Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938) User Reviews (44)

Significant Career Boosts For Two Legends

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 26 December 2008]

In Love Finds Andy Hardy, love descends upon Mickey Rooney like an invading army. It's amazing how he managed to get free from all of his romantic entanglements. But when you've got Judy Garland, Lana Turner, and Ann Rutherford all chasing you in the same film, you must be doing something right.

Those who followed the doings of the Hardy family in the theaters back in the day and on TCM now are aware of Mickey's girl friend Ann Rutherford who plays Polly Benedict in the series. Ann's going away from Carvel for the Christmas holidays and Andy has no one to take to the winter dance. Then at the same time he meets Judy Garland who is staying next door to the Hardys visiting an aunt and gets introduced to his friend Beezy's girl friend Lana Turner. Somehow the image of Lana Turner ever going out with a person named 'Beezy' doesn't compute.

Still Beezy who is played in the series by George Breakston is also going out of town and before long Rooney's got two dates to the dance with Garland and Turner and an unexpected Ann Rutherford returning home.

Now since this was right in the beginning of the Hardy series, you know Mickey got out of it and lived to romance another day. But Love Finds Andy Hardy if it belongs to anyone in the cast, the film is definitely Judy Garland's. Her personality so winning, there was never a question about her becoming a great star. She has some good songs to sing with In-Between and It Never Rains, But What It Pours which she sings well, but should have been Mickey's theme for this film.

What I liked best in the film is how Judy with a little psychology managed to get Rooney out of his entanglement with Turner. That's worth seeing the film alone for. There is also a couple of nice subplots involving a wayward juvenile before Judge Hardy played by Gene Reynolds and the fact that Mother (Fay Holden) is away at Christmas time tending to her mother.

Love Finds Andy Hardy is an average film for the series, but it's a milestone in that two screen legends who were very different types on the screen got significant career boosts from this film.

Those good old days were innocent and different times...

[Doylenf · 6/10 · 23 December 2006]

Once again, MICKEY ROONEY is in all sorts of trouble and Judge Hardy is always there to get him out of it--or at least talk things over with him. And this time, the accent is on his girl troubles. It's kind of amusing just to see the pretty ANN RUTHERFORD and a very young LANA TURNER throwing themselves at Rooney the way they do--I mean, let's fact it, he was never a looker.

Gone are the days when teens dressed like they do here--Rooney wearing a derby on a bright summer day and not a pair of jeans in sight. The script has Ann Rutherford's Polly going away on a Christmas visit to an aunt, which gives Rooney an excuse to discover Lana Turner's Cynthia at a swimming pool. She serves as his playmate for this particular Hardy story and it's easy to see why MGM kept her under contract for years to come.

JUDY GARLAND is Betsy Booth, who announces right at the start that she's "going to be on the stage some day"--and was that a good prediction! She also gets to sing a few numbers in the now famous Garland style.

The plot ambles along predictably and pleasantly, as most Hardy films do, and suffice it to say that Rooney's fling with Lana Turner is the most enjoyable aspect of the story and well played by both youngsters. But boy, could he mug! Yes, even then, he dispensed with some pretty extravagant bits of mugging that became more and more pronounced as the years went on. Some called it talent--others may have disagreed. Whatever it was, he was a very popular box-office star at the time this one was made.

Summing up: Pleasant enough for Hardy fans, and certainly a reminder of how different times were for teens in the late '30s.

A Few Annoyances But Overall Charming As Usual

[ccthemovieman-1 · 7/10 · 16 May 2006]

This is very corny in spots, especially with the goofy faces Mickey Rooney makes with the girls. They are so childish they get annoying quickly. However, he stops doing that fairly soon, thankfully.

Even though these Andy Hardy films are sappy, there is a certain charm to them. Of note in this film is a very young Lana Turner and a young Judy Garland, whose songs are so-so in here. She plays an appealing role but is not convincing as a 12-year-old. She looks physically more mature than pre-teen.

Lewis Stone, meanwhile, is perhaps the best character in this film as he was in most movies in this series. I really liked his hear-to-heart talk with Rooney. In an old-fashioned way, it's nice to see a teen with a great rapport with his parents. Some may not believe it, but it DOES happen in some families!!

