Andy Hardy (Mickey Rooney) graduates from high school and decides to move to NYC to make a fortune. His ex (I think) played by Judy Garland, lives there and tries to help him.
**Slight spoiler in the next paragraph**
I've avoided these Andy Hardy movies like the plague for years...I thought they'd be really syrupy. This one sure wasn't! This is pretty dark and downbeat. A character even dies! Originally he committed suicide but the studio changed that before it was released--they felt that was going too far. Still it all ends happily.
The movie looks fantastic, the story flows pretty quickly...but there's too little of Judy. As Leonard Maltin said all her songs were cut out before the film was released! My guess is that they were too cheerful for the grim tone of this film.
All the acting is good--top honors go to Lewis Stone (as Judge Hardy--boy, do I wish I had him as a father!), Ann Rutherford (having a good time playing the "bad girl") and Ray McDonald.
Dark movie (perhaps not for the kids) but good. Worth catching.
**Slight spoiler in the next paragraph**
I've avoided these Andy Hardy movies like the plague for years...I thought they'd be really syrupy. This one sure wasn't! This is pretty dark and downbeat. A character even dies! Originally he committed suicide but the studio changed that before it was released--they felt that was going too far. Still it all ends happily.
The movie looks fantastic, the story flows pretty quickly...but there's too little of Judy. As Leonard Maltin said all her songs were cut out before the film was released! My guess is that they were too cheerful for the grim tone of this film.
All the acting is good--top honors go to Lewis Stone (as Judge Hardy--boy, do I wish I had him as a father!), Ann Rutherford (having a good time playing the "bad girl") and Ray McDonald.
Dark movie (perhaps not for the kids) but good. Worth catching.