Customer Reviews

The Andy Hardy Collection - Love Finds Andy Hardy [VHS]

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Andy Hardy series of the 1930s and 1940s will forever stand as the epitome of wholesome, thoroughly enjoyable family entertainment, and these wonderful films did much to make Mickey Rooney a superstar and guaranteed money-making actor. Love Finds Andy Hardy, the fourth of sixteen films about Judge Hardy's family, is regarded by many fans to be the best of the bunch (although I prefer Andy Hardy Meets Debutante), due in no small part to the introduction of Betsy Booth, who comes from New York to Carvel to spend Christmas with her grandparents. Judy Garland, a year before achieving superstardom in The Wizard of Oz, is simply adorable as Betsy, a cute and oh-so-talented young lady whom Andy dotes on as a child; even though her huge crush on Andy never quite meets with reciprocating feelings on his part, she selflessly saves the day time and again for the antic-prone Andy. You have to be really smart to get into the kind of trouble Andy gets in, she says, and boy oh boy is this the truth.

You can't help but love Andy-Mickey Rooney is unashamedly goofy, unbelievably energetic yet quick to wallow in the messes of his own making; he literally was the all-American boy of the post-Depression era. In this film, Andy wants a car, and he wants it before December 24 so that he can drive his sweetie Polly (Ann Rutherford) to the big dance. Without telling his father (played by Lewis Stone), he gives the local car dealer twelve of the twenty dollars he needs for his chosen car, promising to pay the remaining eight dollars by the 24th. Herein lies the start of his problems. Andy is crushed when he learns Polly will be out of town for three weeks, yet opportunity seems to knock politely on his door when his friend Beezy promises to pay him eight dollars plus expenses to date up his own girl while he is away. Thus does Andy begin a courtship of Cynthia Potter (Lana Turner). Betsy Booth arrives next door with a preexisting crush on Andy, one which should be easily obvious even to the reckless-minded fellow, yet he never fails to describe her as a child. Frankly, Andy is something of a fool; there has never been a cuter young lady on this earth than Judy Garland during her teen years; if Betsy Booth would have grinned and done that little nose wrinkle thing for me, I would have fallen at her feet. Anyway, and predictably, Andy's plans all go astray. At one point, he is looking at the prospect of two dates to the dance and no car at all. With a friend like Betsy Booth, however, he need not have worried about his precious social reputation being ruined.

Judy Garland absolutely steals the show here. As I have said, she is not only cute as a button but beautiful in every way. Betsy just wants to be seen as a young lady rather than a child, and her feelings on this issue are expressed perfectly in the song In Between (crafted by her musical mentor Roger Edens). She does get to be grown up and glamorous for one night, though, marking the occasion with unforgettable performances of the songs It Never Rains But What It Pours and Meet the Beat of My Heart (half of it, anyway, as the other half plus an additional number, Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen, were cut from the final print).

Judy Garland would return in two later Andy Hardy films, but more importantly, Love Finds Andy Hardy served as the true beginning of the Garland-Rooney phenomenon that wowed audiences over the course of the next few years. The two first appeared in the 1937 film Thoroughbreds Don't Cry, and the obvious chemistry between the two set the stage for her entry into the Andy Hardy films. Garland was never more loveable than she was in the role of Betsy Booth, and films such as Love Finds Andy Hardy have a very special place in the heart of this Judy Garland fanatic.

I agree with the reviewer from Canada: It would be great if Warner released the entire Andy Hardy series as a boxed set. I've had six of the films (on VHS) in my collection for quite a few years and never get tired of watching them. Here's another vote cast for more of Judge Hardy's family on DVD!

"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.
EXTRAS: An intro from Garland biographer, Jonathan Fricke.
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. Ditto for "The Thin Man"!

Like the Little Rascals/Our Gang comedies the Andy Hardy series of films are ageless. Louis B.Mayer often liked sentimental films that idolized America and the Andy Hardy Series is an example of this. "LB" took a special interest in this series and his hand is all over it. Mayer was often criticized for ordering MGM to make these kinds of movies and musicals but history has shown he was right. After he lost control of MGM in 1951 the studio went on to produce message pictures and other kinds of films. The public hated them. The Worst was 1959's Raintree County which was a cheap rip-off of Gone With The Wind. Mickey Rooney was the star of the series but Silent Era superstar Lewis Stone comes in 2nd as Judge Hardy. Ironic that these kinds of films were viewed as hokey by the emerging young producers and directors of the late 40's and early 50's, that took over and ultimately ruined then destroyed MGM, are the kinds the studios have been scrambling to bring back since the early 1980's. Mr. Mayer was 50 years ahead of his time !.

MGM recently released five films in DVD format as a tribute to Judy Garland and one of the titles is LOVE FINDS ANDY HARDY. Though the movie was released in honor of Garland, it really is Mickey Rooney's film. He plays the loveable teenaged Andy Hardy. Young Sandy has a heart of gold but often seems to get things mixed up a bit which lead to his easily solved difficulties. His problem in this movie is one that follows him in other films: girls. He is supposed to take one girl to a dance, but she cannot go, so he agrees to take another, but then meets a third. Of course one of the girls becomes available again, and the whole situation becomes a mess. Yet in true Hollywood from, all ends happily ever after.

