YOUR'E ONLY YOUNG ONCE

US, 1937, 78 minutes, Black and white.
Lewis Stone, Mickey Rooney, Cecilia Parker, Fay Holden, Ann Rutherford, Sara Haden.
Directed by George B.Seitz.

You’re Only Young Once was the first of the Hardy family films with the cast of the series so popular between the mid 30s and mid 40s. Lewis Stone takes over the role of Judge Hardy from Lionel Barrymore, Faye Holden as mother from Spring Byington. However, the children and Aunt Milly remain. This film shows the Hardy family on holiday, tackling justice issues of the time - but the complications of falling in love, and Andy Hardy trying to be too old for his age. However, the film begins the popular series with its moralising and idealising of the American family.

1. The popularity of the series? This film is the beginning with the permanent cast? American family values?

2. Black and white photography, studio sets? The B Budget? The cast? Musical score and themes?

3. The title, the focus on the children, the focus on Judge Hardy and mother dealing with their children?

4. Judge Hardy and the courts, the cases, resolutions? His wisdom, with his family? The fishing, the line? Enjoying the holiday, helping Andy, helping Marion? Mother and her presence, not always understanding? kind?

5. Marion, flirting, the infatuation? her own boyfriend, the married man? The handling of the case?

6. Andy, the young man, flirtations, Poly Benedict at home? Getting in too deep? bleeding, his father's advice?

7. The people at Catalina? More sophisticated than the Hardy's, from the mid- west? The contrasting values and styles?

8. The popularity of the films at the time, in retrospect?