One of the Greatest Casts Ever Put Together

[Michael_Elliott · 29 December 2010]

Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938)

*** (out of 4)

Andy (Mickey Rooney) catches a break when girlfriend Polly (Ann Rutherford) must head out of town because this leaves him able to earn $8 for a car he wants to buy. All he has to do is date his best friend's girlfriend (Lana Turner) while he's out of town as he doesn't want her going around with any other boys. Things don't go as planned but at least Andy has his new neighbor (Judy Garland) who just happens to have a few plans of her own. This fourth film in the series is often considered by man to be the best but I'm not certain I'd go that far. If someone is looking for pure laughs there are funnier films in the series but at the same time it's easy to see why this one would get so much attention due to the terrific cast. I guess you could say Andy is the luckiest guy in the world if his biggest problem is dating women like Garland, Turner and Rutherford but that's the major of the film's storyline. There are a few minor subplots dealing with Judge (Lewis Stone) having to take care of the fort when his wife (Fay Holden) leaves to take care of her ill mother. I'm guessing mom was pretty much written out of this one simply because you had so many other characters that needed attention. Apparently this film was shot in just 19 days and was released to theaters less than two months after it was given the green light. It's hard to imagine any movie being written, shot and shown in such a short period of time but I guess you have to give the MGM factory credit for this. Even though I wouldn't name this the best of the series there are still enough good moments to make it a must see. The majority of the charm comes from Rooney and his energy as he tries to get through all these situations while at the same time learning various life lessons. It's hard to imagine anyone else in the role of Andy Hardy as Rooney is pitch perfect for it and he matches well with the three females. He and Rutherford always had that great charm in each film but the real shock was seeing how good he was with Turner. The two really seem to have great chemistry and this comes across during a terrific scene in the woods where they kiss and Rooney lets out a scream of pleasure to which Turner then laughs in hysterics. Garland certainly gets the majority of the screen time and she does a fine job as well. She also gets to sing three songs, which she does a good job with even though none of the songs are all that memorable. It goes without saying but Lewis Stone is at the top of his game as normal. LOVE FINDS ANDY HARDY is certainly a flick that any film buff should see simply because of the great cast. It's hard to think of a film with more young talent but they all deliver the goods and make this an entertaining little gem.

Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938) ***

[JoeKarlosi · 7/10 · 25 November 2007]

I'd never seen one of these "Judge Hardy's Family" movies before this, but on Thanksgiving Day I checked out the TCM schedule to see what was going to be playing for the holiday and I was intrigued by the long list of movies within this series. So, while I was out for the day visiting the family I let my VCR record about three or four of these things. I just randomly began with this one, which I enjoyed and have since read is considered one of the better installments.

Here we have Mickey Rooney (I can't believe he was actually 18 when he made this) getting involved with two other girls once his main squeeze Polly (Ann Rutherford) has to go away to visit her grandma for Christmas. Andy's been looking to raise twenty dollars (!) to buy a car he's had his eye on, so while Polly's gone, Andy accepts his friend Beezy's offer to get paid to date his girlfriend Cynthia (Lana Turner) while Beezy's also out of town for Christmas. From there, "troubles" erupt when Cynthia gets way too stuck on Andy, and then his singing neighbor Betsy (Judy Garland) also starts to fall in love with him. Wish I had problems like that when I was 15!

While watching this film, you can't help become aware of how drastically times have changed in 70 years. This is a wholesome family affair. It was a joy watching Lewis Stone as Andy's old dad, Judge James Hardy, trying to bridge the generation gap (such as it was in the '30s) between father and son, and having his heart to heart talks with his boy. Mickey Rooney's characterization of the highly animated Andy Hardy was infectious, and I thought all three of his well-known leading ladies were cute. Judy sings a few tunes, of course, and I didn't mind them a bit. It seemed to me, though, that she was relegated more to the background for this story, unfortunately. I am looking forward to catching further entries from this series in the future. *** out of ****

Andy loves them all

[jotix100 · 7/10 · 15 July 2005]

The Andy Hardy series, based on Vivien R. Bretherton's stories, proved to be a favorite of the public at the time they came out. It was a different and innocent America. These were the teen agers of that era, and their world, as Hollywood interpreted it. This picture was directed by George B. Seitz.

