THE COURTSHIP OF ANDY HARDY

US, 1942, 95 minutes, Black and white.
Lewis Stone, Mickey Rooney, Cecilia Parker, Fay Holden, Ann Rutherford, Sara Haden, Donna Reed, William Lundigan, Frieda Inescort, Harvey Stephens.
Directed by George B. Seitz.

George B. Seitz directed fourteen Andy Hardy films, the last released in 1944, the year of his death. This film comes rather later in the series. Andy Hardy is out of school, he is working in a garage. Judge Hardy is busy on a separation and custody case. Marian Hardy returns from New York, all modern and fashion conscious. The Hardy family does not respond well.

Donna Reed appears as the daughter in the custody case, a wallflower who is brought out of herself by Andy. William is the rich man-about-town who is pursuing Marian Hardy. Ann Rutherford appears at the end of the film once again as Polly Benedict.

The film offers a lot of homespun philosophy, especially about family, broken marriages, the care of the children, reconciliations. There is a lot of talk about fashion and being modern and self-assertive. Even Mrs Hardy gets into trouble in being conned by a company which advertises goods and charges over-much for their delivery.

Familiar themes – but, as always, audiences who have go to know the Hardy family are happy to be in their company.

1. The popularity of this series of films? Andy Hardy growing older? Marian and her going to New York? The status of the judge and his wife?

2. The familiar scenes, the Hardy home, the town? The garage? The courts? The emphasis on cars? The seriousness, the humour? The musical score? The perennial cast?

3. Andrew Hardy, Mickey Rooney’s presence? His working at the garage, his earnestness? His fixing the car, the breakdown? The accusation of stealing the car after he gave the agent the lift? His worries, going to his father, the explanations? The role with Melodie? Taking her to the dance? His embarrassment? His obeying his father’s orders? The friendship with Melodie, talking? Her change, taking her to the dance, the boys’ response? His old-fashioned attack on Marian and her nightie-dress? The attitudes of the early 1940s? The language? His clash with Jeff Willis? The finale, everything in order, the charges being dropped? His being ready for his next adventure – and the meeting with Polly Benedict, their past, their future?

4. Judge Hardy, wise, his love for his family? His presence in the court with Mr and Mrs Nesbit? Their quarrel? The fate of Melodie? His suggestions for reconciliation? For help for Melodie to come out of herself? Urging Andy to take her to the dance? His relationship with his wife, her buying the suit – and the mix-up with the con artists and the charges? Her reaction to Marian’s dress – and her memories of her past? Aunt Milly and her place in the house?

5. Marian, coming back from the city, sophisticated, her talking, her clothes, the upset at the table? Her going out with Jeff Willis? His misbehaving? Her reconciliation with the family?

6. The Nesbits, the past, their quarrels, their accusations against each other? Their concern about Melodie? The attempts at reconciliation, the fights? Returning to talk with the judge? Melodie, her age, wallflower, self-consciousness, Andy taking her out, her being at the dance, Andy and his paying the boys to dance with her? Her return home, her transformation, Andy’s surprise, her being popular at the dance? The young man attracted to her – and her future?

7. The popularity of this kind of small-town America, its characters, its problems, solutions, its values?