The film has quite a few strengths. First, it does take us back to another place and time when life's problems could easily be solved by the wisdom of Dad and a dose of common sense. Families were dedicated to one anther and communities were close-knit and wholesome. While it is not all that original a film, somehow it is not cliché. We believe that the story could happen. We like Andy Hardy who seems like everybody's nephew, son, kid brother, or next door neighbor. We know that when Judy Garland's character Betsy Booth matures a little, the two will be inseparable sweethearts. The film is a treat which allows us to see both Judy Garland and Lana Turner in early roles. Garland has a certain sweetness as Betsy Booth, Andy's next door neighbor's granddaughter. She is believable as a young innocent. While she sings a few musical numbers, this is not a musical and we see Garland's abilities as a young actress.

While the DVD release does not have as many special features as some of the other recent MGM re-releases, it doe shave an introduction to the film by Garland's biographer and also a "Christmas card" film from the cast that was probably aired with trailers in the 1930's.

After MGM wasted Judy's talent for a few years after she was signed in 1935, and put her in a few dud pictures that didn't help her stardom one bit, they put her in this picture with Mickey Rooney, a winning combination!
When viewing this film it is interesting to note that it was filmed in omly 19 days, but then again Metro Goldwen Mayer was the "dream factory"!
Judy plays in this film Betsy Booth, a well-to-do girl who is visiting the house next door to Andy's when she meets him and is attracted to him, but he not to her. This makes for some interesting comical situations, since Andy alreay has a girlfriend!
Since this is Judy Garland, there is plenty of singing thrown in to sweeten the pot!
But I warn you, once you view this film, you will want to buy the other Andy Hardy pictures that Judy co-stars in. I would say, go ahead, as long as it's Mickey and Joots (Mickey's name for Judy) it's sure to be a winner!
In Judy's career her very next film would sign her signature into stardom, The Wizard of Oz.
Next after that was Babes in Arms. If you love Love Finds Any Hardy, you'll love Babes in Arms! It contains that winning combination of Mickey and Joots, so how could you go wroung?
You Can't!
Buy this movie if you love Mickey Rooney!

Buy this movie if you love Judy Garland!

Buy this movie if you love the chemistry they contain!

"Love Finds Andy Hardy" is a little treasure of a film, for several reasons... if you like Mickey and Judy, if you like seeing Lana Turner in one of her first movie roles, and if you like seeing the type of simple family films that MGM made in its heyday in addition to the more familiar blockbuster musicals.

The main reason for most people to like the film (including me) is Mickey and Judy. Mickey Rooney shows his outstanding comic talent in this film, especially when he experiences the predicament of first having TWO dates for the big dance, and then ends up with the prospect of NO date! And you can't help but be blown away by 15-year-old Judy Garland's knockout rendition of three songs in the picture -- "In Between", detailing her plight of being neither a little girl or quite-yet-grown-up young lady, "It Never Rains But What It Pours", and "Meet the Beat of My Heart"... the latter two performed with all of the gusto and style that would make her a legend.

These two talented youngsters will keep you entertained!

This movie is a fun, bright movie! Mickey Rooney stars with Judy Garland, (Jutes)Fay Holden, Lewis Stone, Celia Parker, Ann Rutherfurd and Lana Turner in this hilarious, wonderful masterpiece! Andy Hardy, (Rooney)plays a fickle young man in love with local town girl, Polly Benict (Rutherfurd). Then she tells Andy that she can't go the christmas eve dance with him, because she has to go see her grandmother for christmas. Andy promises the worried Polly that he won't take anyone else to the dance, but go stag carrying her picture. But then, Andy gets mixed up with his best friend's girl, while his friend is on vacation! Then he promises to take this girl, Cynthia (Turner) to the dance! And of course Polly becomes available again and leads to a hilarious mess!!! And all through this Betsy (Garland, who is really in love with Andy, but is to young for him), Helps Andy through all his troubles, and helps bring this wonderful movie into a very happy ending!
Songs include: 'Inbetween,' 'It Never Rains but What it Pours,' and 'Meet the Beat of my Heart.' ------------------------

In the remarks of the company critic at the top of the page he mentions the plot to be very dated. I say who cares! I saw the movie two weeks ago and remember very little of the plot but the scene of Judy Garland singing "Meet the Beat of My Heart" was seared into my memory. To mangle its lyrics a bit this performance and a hundred others Excited, Delighted and Ignited the thought that this was the greatest song and dance entertainer ever!
"It Never Rains But It Pours" is also really good. "In Between," "Awful In Between" or whatever that song is called reflects somewhat on her own personal and professional quandaries close to the time of its performance.
If you think 10 minutes of music is worth the purchase price buy the DVD. If not do not.

I am a big fan of Judy Garland so, I decided to order this. I have heard some silly things about "The Andy Hardy" Series. I was reluctant to buy this, but I love Judy so I said what the heck I will order this tape. And was I entertained!!! The songs Judy sings are great and her acting is fantastic! Another thing I want to mention is, why do people think Lana Turner is beautiful? She isn't that good-looking! Anyway this is a great film. It really shows that Mickey and Judy were MGM's winning duo!