Andy loves Polly, but when a friend asks him to take care of the beautiful Cynthia, he complies. Enter the girl-next-door, Betsy, and the problems begin. As usual, the fatherly figure of Judge James K. Hardy, is there to guide his young son into doing the right thing. In fact, Andy and his parents didn't suffer from the generation gap that became prevalent later on; the openness of family relationships of that time is so refreshing and shows how much has been lost. It probably had to do with a loving mother, Emily, who stayed home and supervised her children.

The cast is delightful. Mickey Rooney shows why he was one of the most loved actors of the time. Judy Garland is a sweet Betsy and has an opportunity to sing three songs in the film. Lewis Stone and Fay Holden as the Hardy parents, are good and solid. Cecilia Parker is sister Marian. A young Lana Turner is seen as Cynthia and finally, Ann Rutherford was perfect as Polly.

A delightful comedy that about a more happy era in America.

Judy and Lana make this one a must-see!

[JohnHowardReid · 7/10 · 23 October 2017]

Assistant director: Tom Andre. Gag consultant: Buster Keaton. Sound recording: Douglas Shearer. Producers: Carey Wilson, Lou L. Ostrow. Copyright 13 July 1938 by Loew's Inc. Presented by Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer. New York opening at the Capitol, 21 July 1938 (ran 2 weeks). U.S. release: 2 July 1938. Australian release: 15 September 1938. 9 reels. 8,199 feet. 91 minutes.

SYNOPSIS: A pal asks Andy Hardy to keep the wolves away from his sexy girlfriend.

NOTES: Academy Award, Mickey Rooney, best male juvenile of 1938. Douglas McPhail had a major role, but his entire part ended up on the cutting-room floor. Number 9 in The Film Daily annual "Ten Best Pictures" poll of U.S. film critics. Negative cost: approx. $250,000. Initial domestic rental gross: $2 million. Number 4 in the series.

COMMENT: Just about all critics regard this one as the best of the series, and it's not hard to realize why. In four words: Judy Garland, Lana Turner.

To take Miss Garland first. Counting shorts, this one numbers as her 13th appearance before the cameras. She is an absolute delight. Not only does her personality and singing voice come across remarkably well, but in Lester White's glossy yet muted lighting, she looks most attractive into the bargain. Our only regret that her part was trimmed before release and that two of her songs, "Easy to Love" and "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen", were jettisoned. She's left with three, but five would have been a real treat, especially as, for once, her voice is so deftly recorded.

And now Lana. Counting her work as a race crowd extra in A Star Is Born (1937) in which you can only see the back of her head, Love Finds... marks not only her fifth movie appearance, but the first time she essayed an unsympathetic characterization. She comes over with such astonishing effectiveness you remember her role long after you've forgotten the rest of the plot. True, she's handed some astringent lines, but she makes the most of them (thanks no doubt to off-screen coaching by Mervyn LeRoy to whom she was under personal contract at the time. Lana later acknowledged that LeRoy's guidance in the early stages of her career proved "invaluable").

Unfortunately, as with Judy Garland's part, Lana's role has also been shortened in the cutting-room. The movie's emphasis now rests squarely upon Rooney and Stone who either share or are present in just about all the movie's scenes except for some wonderful solo footage involving Judy.

Cecilia Parker hardly remains in the movie at all (her romantic involvement with Douglas MacPhail has been completely eliminated) except for an occasional squabble with Andy. And even Fay Holden now finds herself written out of the central action, with not even so much as a single cut to the Canadian setting in which her sick mother apparently recovers like magic.

It's interesting that critical enthusiasm for this entry can be evenly divided among contemporary and present-day reviewers. In 1938, no less than 180 critics across the nation voted Love Finds... as the number one movie of the year. In 2017, just about all of us agree that here is the best of the entire 16-picture series. No masterpiece certainly, but Judy and Lana make it well worth watching.

Garland (may spoil obvious)

[kcfl-1 · 7/10 · 24 December 2006]

What were the producers thinking? Why would anyone prefer Ann Rutherford to Judy Garland? Anyone with eyes can see she's the star, not to mention anyone with ears. She dominates the film, but Andy ends up preferring someone else because Judy is "too young." It looks like they tacked on a line by Judge Stone that Judy's character must be "12 or 13" to explain the incredible turn of events. According to TCM, Judy was 16, Lana 17 and Ann 18 at the time. But Andy's character is supposed to be 15, "waiting to be 16." Remarkable how Judy has It here, the voice and the looks. I had thought that as she got older, her voice broke down as her acting improved, but here she matches anything the mature Judy did.

