JLRMovieReviews Review of Life Begins for Andy Hardy

Life Begins for Andy Hardy (1941)

A Lesson for Andy Hardy - An Entry to Be Skipped?

[7/10 · 12 August 2013]

To begin with, it should be noted (and you'd know this, if you've read the other reviews) that "Life Begins for Andy Hardy" is far more serious than the other films in the "Andy Hardy" series. This film marked the third and final appearance of Judy Garland as Betsy Booth in the film series. As Andy Hardy moves to New York to find himself and a job, he starts to learn hard lessons in life. So given the fact this is a drama and not a comedy, it's not a bad movie. But it's not terribly great. At times, it feels down right depressing and downbeat, as Andy Hardy gets some hard knocks looking for a job, and ultimately this is not an upper for viewers who expected the always chipper and juvenile Andy Hardy. In fact, despite the fact Judy sang in the other two films she starred in, her songs that were shot were not used in the final cut. I can only think that (the filmmakers finally decided that) the presence of singing did not seem to go with the somberness of this film and would dilute its impact on the viewer. In one scene, Betsy sees Andy at rock bottom looking pale, undernourished, and ready to pass out. And, he befriends an aspiring dancer, who's had a history of sickness, and who ultimately dies. Death in an Andy Hardy picture! Say it isn't so! While I admire the intention to show a mature Andy Hardy, if I wanted to see more of the film series in the future in the order they were made, I would probably skip this one entirely as it is a complete downer, save for Judy Garland trying to breathe some life and humor into it, with her buoyant presence and passion. Watch and judge for yourself.