvey Girls" pages. 1946 films 1946 musical comedy films 1946 romantic comedy films 1940s romantic musical films American musical comedy films American romantic comedy films American romantic musical films Films that won the Best Original Song Academy Award Films based on American novels Films directed by George Sidney Films produced by Arthur Freed Films scored by Lennie Hayton Films set on trains Films set in the 1890s Films set in the 19th century Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films Fred Harvey Company Films