The best of the entire Andy Hardy series, and that is sure saying a lot!

[thirteenthfloorelevator · 10/10 · 21 February 2006]

These low budget teen comedies practically carried MGM throughout the 30s and 40s. If they lost money on another movie, they would just invest in another Andy Hardy picture, and they would be guarantee a comfortable return on their investment. Out of all the Hardy films, this comedy of errors in the best. Mickey Rooney is in top shape as the girl crazy Andy Hardy, who winds up with more girls than he can handle. Ann Rutherford, Lana Turner and Judy Garland are all exceptional, and Judy busts out some memorable songs during this movie that will stick in your mind even when the movie is over. This movie is a reflection of more innocent times, the pre-WWII era of the world, where everyone was full of hope and dreams about what lay ahead in the world. Movies like this are rare and the people making contemporary teen comedies would do themselves a favour to watch this movie, amongst other Hardy pics, to see precisely what makes a good comedy. No foul language, no nudity, just a good solid story and great performers to carry it. Not to be missed. Now, I can only hope for an Andy Hardy box set on DVD.

Love Finds Andy Hardy review

[JoeytheBrit · 6/10 · 22 April 2020]

It doesn't have to look too hard, because he's once again safely nestled in the bosom of his wholesome family and mired in the most inconsequential of teen problems. Mickey Rooney's mad overacting is countered by Lewis Stone's calm authority, and Judy Garland is sweet - although a little too well-developed to play a 12-year-old. Clean and wholesome fun that benefits from typically impeccable MGM production values.

Most historically important segment of the Andy Hardy series.

[mark.waltz · 5/10 · 18 December 2010]

If "Thoroughbreds Don't Cry" was the seed that planted the idea of a Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland pairing in Louis B. Mayer's mind, then this film becomes the root that puts it all together. It is a likable, if sheer fantasy, story of teen love during the post-depression and pre-war days of America. Louis B. Mayer thought that the American family was the glue that would keep us free, and if he wasn't exactly Judge James Hardy in real life, he certainly tried to emulate him in the minds of his stable of MGM stars. In the case of the three young stars here (Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney and Lana Turner), he was a major factor in their growing up period, good or bad.

The story covers Andy's dilemma of not having a date for the Christmas dance after his girlfriend Polly (Ann Rutherford) announced that she would be away for the holidays. One of his friends asks him to take his girlfriend (Lana Turner) to the dance since he is being taken away by his family as well, and Andy agrees. Then, there is the visitor next door: the younger but somewhat more level-headed Betsy Booth (Judy Garland) who has an instant crush on Andy. She cries out "No glamour!" about herself when he politely rebuffs her, but later saves the day when Polly returns, finds out Andy was taking out another girl, and he ends up at the dance anyway thanks to Betsy. Garland gets to sing three songs, two of which are at the dance, and Andy is surprised to find the girl he considered a baby was not that at all. And when Betsy is asked to lead the "Grand March", she asks Mickey to accompany her, making him realize that she is more than he gave her credit for.

This film focuses more on Rooney and Garland than the rest of the family. Sure, Ma Hardy is away because her mother is ill, so the judge hires a cook (Marie Blake, aka Blossom Rock, aka Grandma Addams) to save the family from sister Cecilia Parker's cooking. Fay Holden makes a token appearance at the beginning and end of the film, and for this segment of the series, it is Betsy Ross Clarke, not Sara Haden, who plays Aunt Millie. Rooney and Parker do their typical share of sibling arguing, but it's all really over nothing and seems silly in retrospect. But when you've got two future superstars like Garland and Turner to watch, it's all harmless fun. Sure, this series, like "The Brady Bunch", isn't like any family, so young audiences of today might consider it ridiculous.

It's also hard to watch Garland sing the sad "In Between", since she had to belittle herself in practically every film she did with Rooney by singing a number over her lack of glamour, inability to land a man, or how ugly she was in comparison to the other ladies around her. No wonder she had such insecurities, she has to shout them to the world up on the silver screen! Fortunately, the character is a lot less frenetic than her character in "Thoroughbreds Don't Cry", so she's a bit more real. Rooney is his usual bombastic self but the character is hard not to like, just in minimal doses. Three or more Andy Hardy films in one sitting can bring on a tooth ache! Turner is only in the film for several scenes, including one with Garland, but within two years, she would find the look that would lead her to super-stardom by the beginning of the war.

