Out West with the Hardys

Lewis Stone as Judge James Hardy is not one ever to not answer the plea of an old friend, in this case an old friend he might have been romantically involved with back in the day. Nana Bryant has written to Stone from Arizona where she and husband Ralph Morgan own a ranch they're about to lose because their neighbor Thurston Hall won't renew their water rights without a hefty price interest that would break them. So the nuclear family Hardys, Stone, Fay Holden, Mickey Rooney, and Cecilia Parker go off Out West With The Hardys.

Coincidentally enough it's at a time where both Hardy children are having some romantic difficulties. When are they ever not in this series? But Parker is taking a liking to widower ranch foreman Gordon Jones while his daughter Virginia Weidler show Rooney there's a lot more to being a cowboy than dressing the part.

Although this Hardy family film has a lot of good points to it. It's bogged down by the fact Mickey really acts like a jerk in this one. As usual trying to show off. This is one time a father and son talk just was not the answer, the Mick needed a trip to the woodshed.

As it always does everything works out between Mickey finding a solution to the mess he makes, Parker deciding that maybe she's a city girl after all, and Fay Holden of all people coming up with the solution to the problems of her husband's old girl friend.

Not the best of the Hardy series, but all right.

Out West with the Hardys (1938)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Fine entry in the MGM series has Judge Hardy (Lewis Stone) taking the family to a ranch in Arizona where he hopes to help his old friends who have gotten into some trouble with their land and water. Out on the ranch Marian (Cecilia Parker) falls for yet another guy while Andy (Mickey Rooney) must learn the hard way that he's got a lot of learning to do before he can call himself a man. While this fifth entry is certainly a step down from the past couple entries this is still a pretty entertaining film thanks in large part to the terrific cast who have no trouble getting into their parts. Considering this was the third film in the series within 1938 alone you can understand how the product felt somewhat rushed. The movie has a fairly good story overall but at the same time everything seemed a tad bit too rushed and there isn't nearly as many funny moments as some of the earlier entries. I think the best stuff in the movie happen between Andy and the 8-year-old Jake (Virginia Weidler) who starts to have a crush on him. There's a lot of heart between the two as they start off not liking one another but quickly she ends up teaching Andy quite a few things. As you'd expect there's a lot more drama between Judge and Andy as the older, wiser dad must teach his son several lessons about life. As usual Stone and Rooney are downright terrific in their roles so they have no problem pulling off the father-son relationship. Hearing the two of them talk together comes off so real that I could listen to them speak for hours at a time. The supporting cast offers up some strong work with Parker, Ann Rutherford and Fay Holden fitting back into their roles with no trouble. Sara Haden is back as Aunt Milly after being MIA in the previous two films. Weidler is very charming in her role but I later learned she walked away from showbiz at the age of 17 and sadly ended up dying at the age of 42 from a heart attack. While there's no question this is a step down from some of the previous films, OUT WEST WITH THE HARDYS at least has the terrific cast and they make this worth sitting through.

Though this Hardy Family film is listed as a comedy, it includes a healthy dose of tears, which may be why it gets lesser marks than others in the series. Still, Andy Hardy (Mickey Rooney) brings his brand of teenage silliness to the proceedings.

The family goes out west to visit friends who own a working ranch. They are having problems that Judge Hardy (Lewis Stone) might be able to help with. Daughter Marian (Cecilia Parker) is smitten with a ranch hand, and Andy reluctantly pals around with a spunky cowgirl named Jake, played by Virginia Weidler (who appears in two other films with Rooney).

The show business adage says you should never work with children or animals, but Rooney does both here and, though Virginia is a real scene-stealer, he holds his own. A better film that shows Rooney's western talents is "Girl Crazy" (1943).

Judge Hardy gets a letter from a former flame. She needs legal help for her family's Arizona ranch. Their neighbor holds their water rights. Andy (Mickey Rooney) is getting conceited. Mom is obsessed with spring cleaning and growing frustrated. The Judge decides to bring the whole family out west for a break.

Judy Garland is gone. Andy takes a step back. The whole franchise takes a step back. At least, Andy gets his comeuppance in the end and Jake has some fun with him. This is not the best idea. It's an excuse for Andy to dress up as a cowboy and for Marian to kiss one. This is basically a family sitcom deciding to go on a trip to spice things up to start the new season.

Judge Hardy and his family take off for Arizona when one of dad's close friends runs into some legal trouble and may lose her ranch. The elder daughter Marian falls for a foreman at the ranch (Gordon Jones), whose 8-year-old tomboy daughter "Jake" starts to get a crush of sorts on Andy Hardy. This wasn't an exceptional entry but it has its moments of comedy (Jake tries to sabotage Marian's efforts to impress the girl's father) and drama (Andy unintentionally causes Jake's favorite horse to break its leg). I am beginning to become aware already that Mickey Rooney mugs to wild extremes as Andy Hardy.

**1/2 out of ****