Andy Hardy films
The Andy Hardy films are a series of American comedy-drama movies that began in 1937, centered around the fictional Hardy family living in the idyllic small town of Carvel, Idaho. The films feature Judge Hardy, his wife Emily, their daughter Marian, and their teenage son, Andy, played by Mickey Rooney. Initially focusing on the entire family, the series later shifted its attention primarily to Andy's humorous misadventures, which often involved minor troubles with his friend Beezy and culminated in moral lessons imparted by Judge Hardy.
The series reflects mid-20th century American values, emphasizing themes of family, responsibility, and morality. Judge Hardy serves as a moral guide, using relatable life lessons to help Andy navigate challenges and understand the importance of doing what is right. The films resonate with audiences for their portrayal of domestic life and community values during the 1940s. The original series concluded in 1947, with an attempted revival in 1958 that did not lead to further productions. The Andy Hardy films remain notable for their cultural impact, showcasing an idealized version of American life and family dynamics of the era.
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Andy Hardy films
Identification Series of sixteen Hollywood films depicting family life in middle America
Date Released from 1937 through 1958
This low-budget film series showcased the Hardys, an upper-middle-class midwestern family with two children. The films were sentimental comedies that tackled serious subjects, chronicling the moral education of Andy Hardy, and helped to make their star, Mickey Rooney, one of the most popular American film actors.
The Andy Hardy film series began in 1937 with A Family Affair, based on Aurania Rouverol’s play Skidding. The film’s popularity convinced Louis B. Mayer to create a series based on the Hardy family: Judge Hardy, the father; Emily Hardy, the mother; Marian Hardy, Andy’s older sister; and Andrew (Andy) Hardy, the teenage son. They lived in Carvel, Idaho, a fictitious town, which Mayer hoped would look like the ideal middle-American hometown.
The first three installments were about the entire family, but by the fourth installment, Andy, played by Mickey Rooney, was the focus of the series. His comic adventures and sweet disposition made him a favorite of the American public. In the fourth film, Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938), the series developed its trademark formula. Andy would get into some minor trouble, usually with his friend Beezy. Together, they would try to avoid getting caught and would invariably end up in more trouble. At that point, Andy would seek out Judge Hardy for a man-to-man talk. The Judge, who embodied the American ideals of truth and justice and who believed in equal treatment under the law for all citizens, would gently teach Andy that only by doing the right thing was it possible to become a decent man. Andy would listen to this advice, face the repercussions of his actions, and fix whatever mischief he caused. The crises the family faced were all of a domestic nature and might seem trivial to a modern audience; however, the family values of coming together to solve a problem and turning to loved ones for advice and support were greatly admired in their day and shone a light on the moral values of 1940’s America.
The original series ended in 1947, with Love Laughs at Andy Hardy. In 1958, the unsuccessful Andy Hardy Comes Home, a reunion film aimed at continuing the series, was released. Although it ended with the words “to be continued,” no other Andy Hardy film was ever made.
Impact
The Andy Hardy films were characterized by a belief in American values and the power of law. Judge Hardy, the moral center of the films, always dispensed advice based on his deep patriotism and love of the law. The character was a practicing judge, often in Washington on special legal business. His devotion to his family and his earnest ways of instilling morality in his children made him a beloved American icon. In Love Finds Andy Hardy, the Judge, wanting Andy to understand the value of money, takes him around to see how the less fortunate live and what money could do to help if used for charity rather than personal desires. This film is the most popular of the series and remains insightful into 1940’s American values. In 1941, the family was commemorated by setting their hand- and footprints into the cement outside Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, in a ceremony calling the Hardys “the first family of Hollywood.” In 1943, the series received a special Oscar for depicting American life at its most ideal.
Bibliography
Ray, Robert B. The Avant-Garde Films of Andy Hardy. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1995.
Zinman, David. Saturday Afternoon at the Bijou: A Nostalgic Look at Charlie Chan, Andy Hardy, and Other Movie Heroes We Have Known and Loved. London: Arlington House, 1973.