Andy Hardy at his best.

[lacy_lou_92 · 9/10 · 29 August 2007]

This has gotta be one of my all time favorite movies ever! It takes you back to simpler times, when cars were only $20 and makes you wish life could be like that now. Judy Garland is radiant in this movie, she absolutely steals every scene she is in! The movie is filled with an all star cast, including Mickey Rooney (well Hugh) Judy Garland (another duh) Lana Turner and others.

It's basically a story about Andy Hardy (played by Mickey Rooney) who gets into some girl trouble, and is helped by his neighbors granddaughter (Judy Garland) who is staying for Christmas. Judy sings some wonderful songs in this movie, especially "In-Between" it's such a believable song for a young girl to sing. They try to pass Judy off as a 12 year old, but she does look older. other than that, it's perfect!

Just Watch It.

In this one, Andy's a giggolo!

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 22 December 2016]

While many folks might really love this installment of the Andy Hardy franchise because you get to see Lana Turner AND Judy Garland, no matter how you look at it Andy is a jerk. Andy is broke and needs money...a theme in nearly all the Andy Hardy films. So, to get money for his car, he agrees to take Cynthia (Turner) out and show her a good time. Now why would anyone want to pay Andy to do that? Well, her boyfriend is going out of town and wants to be sure Cynthia never gets serious with any other boys...so he pays Andy to date her...technically making Andy a giggolo! As for his steady girlfriend, Polly (Ann Rutherford), she's also out of town and so she apparently won't be the wiser. To complicate things, a new neighbor, Betsy (Garland) just moved in and she is infatuated with Andy...though she's obviously too nice for him. What's to come of all this?

The notion that three women would fight over that pipsqueak Andy is a bit hard to imagine. And, as for Andy, he treats all of the young ladies abominably and it's really hard to pull for him in this film. Because of this, although it has an amazing cast, it's also not one of the better films of the series. Plus, with Judy in this one, they were obliged to throw in three songs--three not very good songs. As a result, it messed up the formula which worked so well in the rest of the Hardy films. Had this been "Babes on Broadway" or a similar Mickey Rooney-Judy Garland film, it would have made a lot more sense. Worth seeing but weak.

By the way, Mary Blake (Grandmama from "The Addams Family" TV show) makes her first of two appearances in the series.

This movie will make you hate Mickey Rooney

[HotToastyRag · 1/10 · 24 June 2018]

The first five minutes of Love Finds Andy Hardy are really cute. Lewis Stone, head of the Hardy household, is a benevolent judge with a sweet rapport with Fay Holden, his wife. Unfortunately, the only reason the movie started out cute was because Mickey Rooney, the lead, hadn't showed up yet. I don't know what he was trying to do or why he thought it was a good idea to do it, but watching this movie will make you absolutely despise him. He acts like he's been kicked in the head by a mule, his hormones are out-of-control and make him a selfish jerk, and his punchy energy makes him seem like a marionette whose main goal is to become a "real boy".

Once again, I found myself talking through another terrible movie in order to keep my sanity. Judy Garland's strange posture and way of walking would have warranted criticism on its own, but the way her character was written deserves much more of that. Mickey Rooney is a callous hormone-crazed jerk who tries to take advantage of every girl he meets, but for some reason, Judy's crazy about him and tries to win him for herself. Nothing about their scenes together makes sense, and compared to his lunatic facial expressions, she seemed enormously depressed during each of her lines.

Unless you want to see Mickey Rooney as an insane bobblehead, skip this one and pick another Andy Hardy movie. They made sixteen of them.

perhaps one of the earliest teen comedies

[ajdagreat · 22 July 2001]

I could see them remaking this movie in 2001 as a regular teen movie. What is "Love Finds Andy Hardy" about, really, other than a guy's quest for money, girls, and a car? Of course, the modern movie producers will have to add sexual humor to it. If you like teen movies and want to see their predecessor, if you're a fan of anyone in the cast, or just if you wanna catch up on your 1938 romance-comedies, this is a good movie to see. I would recommend it.

