HotToastyRag Something happened between Love Finds Andy Hardy and Andy Hardy Meets Debutante. Mickey Rooney's ridiculous mugging to the camera is in the past, and while this one still isn't a good movie, at least it's not painfully torturous whenever he's on the screen. And, since he's the lead, that's a plus.The Hardy family returns, including Lewis Stone, Fay Holden, Cecilia Parker, and Mickey Rooney. Mickey, with his hormones still raging, has a collection of magazine clippings of the famous New York debutante, Diana Lewis, and when his friends tease him about his crush, he's humiliated. Then, when he goes to New York to visit his friend Judy Garland, he tries to meet Diana in person-but of course, his plans go awry. If you're a teenager and you think the biggest problem in the world is getting teased by your friends for having a celebrity crush, you might like this very silly teen comedy. If you don't get annoyed by a hormone-struck Mickey Rooney, a loud Judy Garland, and a pointless plot, you might like this. I didn't like it, but it's not nearly as painful as the earlier films.

MartinHafer I have found that the Andy Hardy films are enjoyable light entertainment--certainly not great films but likable nonetheless. However, this installment is the first I've seen from the series in which I didn't like Andy...a serious problem. While he's always been rather sweet and likable, here he seems like a phony--a social- climber who often disregards those around him. It all begins with Andy (Mickey Rooney) creating a lie to impress his friends. He tells them that he's friends with a famous New York débutante, Daphne Fowler. But when his father announces that they family is going to New York because he has business, Andy panics. Instead of just telling the truth, he just tells one lie after another. When the family arrives in the city, they are met by Betsy (Judy Garland) and she plans on doing her best to make sure the family has a great visit. She also helps Andy without question in his scheme to meet Daphne...and it's obvious she's doing it because she is in love with Andy. How is it obvious? She sings a song all about it...which is what most young adults do when they are faced with problems. Despite her help, Andy digs a hole for himself because he's much more concerned about looking big in society instead of caring for everyone around him. At one point, a restaurant owner tells Andy "I think you need a good spanking"...and I heartily agree! He has been a complete jerk throughout the film. Can he possibly redeem himself or will he just digging his self-absorbed hole even deeper?There is a HUGE problem with a sense of perspective in this film. Andy whines and mopes and complains that his family isn't rich instead of just telling the truth and being a stand-up guy...and it's made worse since Judge Hardy is in New York because the local orphanage has lost its funding...a far, far, far more important problem. Again and again, I just wanted to see someone bust Andy in the mouth and tell him to grow up and shut up! Eventually he learns his lesson in this heavy-handed film but he's simply insufferable in the meantime...making it one of the worst films in the series. Had they had more balance and made Andy not quite so awful, it would have worked much, much better.

tavm A lot had happened between Judy Garland's first appearance in the Judge Hardy's Family series-in 1938's Love Finds Andy Hardy-and her second appearance in this one that I'm now reviewing. The year before this one, she played Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz which, while not a blockbuster on the Gone with the Wind scale, would eventually become a classic perhaps due to CBS's annual showings from the '50s to the late '90s. She had also teamed equally with Mickey Rooney in the first of their "let's-put-on-a-show" musicals called Babes in Arms. So when she appeared as Betsy Booth again here, she seemed more poised and naturally sophisticated. And her scenes with Rooney were among the best in the movie culminating in a possible romance between them near the end. In fact, unlike previous entries, this one doesn't start with Judge Hardy in court session nor end with Andy reuniting with Polly by kissing her (though, of course, they do get back together). While Andy does seem to fall for Betsy though, most of the plot concerns his getting in trouble by lying about knowing New York socialite Daphne Fowler (Diana Lewis) and trying to get to her. The humor is more subdued here but it's still there like when Andy goes to a fancy restaurant and just orders the specials without considering the prices! It's especially noticeable when Andy and Marion don't argue like they usually do! Anyway, largely because of the special bond between Judy and Mickey and of hearing Judy's wonderful singing voice on two songs here, I highly recommend Andy Hardy Meets Debutante.

John McCulloch A movie made 60yrs ago, is still one of my favourites. If you want a light-hearted comedy, superbly acted & directed this may be the movie for you. Judy Garland was beautiful (as ever!) & her radiance in this film is one of the highlights. One could wax lyrical for ages about this film, but I won't. Just when you get the opportunity to view this film, do it. You won't be disappointed.