Listen, Darling

This movie is so cute! It'll seem enormously silly and campy, and that's exactly what it turns out to be, even in the literal sense. Widow Mary Astor feels pressured for financial reasons to marry Gene Lockhart, whom neither she nor her teenaged daughter Judy Garland love, so in order to prevent the marriage, Judy and her boyfriend Freddie Bartholomew kidnap Mary and camp out in a trailer in the woods. See, it's silly and campy!

Granted, the story itself is ridiculous, but the heart of the movie lies with the characters, each likable and sweet in their own way. Mary wants the best for her family, but when she meets the handsome, charming Walter Pidgeon, she realizes she hasn't given up on love. Walter is carefree and likes his independence, but he can't help but feel connected to Mary's unusual family. Freddie's devotion to his best girl is quite adorable, and it's not hard to imagine that in a few years, he and Judy will get married. Plus, how cute is it to see David Copperfield driving a car and camping in a trailer? Judy is the noblest of all, who puts her mother's happiness above everything, even the law. Before the kidnapping plan is set in action, Judy tells Freddie, "She was crying again last night," with a tearful warble in her voice. No matter who her stepfather is, whether it's Walter, Gene, or Alan Hale, Judy just wants her mother to be happy.

Speaking of Alan Hale, he gets the chance to sink his teeth into a different type of role. He's not Little John or anyone's loud, embarrassing father in this movie. He's a millionaire with a heart of gold, and he's gentle and sensitive. So, since you've got five good reasons to watch this movie, what are you waiting for? Here's one more reason: You'll get to hear Judy sing the famous "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart," and Freddie, Mary, and Walter join in during the very silly song "On the Bumpy Road to Love."

At a school ceremony, plucky Judy Garland (as "Pinkie" Wingate) sings after boyfriend Freddie Bartholomew (as Herbert "Buzz" Mitchell) delivers a speech. The teenagers fret about Ms. Garland's widowed mother Mary Astor (as Dorothy "Dottie" Wingate) deciding to marry a stuffy banker Gene Lockhart (as Arthur Drubbs), for financial security. To prevent the wedding, Mr. Bartholomew conspires with Garland to "kidnap" Ms. Astor and cute little Scotty Becket (as Billie Wingate).

The quartet ride around in a trailer. They meet distinguished Walter Pidgeon (as Richard Thurlow) and wealthy Alan Hale (as J.J. Slattery), both prospective husbands for mother Astor. An excellent studio version of Garland's "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart" was recorded for Decca in 1939; for some reason, it was unreleased as a hit single until 1943. The tune is a highlight. The songs in "Listen, Darling" have more "Zing" than the script, but the young co-stars are engaging.

***** Listen, Darling (10/18/38) Edwin L. Marin ~ Judy Garland, Freddie Bartholomew, Mary Astor, Walter Pidgeon

Schoolmates Pinky Wingate (Judy Garland) and Buzz (Freddie Bartholomew) are best friends. Her family is in money trouble. Her daydreaming father died without leaving behind any insurance. Her widowed mother Dottie (Mary Astor) is in a relationship with a stuffy banker who she knows can take care of her children. Pinky is desperate to stop her from a loveless marriage and convinces Buzz to help her kidnap Dottie and her little brother Billie. They drive the RV out into a country camping site. They encounter Richard Thurlow (Walter Pidgeon), J. J Slattery (Alan Hale), and a skunk.

This is basic kids setting up romances for adults like a lot of those Disney movies. It's simple family fun and a silly non-sense story. Judy and Freddie are at the top of their game. He has a few more childhood roles before failing to transition into adult roles. Judy's next movie would put her at the top of the mountain. This is a big stepping stone although a small failure.

"Listen, Darling" is a very good comedy drama and family picture, with a wonderful cast of known adult and child actors of the day. The plot is about a plot by Pinkie Wingate and her good friend, Buzz Mitchell, to kidnap Mrs. Wingate. They want to get her away from home for awhile where local banker, Mr. Drubbs, is about to pop the question to Dottie. She is a widow raising Pinkie and her young brother, Billie. Buzz came up with idea of tricking Dottie and Billie into the family's small trailer, locking the door on them and then he and Pinkie driving out of town and to a distant camp ground. They figure that once out in the wilds for a few days, they would be able to look around for other eligible males for Dottie.

Well, obviously, such a silly plot leads to a fun and sometimes very funny escapade. And do they ever meet some eligible men for Dottie. All of the characters in this film are worth smiles.

Judy Garland is Pinkie, and is 16 and not quite yet the star she would be within a year. She was on her way though, having made the first of the Andy Hardy films with Micky Rooney just before this one. "The Wizard of Oz" was just around the corner. Judy sings two tunes here. And, joining Judy as Buzz is Freddie Bartholomew. He was just 14 at the time, but a good size for his age and a perfect teen friend for Pinky. Even little Scotty Beckett is more cute than annoying as Pinkie's brother, Billie - at around 8 or 9 years of age - his real age at the time.

Mary Astor plays the mom, Dottie Wingate. She hasn't had a lot to smile about since her husband's death some years before. She struggles to make ends meet, which is why she's inclined to say "yes" to Mr. Drubbs if he asks her hand in marriage. But Pinkie knows she doesn't love the man, and she wants her mother to be happy.

Well, the men they meet camping out include Walter Pidgeon as Richard Thurlow, Alan Hale as J.J. Slattery, and Barnett Parker as Abercrombie.

This is a warm, funny and entertaining comedy. It is a good family film that most older movie buffs, especially, should enjoy.

Here are a couple of favorite lines from the film.

Buzz Mitchell, "Ah, I might as well try to reason with a piece of cheese as women."

Dottie Wingate, "Buzz, I think the two of you are mad - absolutely mad. It's the craziest, silliest, most ridiculous senseless thing I've ever heard of in my life. But I love you for it."

Judy and Freddie team up and kidnap Judy's mom ( Mary Astor ) in a trailer in an effort to prevent her mother from marrying the town banker , which the mother does not love. In route they meet a photographer ( Walter Pigeon ) who falls in love with Judy's Mom. The scenes with her little brother are really funny coupled with Judy singing "Zing, Went the Strings of my Heart" made this a treat for my daughter and myself to watch. A great movie to watch on a quiet afternoon or late at night.