Judy and Mickey on the set of Love Finds Andy Hardy.
Provided by Kim Lundgreen. Thanks, Kim!
Judy Garland made only three appearances in the “Andy Hardy” series. However, due to her success in the films, along with her chemistry with co-star Mickey Rooney, and the popularity of the seven other films they made together, most people assume that she was in all of the films in the series or at least more.
Judy played Betsy Booth, the [visiting] girl-next-door whom Andy Hardy (Mickey Rooney) barely notices until the end of the films, excepting her last series appearance in Life Begins For Andy Hardy (1941). The role is really a “throw-away” for Judy and her talents, but it gave her a chance to initially gain more exposure with moviegoers, sing a few popular songs and, more importantly, work with Rooney. She was able to hone her acting skills as well, assisted by Rooney’s guidance and friendship. The “Betsy Booth” character helped MGM form Judy’s screen image as the sweet and virginal girl-next-door, which would prove to be an important aspect of her connection with audiences.
The series itself was hugely popular, the most popular being the three that Judy appeared in. The quintessential Hardy film, the one that most people remember as the best example of the series, is the one with Judy’s first appearance Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938). All of the elements are there, Andy’s dilemma with girls, the “man to man” talks with Dad, and the happy resolve of all the dramatics at the end of the film, and lessons learned.
Front row: Sarah Haden, Lewis Stone, Fay holden
Back row: Celica Parker, Ann Rutherford, Judy Garland, Gene Reynolds, Lana Turner, Mickey Rooney
LOVE FINDS ANDY HARDY (1938 – Production No. 1050)
Judy’s first appearance as Betsy Booth, visiting the fictional town of Carvel right next door to Andy and his family.
Judy made the film between April and June of 1938, just a few months after Variety announced on February 24th that MGM would make a film of The Wizard Of Oz with Judy as the star.
During filming, on May 23, 1938, Judy was in a car accident which sprained her back, punctured a lung, and gave her three broken ribs. A testament to her recuperative powers, she bounced back and returned to the Hardy set on June 11, 1938, the day after her sixteenth birthday.
This was Judy’s second pairing with Mickey Rooney.
The film was released July 22, 1938.
CAST:
Lewis Stone as Judge James K. Hardy
Mickey Rooney as Andrew Hardy
Cecilia Parker as Marian Hardy
Fay Holden as Mrs. Hardy
Judy Garland as Betsy Booth
Lana Turner as Cynthia Potter
Ann Rutherford as Polly Benedict
Mary Howard as Mrs. Tompkins
Gene Reynolds as Jimmy MacMahon
Don Castle as Dennis Hunt
Betty Ross Clarke as Aunt Milly
Marie Blake as Augusta
George Breakston as Francis Bacon Anderson (“Beezy”)
Raymond Hatton as Peter Du
CREW:
Producer: Carey Wilson
Director: George B. Seitz
Screenplay: William Ludwig
Based on stories by Vivian B. Bretherton and characters by Aurania Rouverol
Musical Score: David Snell
Song Score: Mack Gordon and Harry Revel, Roger Edens
Art Direction: Cedric Gibbons, Stan Rogers
Wardrobe: Jeanne
Sound: Douglas Shearer
Cinematography: Lester White
Film Editing: Ben Lewis
SONGS:
“It Never Rains But What It Pours” & “Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen” (outtake) (both recorded June 21, 1938).
Note: “It Never Rains But What It Pours” is the earliest known Garland recording that exists in stereo. MGM recorded utilizing microphones placed in multiple angles that were then mixed together to create a balanced mono track for the finished films. Many of these multiple angles survive and have since been remixed utilizing today’s technology to true stereo.
“In Between” (listen to the remastered film version here) & “Meet The Beat Of My Heart” (both recorded June 24, 1938).
ANDY HARDY MEETS DEBUTANTE (1940 – Production No. 1139)
Judy’s second appearance in the series. This time Betsy is in New York, with Andy visiting, meeting, and falling for the debutante of the title.
Judy filmed her scenes between February and April, 1940, while also filming Strike Up The Band.
The film was released in July of 1940.
Check out the special “novelization” of the film in July 1940 “Screenland Magazine!” (PDF file).
