This week’s mystery movie was the 1938 MGM picture Listen, Darling, with Judy Garland, Freddie Bartholomew, Mary Astor, Walter Pidgeon, Alan Hale, Scotty Beckett, Barnett Parker, Gene Lockhart and Charley Grapewin.
Screenplay by Elaine Ryan and Anne Morrison Chapin. Story by Katherine Brush.
On the Bumpy Road to Love by Al Hoffman, Al Lewis and Murray Mencher; Ten Pins in the Sky, by Joseph McCarthy and Milton Ager; Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart, by James F. Hanley. Musical score by Dr. William Axt. Musical director Georgie Stoll. Musical arrangements by Roger Edens.
Recording director Douglas Shearer. Art direction by Cedric Gibbons, Harry McAfee and Edwin B. Willis. Wardrobe by Dolly Tree. Photographed by Charles Lawton Jr. Edited by Blanche Sewell.
Directed by Edwin L. Marin.
Produced by Jack Cummings.
The Warner Archive (RIP) DVD of Listen, Darling is available from Critics’ Choice.
More on the history of the film is available from the AFI catalog.
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I picked this week’s mystery movie as a shoutout to a member of the Brain Trust who is having some health concerns and used the title of one of the songs as a subject line announcing the ailment. We’re all pulling for you!
Frank Nugent liked the movie! (New York Times, Nov 24, 1938):
Under the rather ominous title Listen, Darling, Metro and the Criterion have an extremely pleasant — winsome would be the better word — picture about two youngsters who kidnap a matrimonially eligible widow, lock her in a trailer and start touring the countryside in search of a suitable husband….
… The comedy has been nicely turned by Mary Astor, Walter Pidgeon, Alan Hale, Gene Lockhart and Charles Grapewin among the adults and by all three youngsters. Besides being a charming little miss, Judy Garland has a fresh young voice which she uses happily on Zing Went the Strings of My Heart, On the Bump Road to Love and Ten Pins in the Sky.
For Monday, we have a mystery lad. He does not approve of such goings-on.
Update: This is Scotty Becker.
For Tuesday, we have a perplexed gent.
Update: This is Barnett Parker.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (Monday’s mystery lad), Mary Mallory (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery lad), Bob Hansen (Monday’s mystery lad), David Inman (Monday’s mystery lad), Jenny M. (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery lad) and Blackwing Jenny (Monday’s mystery lad).
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have a mystery fellow. Also Back of the Head Teenager.
Update: This is Alan Hale.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Tuesday’s mystery fellow), Funky PhD (Monday’s mystery lad), Incredibleinman (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mystery fellow), Anne Papineau (mystery movie and both mystery guests) and Mike Hawks (mystery movie and both mystery guests).
For “Aha Thursday,” we have a mystery fellow who has escaped from mystery movie jail.
Update: This is Gene Lockhart, photobombed by a blurry Judy Garland.
Brain Trust roll call: Blackwing Jenny (Wednesday’s mystery gent), Mary Mallory (Wednesday’s mystery gent), Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Beach Gal (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Funky PhD (mystery movie, Wednesday’s mystery gent and Back of the Head Woman), Anne Papineau (Wednesday’s mystery gent), B.J. Merholz (mystery movie, Wednesday’s mystery gent and Back of the Head Woman), Chrisbo (Wednesday’s mystery gent), Mike Hawks (Wednesday’s mystery fellow and Back of the Head Woman), L.C. (mystery movie and mystery cast), Tucson Barbara (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Gary (Wednesday’s mystery gent), Roget-L.A. (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Mad About Plaid (Wednesday’s mystery gent) and Sylvia E. (mystery movie and all mystery guests).
For Friday, we have a mystery lad.
Update: This is Freddie Bartholomew.
And this happy couple. They are singing.
Update: This is Mary Astor and Walter Pidgeon.
And finally, this mysterious teenager. She, too, is singing.
Update: This is Judy Garland.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Wednesday’s Back of the Head Teenager and Thursday’s mystery guests), Beach Gal (Thursday’s mystery gent), Blackwing Jenny (mystery movie and Thursday’s mysterious teenager), Anne Papineau (Thursday’s mystery gent), Tucson Barbara (Thursday’s mystery guests), Chrisbo (mystery movie, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mystery gents), Mad About Plaid (Thursday’s mystery fellow), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery guests), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery gent), Benito (Wednesday’s mystery fellow and Back of the Head Teen), Roget-L.A. (Thursday’s mystery fellow), Gary (mystery movie and mystery cast), Sylvia E. (Thursday’s mystery guests) and Noir Allie (Wednesday’s mystery fellow).
Note to Sylvia E.: That’s an interesting idea, I’m not sure all of them ever worked together in one film!
ladailymirror.com 
Scotty Beckett.
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Scotty Beckett.
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I think that’s Scotty Beckett, circa 1940. Don’t know the movie.
