'Love Finds Andy Hardy' - Movie Review

Microfiche-New York Times archives | 7/22/38 | Frank S. Nugent

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Favorite Neighbors are Back in ‘Love Finds Andy Hardy’ at the Capitol

LOVE FINDS ANDY HARDY, from the stories by Vivien R. Bretherton based on the characters created by Aurania Rouverol; screen play by William Indwig; music and lyrics by Mack Gordon, Harry Revel, Roger Edens; directed by George B. Seitz; a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production. At the Capitol.

Judge James Hardy……….............Lewis Stone
Andrew Hardy………..…………..Mickey Rooney
Betsy…….………….......................Judy Garland
Marian Hardy……………………..Cecilia Parker
Mrs. Hardy…….………………….Fay Holden
Polly Benedict……...……………..Ann Rutherford
Aunt Milly…………………...........Betty Ross Clarke
Cynthia……...…………………….Lana Turner
Augusta……...……………………Marie Blake
Dennis Hunt……...……………….Don Castle
Jimmy Mac Mahon……...………..Gene Reynolds
Mrs. Tompkins……...……….........Mary Howard
“Beezy”...……...………................George Breakston
Peter Dugan…….............................Raymond Hatton

By FRANK S. NUGENT

Our favorite neighbors, the Hardys, are visiting again, this time in a felicitous little comedy which goes – and goes delightfully – at the Capitol under the name “Love Finds Andy Hardy.” The best of it is that love not only finds Andy Hardy, but finds him being played by Mickey Rooney who ranks second to Walt Disney’s Dopey as our favorite movie hero of the year. Watching Mickey’s Andy on the screen is practically as good as reading Mark Twain and Booth Tarkington; he’s the perfect composite of everybody’s kid brother.

Love has been looking for Andy Hardy for quite a while. In fact, we thought it had found him when the Hardys were in Washington on their last adventure and Andy asked the judge if it was normal, his wanting to kiss every pretty girl. Well, Andy still feels the same way about pretty girls, and he hasn’t much self-control. It is a bitterly introspective moment in his life when he ruefully reckons he’ll have to give up all this polygamy.

If you must know what happens, we will report simply that the Hardys, severally and collectively, are up to their old crises again. There is the crisis of the new cook. There is the crisis of Marian’s attempt at coffee-making. There is the crisis of Andy’s car – a $12 down payment and $8 to go. There is the crisis of grandmother’s stroke. There is the crisis of the Christmas Eve dance to which Andy finds he has invited both Polly and Cynthia and eventually winds up with the little girl next door.

That’s the nicest thing about all the Hardy crises. They resolve themselves so beautifully. There was Andy one minute, crushed under Polly’s scornful cry of “gigolo!” just because he had promised to keep Beezy’s girl away from the other Carvel young bloods; and there was Andy the next, leading the grand march with the little next-door girl who turned out to be not merely Judy Garland but the daughter of a musical comedy star. That’s glory four you, and glory, too, for all the other Hardys – Lewis Stone, Fay Holden, Cecilia Parker and their friends – for turning out such a friendly, likable show.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

I’m starting to wonder about Frank S. Nugent. Does he really like every movie he sees? Then again, I don’t print out the ones nobody has heard of today.

[DustyMoment]

And, you went back to 1938 to dig this up and post it because . . . . . . . ???

[Homer_J_Simpson]

These are yesterday's standings, but it did't seem right to post them with the story about the Spanish martyrs.

Rain-outs all over the east.

Major League Baseball

YESTERDAY’S RESULTS

Washington 7, Detroit 2 (7 innings, rain).
Cleveland at New York (2), rain.
Chicago at Boston (2), rain.
St. Louis at Philadelphia (2), rain.