CAST:
Lewis Stone as Judge James K. Hardy
Mickey Rooney as Andy Hardy
Cecilia Parker as Marian Hardy
Fay Holden as Mrs. Hardy
Judy Garland as Betsy Booth
Ann Rutherford as Polly Benedict
Diana Lewis as Daphne Fowler
George Breakston as Beezy
Sara Haden as Aunt Milly
Addison Richards as George Benedict
George Lessey as Underwood
Cy Kendall as Mr. Carrillo
Clyde Willson as Francis
Charles Coleman as Head Waiter
Additional Cast: Herbert Evans [Betsy’s Butler], John Merkyl [Prentiss, Betsy’s Chauffeur], Marjorie Gateson [Mrs. Desmond Fowler], Claire Du Brey [Mrs. Hackett, Daphne’s Secretary], Charles Trowbridge [Davis, Daphne’s Butler], Charles Wagenheim [Waiter], Arthur Belasco [Doorman], Lester Dorr [Photographer], Oscar “Dutch” Hendrian [Taxi Driver], Ethelreda Leopold [Sirocco Club Patron], Buddy Messinger [Elevator Boy], William Newell [Insurance Investigator], Sherrie Overton [Cigarette Girl], Thomas Pogue [Carriage Coachman], Edwin Stanley [Judge]
CREW:
Producer: Carey Wilson
Director: George B. Seitz
Screenplay: William Ludwig
Based on stories by Vivian B. Bretherton and characters by Aurania Rouverol
Musical Score: David Snell
Song Score: Mack Gordon and Harry Revel, Roger Edens
Art Direction: Cedric Gibbons, Stan Rogers
Wardrobe: Jeanne
Sound: Douglas Shearer
Cinematography: Lester White
Film Editing: Ben Lewis
SONGS:
“I’m Nobody’s Baby” (recorded March 14, 1940)
One of Judy’s biggest hits for Decca Records (her Decca version recorded on April 10, 1940 peaked at #3 on the charts). An alternate take is on the CD “Judy Garland – Collector’s Gems From The MGM Films.”
“Buds Won’t Bud “(outtake – recorded March 14, 1940).
“Alone” (recorded May 10, 1940)
Listen to the reprise here.
“All I To Is Dream Of You” (outtake – recorded May 10, 1940)
LIFE BEGINS FOR ANDY HARDY (1941 – Production No. 1193)
Judy’s final appearance in the series, and the only time in the series that a guest star (Judy) was billed above the title. This is an indication of just how much Judy’s star status had grown since her last appearance.
All of Judy’s songs recorded for the film were deleted. In the final film she only sings a brief a cappella version of “Happy Birthday.”
Judy filmed her portions between April and May, 1941, which overlapped with her beginning filming of Babes On Broadway.
The film was released in August of 1941.
During this time, on May 28, 1941, Judy and composer/conductor David Rose announced their engagement. They were married in Las Vegas on July 28, 1941. Rose was Judy’s first husband. She was nineteen years old.
