''Listen, Darling'' is a 1938 American

musical comedy film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, but in some cases, they serve merely as break ...

starring

Judy Garland Judy Garland (born Frances Ethel Gumm; June 10, 1922June 22, 1969) was an American actress and singer. Possessing a strong contralto voice, she was celebrated for her emotional depth and versatility across film, stage, and concert performance. ...

Freddie Bartholomew Frederick Cecil Bartholomew (March 28, 1924 – January 23, 1992), known for his acting work as Freddie Bartholomew, was an English-American child actor who was very popular in 1930s Hollywood films. His most famous starring roles are in '' Cap ...

Mary Astor Mary Astor (born Lucile Vasconcellos Langhanke; May 3, 1906 – September 25, 1987) was an American actress. Although her career spanned several decades, she may be best remembered for her performance as Brigid O'Shaughnessy in '' The Maltese ...

, and

Walter Pidgeon Walter Davis Pidgeon (September 23, 1897 – September 25, 1984) was a Canadian-American actor. A major leading man during the Golden Age of Hollywood, known for his "portrayals of men who prove both sturdy and wise," Pidgeon earned two Academy ...

. It is best known as being the film in which Judy Garland sings " Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart", which later became one of her standards.

Plot

Pinky Wingate (

) is worried about her widowed mother, Dottie (

), who is pursuing a loveless relationship with the town's banker, knowing he can help her fund her children's lives. To help her realize this, Pinky and her friend Buzz (

) "kidnap" Dottie and her younger brother Billie (

Scotty Beckett Scott Hastings Beckett (October 4, 1929 – May 10, 1968) was an American actor. He began his career as a child actor in the ''Our Gang'' shorts and later costarred on '' Rocky Jones, Space Ranger''. Early life and career Born in Oakland, Califo ...

), taking them on a road trip to get away from the banker. While they do this, they meet two men, Richard Thurlow (

) and J.J Slattery ( Alan Hale), who they think would be nice husbands for her mother. Her mother falls in love with Richard Thurlow (

) and they go home.

Cast

Release

''Listen, Darling'' was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on October 21, 1938. According to MGM records, the film earned $381,000 in the US and Canada and $202,000 elsewhere, resulting in a loss of $17,000. Initially, the film was released as home media on VHS in 1992 by MGM/UA Home Video, on Laser Disc in 1995 by MGM/UA Home Video along with '' Thoroughbreds Don't Cry'' and on DVD in 2012 by

Warner Archive The Warner Archive Collection is a home video division for releasing classic and cult films from Warner Bros.' library. It started as a manufactured-on-demand (MOD) DVD series by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on March 23, 2009, with the int ...

References

External links

* * * {{Edwin L. Marin 1938 films 1938 musical comedy films 1938 romantic comedy films American musical comedy films American romantic comedy films American romantic musical films American black-and-white films 1930s English-language films Films directed by Edwin L. Marin Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films 1930s romantic musical films Films with screenplays by Noel Langley 1930s American films English-language romantic comedy films English-language romantic musical films English-language musical comedy films