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Davy Crockett? He has to be at least 80 years old!
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Our mystery lad predates Davy Crockett by a few years….
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Scotty Beckett today?
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Scotty Beckett in Listen, Darling.
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Shirley Temple
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Charles Herbert?
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An interesting guess, but our mystery movie predates Charles.
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Fess Parker before he became Davy Crockett.
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Ha! Alas, I’m afraid not.
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Ronny Cosby in EAST LYNNE.
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A good guess, but alas, I’m afraid not.
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It’s not Scotty Becket…is it?
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It is Scotty Beckett in LISTEN DARLING.
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Is it Mary Astor out of frame on Monday? Barnett Parker today.
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Scotty Beckett
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Barnett Parker today, I think, making this “Listen, Darling.”
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Scotty Beckett and Barnett Parker in “Listen, Darling”
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Scotty Beckett and Barnett Parker in LISTEN DARLING.
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Louis Calhern is “perplexed”-or I am.
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Alan Hale!
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Wait…”Louis Calhern” isn’t Sig Rumann is he?
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Alan Hale and Mary Astor BOTH woman.
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Alan Hale, Mary Astor in LISTEN, DARLING.
Tuesday: Barnett Parker
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Mon – Scotty Beckett
Tues – Barnett Parker
Wed – Alan Hale Sr. with BOTHG being Judy Garland
Movie is Listen, Darling.
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“Listen, Darling,” with Alan Hale and Judy Garland as Back of the Head Woman
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Alan Hale
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Could that be Judy Garland asking Alan Hale to Listen Darling?
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Hmmm. Is that Alan Hale?
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Alan Hale converses with Judy Garland.
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Listen, Darling (1938) w/Scotty Beckett, Barnett Parker, Alan Hale Sr, Freddie Bartholomew, Judy Garland, Mary Astor, Walter Pidgeon….
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Wed – Alan Hale
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I should hope I recognize Alan Hale.
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Monday: Scotty Beckett – Tuesday: Barnett Parker – Wednesday: Alan Hale (with Judy Garland) – Mystery Movie: Listen, Darling (1938)
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The ‘Hm Wednesday’ man is Alan Hale Sr.
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Are you continuing your ‘connect the cast’ with the “Wizard of Oz” theme from last week? Since Charley Grapewinn is also in this film along with Ms Garland. Or maybe that’s not what you’re doing at all and it’s all in my mind. Anyhow…
Wednesday I recognized Alan Hale Sr and bothw Judy Garland which led to “Listen Darling” 1938. So an older film than I was thinking it was.
Monday – IMDb says this is Scotty Beckett, but boy I’m having trouble seeing that. Maybe because his face is so squinched up??
Tuesday – I’ll guess Barnett Parker
Wednesday – Mr. Hale and Ms Garland
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“Listen, Darling”
Mon – Scotty Beckett
Tues – Barnett Parker
Wed – Alan Hale, Judy Garland
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Is Wednesday a pre-Betwitched David White?
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Must be Judy as BOTH on WEdnesday, Gene Lockhart with Freddie Bartholomew, Judy Garland, and it looks like Jackie Searls.
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Thurs – Gene Lockhart
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Oh my gosh-it’s Gene Raymond and…Judy! “Listen Darling”! How could I not get it before!
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Gene Lockhart
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Thurs – Gene Lockhart, and a blurry Judy Garland and Freddie Bartholomew
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Aha! Gene Lockhart plus Alan Hale leads me to guess Listen Darling.
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Is the ‘Aha Thursday’ man Gene Lockhart?
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Gene Lockart, Judy Garland.
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Gene Lockhart.
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Alan Hale Sr. and maybe a blurry Judy Garland today
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Thursday: Gene Lockhart
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Gene Lockhart makes it Listen Darling….Everyone…Walter, Mary…Scotty…look so young. And it’s a Freddy flic as opposed to second billed Judy. My goodness.
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Thursday – Gene Lockhart and behind him ‘in soft focus’ Judy Garland and Freddy Bartholomew.
Maybe you can do a “released from mystery movie jail” week – all in one picture?
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Alan Hale?
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Feddie Bartholmew, Mary Astor and Walter Pidgeon, and Judy, Judy, Judy.
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For Friday – Freddie Bartholomew, Mary Astor with Walter Pidgeon, and our star, Judy Garland. Oh, and I had identified BOTHG on Wed, but didn’t get credit for it.
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The other ones that I know are Freddie Bartholowmew, Mary Astor and Judy Garland.
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Freddie Bartholomew, Mary Astor, Walter Pigeon and Judy Garland.
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Friday – Freddy Bartholomew, Mary Astor, Walter Pidgeon and Judy Garland
I hope we see Scotty Beckett (looking more like himself) and maybe Charley Grapewinn in tomorrow’s breakdown.
This was a fun one. Thanks
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Freddie Bartholomew, Mary Astor, Walter Pidgeon, Judy Garland
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