An older couple, the Valduzzi family, come to Judge Hardy [Lewis Stone] to ask for help when they are about to be evicted from their home. The judge hears their plea and, rather than accepting the claim that their daughter is dead, chooses to take the case himself. To track down the missing child, he summons his son, Andy [Mickey Rooney], to join the search. The situation sets off a chain of small, human-scale trials that test loyalty, responsibility, and the stubborn pull of family obligations.
Andy is dealing with his own set of troubles as the search stretches on. He needs new tires but has little money, and a debt owed to a fellow named Beezy weighs on him. The debt is pressed closer when Beezy collects what Andy owes, leaving him even tighter for cash. In a bid to raise funds, he asks his sister Marian [Cecilia Parker] for help, but she offers only two dollars, which barely dents his immediate needs. Polly Benedict [Ann Rutherford], a bright, persistent presence in his life, asks him to buy tickets to a dance, and the price tag proves to be steeper than Andy expected. This squeeze means he’s short on the funds needed for the tires and the outfit he’s hoping to wear.
During a tense ride to the courthouse, Andy tries to patch things up with his father while juggling the growing pressure of his own finances. The Judge, strapped by his own limited allowance, explains that he can’t lend more, yet promises relief if Andy can locate the girl. As the car rolls on, Andy’s tires fail again, and the car’s fender and bumper take a beating—moments that reinforce the practical difficulties of living on a tight budget while chasing a lead.
On a break at Polly’s house, the heat and exhaustion fade into a more human moment. Polly makes a bid for romance, while Andy just wants a cold drink after fourteen houses and a long day on foot. They eventually wander toward the home of the Hortons, a family with money and polish, and Andy suspects the daughter might be there. He and Polly drive past a lakefront residence and a pool, where the social atmosphere feels very different from the places he’s visited so far. At the Horton property, the daughter is introduced with a blend of sophistication that seems older than her supposed freshman year, and Andy is drawn in by a casual conversation and a local soda fountain. When he learns her name is Elvie, and when he discovers she’s writing an essay on Alexander Hamilton—a project worth a $50 prize—he begins to see a possible way to connect with her, even as he remains consumed by his mission and his own discomfort in these social circles. The moment is awkward but revealing, and he leaves with a new thread to follow.
Meanwhile, life at home continues. The women of the family plan a Canada trip to visit Mrs. Hardy’s relatives, but the Judge and Andy must hold down the fort in his absence. Mrs. Hardy herself grows ill and slips into an oxygen tent, a complication that adds urgency to the family’s situation. Andy’s outreach to the girls with his Hamilton essay takes on a new pressure: he intends to use the essay to win money or favor, but the plan attracts interest from several girls, all moving in on his attention, some of whom see an opportunity to use him for a date instead of helping him with his mission. A line from Elvie adds a brief warmth to the scene: > "We were digesting our sodas." The moment is simple, honest, and emblematic of a teenager’s attempt to navigate adult concerns with a sense of lightness.
As Andy moves from door to door, the family’s crisis deepens. Mrs. Horton, the mother of Elvie, confronts the consequences of a life built on misremembered ages and the pressure of a lie she has told about her daughter. Eventually, the truth surfaces when Elvie’s true identity is revealed: her name is Leonora Valduzzi Brock, a realization that shifts the dynamic of the investigation and the relationships involved. Andy races to tell his father what he’s learned, and the Judge heads to the Hortons’ home to plead for a solution that might save both households from ruin.
With the financial needles finally moving in the right direction, the Judge agrees to cover the family’s debts—though certain conditions remain, including the temporary keeping of the car until it can be repaired. The plan shifts toward reconciliation rather than confrontation. Andy, torn between two potential dates for the dance, weighs his options: he considers Polly, the girl he’s known for longer, against Elvie, the woman who has sparked a different kind of connection to him. The two dates create tension, especially with Polly’s frustration that Andy has two people to consider. Yet Elvie comes to the door, looking her age and bringing with her a sense of forgiveness and expectancy, and she offers a gesture of sincerity that touches the situation deeply. She even tries to give Andy money—an amount he refuses because he’s trying to do the right thing, not just win a prize.
As the events unfold, Andy and his father navigate the complexities of debt, responsibility, and devotion. The Judge’s attempt to secure the family’s future intersects with the children’s own choices, and the search for a daughter becomes a broader exploration of love, duty, and the ways families support one another in moments of crisis. The two families—Hardy and Valduzzi—move toward a resolution that honors both the truth of the past and the possibilities of the future. In the end, Andy’s two-date dilemma resolves in a way that reflects the film’s enduring values: perseverance, fairness, and the idea that family bonds can guide and sustain people even when their resources are strained.
Note: The cast mentioned in this summary includes: Andy [Mickey Rooney], Judge Hardy [Lewis Stone], Elvie/Leonora Valduzzi Brock [Martha O'Driscoll], Mrs. Horton [Leona Maricle], Polly Benedict [Ann Rutherford], Marian Hardy [Cecilia Parker], Milly Forrest [Sara Haden], and Emily Hardy [Fay Holden].