Fourth Entry In Andy Hardy Series A Pip

[CitizenCaine · 7/10 · 4 November 2012]

The fourth go-round for the Hardy family has Emily Hardy (Fay Holden) and Aunt Millie (Betty Ross Clarke) off to visit their mother in Canada because of a stroke. Sister Marian (Cecilia Parker) tries to keep house until the convenient arrival of a cook hired by Judge Hardy (Lewis Stone). In the meantime, Andy (Mickey Rooney) has to figure out how to pay for a used car the "right way" without taking advantage of others. Polly Benedict (Ann Rutherford) is off to her grandmother's for the holidays, and Andy thinks he has figured out how to pay for his used car until he's forced to juggle multiple females, including Polly, Cynthia Potter (a nearly 17 year old Lana Turner), and Betsy Booth (Judy Garland). What a chore! Rooney's energy is more than enough, Garland's charm is abundant, and Turner's allure apparent. Marie Blake, who appears as Augusta the cook, and Raymond Hatton, as Peter Dugan, both had long careers as character actors. George P. Breakston makes his first appearance as "Beezy" Anderson in the series. Judy sings several songs including "What Do You Know About Love", "In-Between", "It Never Rains, But What It Pours", and "Meet The Beat Of My Heart". According to a comment on IMDb, this film was the first appearance of Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland together, but that is not true. Thoroughbreds Don't Cry from 1937 was their first co-starring film together. In 2000, the film made the National Film Registry list. *** of 4 Stars.

From the beloved family series, was added to the National Film Registry in 2000

[jacobs-greenwood · 6/10 · 2 December 2016]

Directed by George B. Seitz, with a screenplay by William Ludwig, this slightly above average family comedy-drama sprinkled with innocent teenage romance marks the fourth in the (Andy Hardy) series based on Aurania Rouverol's play (Skidding), which began with A Family Affair (1937).

Mickey Rooney plays the titled character, a rambunctious 17 year old, and Lewis Stone plays his wise, caring father (and) Judge Hardy. Cecilia Parker plays Andy's, frequently separated from her husband, married older sister. Fay Holden, who plays Andy's mother in the series, is absent for most of this film's story as is Aunt Millie, played by Betty Ross Clarke, who took Sara Haden's place in a couple of these films. 'Mother' has gone to see and stay with her mother, who'd just had a stroke, and Millie goes too. Ann Rutherford plays Andy's girlfriend Polly Benedict, as usual, but the story in this one features some conflicts in their relationship:

Andy's friend 'Beezy' (George Breakston) asks him to 'keep' (by dating) his girlfriend Cynthia Potter (Lana Turner, in her fifth film) away from the other boys while he's out of town during Christmas break. Since Polly is also to be away for the Christmas holiday, and Beezy is willing to pay Andy the eight dollars he needs to buy a car (he'd already paid $12), Andy agrees ... though kissing is the only thing she (Lana Turner!) wants to do and, inexplicably, this becomes tiresome for him.

Simultaneously, Betsy Booth (16 year old Judy Garland, in only her second pairing with Rooney, playing a 13 year old) comes to visit her family, that lives next door to the Hardys, for Christmas. Naturally, she (sings and) soon meets Andy and develops a crush on him. At first, this further complicates Andy's love life; but later, she helps him out of a couple of inevitable jams:

Beezy meets another girl while away (in Chicago?) and tells Andy that he can have Cynthia AND Polly returns home early, in time to attend a Christmas Eve dance to which, unbeknownst to her, Andy had already promised to take Cynthia.

Throughout the film, Judge Hardy listens to the problems of his children and gives sage advice and/or comfort. For his part, Rooney is particularly animated as Andy, swinging between the exuberant highs of teenage dating and the doldrums of adolescence.

MICKEY & JUDY IN THE FIRST HARDY GO...!

