Classic Holllywood From A to Z – A Is For Andy Hardy

Classic Films From A to Z – an alphabetical journey through the Golden Age of cinema

I love Andy Hardy. Always have. Always will. This love affair started some time ago when I was a wee kid. Gather round and I’ll tell you the story.

When I was little little the first movie I loved was The Wizard of Oz, especially it’s protagonist, Dorothy Gale. My mom saw how much I liked it and decided to tape me a couple of other movies featuring its star – Judy Garland. These movies were Babes in Arms and Babes on Broadway both featuring her and Mickey Rooney. Ok, I loved the Wizard of Oz but I ADORED these movies. I would watch them over and over and over again. Like watch the movie, rewind it, watch it again, rewind, watch it, re…you get the picture. Well, one day my mom and I were at Suncoast Video (remember Suncoast? man I loved that place) and I spotted a movie called Life Begins For Andy Hardy starring Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. My mom bought it for me and surprise, surprise I was crazy about it, too. When I discovered that Andy Hardy was an actual film series…well..a love affair began…

The Andy Hardy film series debuted in 1937 with the film A Family Affair. This film starred Lionel Barrymore and centered around Judge Hardy and his family. The film ended up being a surprise hit and a showcase vehicle for the actor playing Judge Hardy’s son – Mickey Rooney. MGM didn’t need to be convinced twice of the enormous potential of Andy Hardy so they immediately sprung into action to film a sequel and the series soon followed.

The only original actors to stay on were Mickey Rooney and Sara Haden in the role of Aunt Milly. Lewis Stone joined the cast as Judge Hardy, Fay Holden as Mrs. Hardy, Cecilia Parker as Andy’s sister Marian and Ann Rutherford as Andy’s high school sweetheart, Polly Benedict.

Most of the films take place in the town of Carvel and center around the travails of Mr. Andrew Hardy – an ever popular, girl crazy high school student. The Hardys’ were also well traveled visiting New York, Catalina Island, and Washington D.C. among other places in the course of the series. Who knew a small town judge had such a budget!

In 1938 another character named Betsy Booth made her debut in Love Finds Andy Hardy.

Betsy Booth, the granddaughter of the Hardys’ next door neighbor, immediately falls for Andy and joins him on his adventures. By the way, she happens to be played by Judy Garland. Betsy Booth would appear in 3 Andy Hardy movies and the scenes between her and Andy are wonderful. Here’s where the characters first meet.

Oh Betsy! You don’t need glamour, you’re perfect just the way you are!

Judy Garland wasn’t the only MGM star to visit Carvel. The film series also served as launching pads for such future stars as Lana Turner, Kathryn Grayson, Donna Reed, and Esther Williams.

The series was released steadily through World War II when it, for obvious reasons, was put on old. After the war a couple attempts were made to continue but it just wasn’t the same. The world was a bit more cynical and Andy Hardy was all grown up now. It was time to say goodbye to Carvel.

But, thankfully, the Andy Hardy series lives on. Most of the films are shown regularly on Turner Classic Movies and six of the titles are available in an awesome boxed set through Warner Archive. If you get a chance, I highly recommend watching them – they are true treasures.

My essential Andy Hardy –

Love Finds Andy Hardy
Andy Hardy Meets Debutante
You’re Only Young Once