American League

……………………..Won….Lost…Percentage…….Games Behind
N. Y ………………...49……28…….636………………….-
Cleve………………...48……28…….632………………….1/2
Boston……………….46……31…….597………………….3
Wash..…………….....44……40…….524…………………..8 1/2
Chic.…………………33……38…….465………………….13
Detroit.………………38……45…….458………………….14
Phila...……………….29……46…….387………………….19
St. L…………………23……54….....299………………….26

GAMES TODAY.

Cleveland at New York (2, 1:30 P. M.).
Chicago at Boston (2).
St. Louis at Philadelphia (2).
Detroit at Washington.

National League

YESTERDAY’S RESULTS

St. Louis 7, New York 2 (1st).
St. Louis 7, New York 1 (2d).
Philadelphia 11, Pittsburgh 0 (1st).
Pittsburgh 4, Philadelphia 1 (2d).
Boston 4, Cincinnati 3 (night game).
Brooklyn at Chicago (2), rain.

……………………..Won….Lost…Percentage…….Games Behind
Pitts …………………49……29…….628………………….-
N. Y.………………...50……33…….602…………………..1 1/2
Chic.…………………45……36…….556…………………..5 1/2
Cincin.……………….44……36…….550…………………..6
Bklyn ………………..37…...43……..463…………………..13
Boston ………………35…...41……..461…………………..13
St. L……………….....33…...45……..423………………….16
Phila…………………23……53……..303………………….25

GAMES TODAY

New York at St. Louis.
Brooklyn at Chicago.
Philadelphia at Pittsburgh.
Other clubs not scheduled.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

And, you went back to 1938 to dig this up and post it because . . . . . . . ???

It's what I do.

[ClearCase_guy]

Andy asked the judge if it was normal, his wanting to kiss every pretty girl. Well, Andy still feels the same way about pretty girls, and he hasn’t much self-control.

I'm guessing that the self-control exercised in 1938 generally exceeded the level of self-control we often see in our current era of "hook-ups".

[SJSAMPLE]

I’m 43 and have been watching Andy Hardy movies since I was ten.

A great series of movies.

Well, all except for the last one - Andy Hardy Comes Home (1958)

Andy Hardy didn’t age well and without Judge Hardy, it was just too painful to watch.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

I'm guessing that the self-control exercised in 1938 generally exceeded the level of self-control we often see in our current era of "hook-ups".

If I have the story-line right, young Andy had to rebuff the advances of his pal's girlfriend (played by sixteen-year-old Lana Turner). Now, that takes self-control.

I think I shall add this to my Netflix queue in order to do some historical research.

[girlscout]

I love Andy Hardy movies! I purchased two and wish they would release the others for sale.

[kidd]

Those standings are interesting.

I didn’t realize that NY, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia and St. Louis all had teams in both leagues at the same time.

Seems my team (Washington Senators, now the Minnesota Twins) are doing about as well now as they were doing in 1938.

[r9etb]

You really ought to look at some of the stuff Homer has typed up for us. It’s an excellent historical resource, and just plain cool to read, besides.

[DustyMoment]

You really ought to look at some of the stuff Homer has typed up for us. It’s an excellent historical resource, and just plain cool to read, besides.

I have the movie. I've watched the movie. I'm still missing the point of this post.

[r9etb]

I'm still missing the point of this post.

Look at Homer's posting history and you'll get the point.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Look at Homer's posting history and you'll get the point.

Thank's for the advocacy, but how does one do that - find posting history I mean? The "In Forum" link shows responses but not articles posted.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Cancel that question. I figgered it out.

[Political Junkie Too]

Plus the little tribute to ham radio operators.

-PJ

[r9etb]

Easiest was is to click on your profile, and then hit “In Forum.”

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Just finished watching “Love Finds Andy Hardy” with wife (not Marge). This was our first experience of the series. Very entertaining. And the prototype for most TV sitcoms from the fifties and into the sixties. What a talent Judy Garland was. She was sixteen in 1938 but she sang like 30. Judge Hardy could hardly believe the wonder of sending a message to Canada via ham radio and getting a reply, all without a telegraph. Imagine trying to explain the internet to someone from that era.