[masonfisk · 7/10 · 27 December 2020]

The 1938 entry in the Andy Hardy saga (the second in the series which ran from 1937 - 1946) starring Mickey Rooney. Rooney has only 2 things on his mind, girls & cars (one of which he has a down payment on) & he's kind of striking out on both fronts w/his date for the big dance at school looming & he has too may girls to choose from. One is leaving town for the holidays, another, played by Lana Turner, is thrown on him by his best bud since he doesn't want anyone else seeing her so he's going to pay Rooney to keep her in his orbit (giving him enough cash to finish paying off his car) & then there's a third, played by Judy Garland (in her debut in the series), who's come to live next door & is immediately smitten w/her irrepressible neighbor so much so she helps him along the way as his schemes start backfiring one after the other. Not to mention a family member is sick (his granny) out of town sending Ma Hardy to her side while she recuperates leaving Judge Hardy, Rooney's dad, on pins & needles. Did I also forget to mention it's Christmas time as well? Great fun for the whole family (back in 1938...kidding!) which shows how America was during a simpler time when things like Co-vid & election fraud were figments of our president's limited mind.

Hardy Annual

[writers_reign · 7/10 · 18 December 2010]

Getting on for twenty years ago Channel 4 ran the complete Andy Hardy series on successive Saturday mornings. I had never seen any but had like most film buffs heard lots about them. I found them completely enchanting, nostalgic and remarkably true to a middle America that never existed but that you wished had. Love Finds Andy Hardy is now available on DVD as part of a Judy Garland boxed set and having just watched it I'm slightly disappointed I didn't get quite the same pleasure I did twenty years ago. There are, of course, lots of good things going on, the idealized family living in an idealized town best described as the town in which George Bailey (James Stewart) lives in for two thirds of It's A Wonderful Life, before it turns into Potterville temporarily but Carvel is never in any danger of that kind of reality being allowed to intrude. It's also refreshing to see teenagers dealing with hormonal changes without going any further than a virtually chaste kiss or two. My greatest fear is that someone will remake them and we'll wind up with titles like Andy Hardy Finds Sleaze.

Mickey takes center stage

[SnoopyStyle · 8/10 · 15 July 2021]

In the town of Carvel, Andy Hardy (Mickey Rooney) is struggling to come up with money to pay for a car before the big dance. Polly is visiting her grandmother over Christmas and cancels their dance date. 12-year-old Betsy Booth (Judy Garland) visits her grandparents who live next door to the Hardys. She has a crush on Andy. A friend asks Andy to take his girlfriend Cynthia (Lana Turner) for the dance while he's away. Soon, he's entangled with three different girls. Marian swears off men after her cheating boyfriend. Judge James Hardy has to introduce a hired cook into the kitchen due to one of his cases.

It's the second time Mickey and Judy pair up on the big screen. She's the literal girl next door and he's starting to take center stage in this franchise as his stardom rises. The pairing is so wholesome that it threatens to give the audience toothaches. Her crush on him is too adorable. She's the breakout star of the movie. Andy does not deserve her adoration except Mickey Rooney has so much charisma that it works on the screen. Juggling the girls could have gone badly with his rooting interest but he makes it endearing. The future star power is further enhanced with Lana Turner as Andy's other dance partner. This likeable family-friendly franchise is reaching a new level with this great cast.

Love Finds Andy...and Mickey...and Judy...and Ann Rutherford too!

[movieman-200 · 7/10 · 11 August 2005]

"Love Finds Andy Hardy" is the third film in the Andy Hardy series about a Judge (Lewis Stone) and his irrepressibly manic son, Andy (Mickey Rooney). In this film young Andy gets a run for his money when the girl next door, Betsy Booth (Judy Garland) pulls cupid's arrow with sincerity and comes out the winner. This was the first film in which Garland's character appeared and perhaps, it's the best in the whole series. The hokum and corn is deep and laughable but hey, that's part of the film's charm and truly, you have to be a die hard cynic not to fall for Andy's overwhelmingly patriot schmaltz. A winner through and through.

TRANSFER: Warner gives us an impressive looking transfer with a solid B&W picture. The gray scale is nicely balanced. Age related artifacts are kept to a bare minimum. There is some minor shimmering of fine details that is distracting at times. Blacks are solid. Contrast levels are well represented. The audio is mono but nicely cleaned up for this DVD.

BOTTOM LINE: This is a must have for collectors. One only wishes that Warner had had the foresight to release the entire Andy Hardy series as a box set.

Love Finds Andy Hardy hard to love.

