Love Finds Andy Hardy

The third of MGM's Andy Hardy series (discounting the "pilot" film A Family Affair ) stars, as ever, Mickey Rooney as the teen-aged protagonist. Andy finds himself in dutch with girlfriend Polly Benedict ( Anne Rutherford ), when he agrees to escort his best friend's gal Cynthia Potter ( Lana Turner ). Having gone out of town, Andy's buddy wants Cynthia kept out of circulation, and pays Andy to make sure she stays that way. Andy is in no position to refuse: he needs the dough to pay for a car he's just purchased. Further complications ensue when Andy falls for a third girl, Betsy Booth ( Judy Garland ). It is up to Betsy to play little miss fix-it when Andy's romantic entanglements threaten to overwhelm him ( Mickey Rooney could have used a "Betsy Booth" in real life as well!) Originally running shorter than its present 90 minutes, Love Finds Andy Hardy was expanded during filming to showcase the splendid singing talents of Judy Garland . — Hal Erickson