CAST:
Lewis Stone as Judge James K. Hardy
Mickey Rooney as Andy Hardy
Judy Garland as Betsy Booth
Fay Holden as Mrs. Hardy
Ann Rutherford as Polly Benedict
Sara Haden as Aunt Milly
Patricia Dane as Jennitt Hicks (“The Wolfess”)
Ray McDonald as Jimmy Frobisher
George Breakston as Beezy
Pierre Watkin as Dr. Waggoner
Frances Morris as Operator
Tommy Kelly as Chuck
Robert Winkler as Private
William Forrest as Commandant
Paul “Tiny” Newlan, Duke York as Truckmen
Arthur Loft, James Flavin as Policemen
Sidney Miller, Roger Daniel as Boys
Byron Shores as Jackson
Hollis Jewell as Ted
Charlotte Wynters as Elizabeth Norton
Bob Pittard as Delivery Boy
Lester Matthews as Mr. Maddox
Don Brodie as Clerk
John Harmon as Taxi Driver
Frank Ferguson as Stationer
Leonard Sues as Kelly
George Carleton as Florist
George Ovey as Janitor
Robert E. Homans as Watchman
William J. Holmes as Dr. Griffin
Manart Kippen as Rabbi Strauss
Ralph Byrd as Father Gallagher
Ann Morriss as Miss Dean
Mira McKinney as Miss Gomez
Nora Lane as Miss Howard
John Eldredge as Paul McWilliams
Joseph Crehan as Peter Dugan
Mary Jo Ellis as Drugstore Cashier
Yolande Mollot as Drugstore Waitress
Estelle Etterre as Secretary
Bess Flowers as Secretary
Kent Rogers as Tough Boy
Purnell Pratt as Dr. Storfen
CREW:
Produced by: Carey Wilson
Directed by: George B. Seitz
Screen Play by: Agnes Christine Johnson
Based Upon the Characters Created by Aurania Rouverol
Musical Direction: Georgie Stoll
Art Director: Cedric Gibbons
Associate: Harry McAfee
Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis
Gowns by: Kalloch
Recording Director: Douglas Shearer
Director of Photography: Lester White
Film Editor: Elmo Veron
SONGS:
“America (My Country ‘Tis Of Thee)” (recorded May 19, 1941)
“Easy To Love” (recorded June 4, 1941)
“Abide With Me” (recorded June 4, 1941)
“The Rosary” (recorded June 4, 1941)
“Judy Garland Lost Tracks 2 – 1936-1967” includes the following songs newly remastered:
“In Between” (Love Finds Andy Hardy)
Alternate version, Take 4
“Meet The Beat Of My Heart“(Love Finds Andy Hardy)
Alternate version, Take 9
“I’m Nobody’s Baby” (Andy Hardy Meets Debutante)
Alternate version, Take 8
“America (My Country ‘Tis Of Thee)” (Life Begins for Andy Hardy)
“Abide With Me” (Life Begins for Andy Hardy)
Stereo version
“The Rosary” (Life Begins for Andy Hardy)
Stereo version
“Easy To Love” (Life Begins for Andy Hardy)
Stereo version
“Judy Garland – Soundtracks” includes the following songs:
“Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen” (Love Finds Andy Hardy)
“In Between” (Love Finds Andy Hardy) – Premiere release of the remastered film version.
“I’m Nobody’s Baby” (Andy Hardy Meets Debutante)
“That’s Entertainment! The Ultimate Anthology of M-G-M Musicals” – This 2006 C boxed set featured the premiere release of the newly discovered complete outtake pre-recording of “Buds Won’t Bud” from Andy Hardy Meets Debutante.
“Judy Garland – Collector’s Gems from The M-G-M Films” – This 1996 2-CD set featured the premiere release of many songs from Judy’s films sourced from the surviving pre-recording sessions including:
“In Between” (Love Finds Andy Hardy)
“It Never Rains, But What It Pours” (Love Finds Andy Hardy)
“Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen” (Love Finds Andy Hardy)
“Meet The Beat Of My Heart” (Love Finds Andy Hardy)
“I’m Nobody’s Baby” (Andy Hardy Meets Debutante)
“All I Do Is Dream Of You” (Andy Hardy Meets Debutante)
“Alone” (Andy Hardy Meets Debutante)
“Easy To Love” (Life Begins For Andy Hardy)
“Judy Garland – The Golden Years at M-G-M” – This 1994 set featured hours and hours of previously unreleased pre-recording session audio material for most of Judy’s films including:
“In Between” (Love Finds Andy Hardy)
“Meet The Beat of Heart” (Love Finds Andy Hardy)
“All I Do Is Dream of You” (Andy Hardy Meets Debutante)
“Buds Won’t Bud “(Andy Hardy Meets Debutante) – At the time of this release only the first part of the song was thought to have survived.
“Alone” (Andy Hardy Meets Debutante)
“Alone” (reprise) (Andy Hardy Meets Debutante)
“I’m Nobody’s Baby” (Andy Hardy Meets Debutante)
“America (My Country ‘Tis Of Thee)” (Life Begins for Andy Hardy)
“Easy To Love” (Life Begins for Andy Hardy)
“Easy To Love” (alternate take) (Life Begins for Andy Hardy)
“Abide With Me” (Life Begins for Andy Hardy)
“The Rosary” (Life Begins for Andy Hardy)
