Youngsters Judy Garland and Freddie Bartholomew interfere in the love life of Garland's unattached mother, Mary Astor. Bland excuse by MGM to utilize their contract talent. Judy sings "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart", as well as the jolly "On the Bumpy Road to Love", but is otherwise used for her tear-ducts and trembling lips. Her budding womanhood is interesting to view in this scrubbed-clean context, but the familial relationships on-screen never jell. If Garland is ill-used, then Bartholomew seems really out of place as 'Buzz', Judy's best friend/substitute brother. Bartholomew doesn't quite fit the Mickey Rooney bill playing pal to a young woman, and his trained, affected speech and articulate manner make him seem dropped in from a different picture. ** from ****
Review of Listen, Darling