[Jox · 2/10 · 25 April 2003]

If anyone is labouring under the misapprehension that Mickey Rooney can act, they will have their belief crushed in this dreadful work. In fact, the only decent acting (amongst the major actors) comes from Lewis Stone, but he looks so out of place with the rest of the cast, that at first you think he's the bad one. Stone's delivery is actually very well timed and delivered with aplomb, but this doesn't match the rest of the cast, and it is initially easier to put the blame on him, rather than the real perpetrators of the poor delivery. Oh yes, I should add that Judy Garland has considerable talents, but none of them are properly exploited in this filmic dross. 1939 was destined to be her best year (Wizard of Oz).

The script is dire, and worthy only of an essay written by an average 10 year-old. In fact, it is often worse, and quite confused. For instance, the scene where Rooney is asking Stone for money to buy a car is probably the worst bit of writing I have ever seen on screen. Actually, 'Attack of the Killer Tomatoes!' positively shines, and becomes worthy of an Oscar in comparison.

On a more personal level, I did enjoy the inclusion of the 'Ham Radio' scenes, as it was in its infancy in 1938. I found it interesting to see that all the procedures and conventions had already evolved into much the same form that is still used today. However, I should also add that this does not mean that the actors were up to the task of being convincing during the said scenes. Far from it, in fact.

To be fair, the technical values of this film are good, for the time. There are some nice camera angles and the use of light and dark was almost up to 'The Third Man' standard. Unfortunately, the script and acting let it down.

I have not seen any of the other Andy Hardy films, so I have no way of comparing them. Now I have seen this one, I am a bit loath to 'dip my toes' in any of the others! Overall, I gave this film a 2/10 rating, but I wonder if that should really have been a 1? It was a close run thing!

Just a Gigolo

[utgard14 · 8/10 · 27 December 2013]

Polly Benedict is leaving poor Andy alone for Christmas. Andy is also short the money he needs to buy a car from Mr. Dugan. So, for a fee, Andy agrees to date his friend Beezy's girl (Lana Turner) while he's away. The plan is that Andy will date her to keep other guys away, then when Beezy returns Andy will dump her and she'll go back to Beezy. At the same time, a slightly younger girl (Judy Garland) has moved in next door. She falls for Andy (naturally) but Andy sees her as just a kid. As usual, things start to go wrong for Andy and he has to have one of those famous talks with Judge Hardy.

The regulars are all pitch-perfect. The writing is great, managing to juggle several plot lines, big & small, and tie them all together nicely. Of course, what would an Andy Hardy movie be without the lovely girls that were always infatuated with him? Here we have the ever-adorable Ann Rutherford, a beautiful and fun young Lana Turner, and the immensely likable Judy Garland in her first of three Andy Hardy appearances. She gets to sing too and is terrific, as one would expect. Highly enjoyable entry in the series. One of the best.

Not one of the stronger Hardy family films

[vincentlynch-moonoi · 6/10 · 2 January 2017]

Looking at the credits, one would think this would have been one of the stronger Hardy family films, but it is not. Not saying it's bad, but it's nothing special. Yet, there are the Hardy family, Judy Garland, and a young Lana Turner (filmed during here second year in films when she was sometimes still uncredited or had scenes deleted).

Here, Andy (Mickey Rooney) has girl trouble -- too many girls. There's Polly Benedict, a somewhat loose REDHEAD (Lana), and a too young (really?) visitor next door (Judy). Of course, Andy was always having girl trouble...just not so many at one time. And he's trying to buy an old beat-up car. And his grandmother has had a stroke and Mother Hardy has to go to Canada.

Why do I say this is not one of the stronger Hardy family films? First off, Andy Hardy is usually portrayed as a fairly nice kid with decent manners. Not here. He treats Judy Garland's character shabbily. He takes advantage of -- for money -- Lana Turner's character. And he's unfaithful to Polly Benedict (while the cat's away the mice will play). Second, I thought I bet Judy Garland will have a couple of swell numbers here. In my estimation, perhaps the worst musical numbers she had in any film.

So, for me, I'd say that unless you're intent on watching all the Hardy films, pass this one by.

one from the sausage assembly line

[iliakhachidzegeocrusader · 3/10 · 11 November 2018]

Sexism variation on a theme of a childhood by Hollywood, full of Mickey Rooney's usually disgusting monkeying around, which was labeled as "acting" for vague reasons in those days.