André Hardy millionnaire

Just watched this, the sixth in the Judge Hardy's Family series. Seems the family may have inherited some money so they go to Detroit to claim their share. Of course, Andy has delusions of grandeur which he enacts quickly when a supposed relative takes him out on the town and he sees chorus girls for the first time! I'll stop there and just say that I liked most of the film especially when some of the focus is on spinster Aunt Milly and her dressing up and going out with someone she likes very much. Mickey Rooney, as always, is his usual exuberant self. Oh, and what he tells Polly at the end! So on that note, I highly recommend The Hardys Ride High.

Hardys Ride High, The (1939)

*** (out of 4)

The sixth film in the popular MGM series has Judge Hardy (Lewis Stone) learning that he might be the heir to $2 million dollars so the family goes to Detroit to collect the money. Kids Andy (Mickey Rooney) and Marian (Cecilia Parker) soon see green everywhere and begin to change as the chance of getting money begins to turn their character. I wish that I could have watched these films in order but I pretty much just have to catch them as they show up on TCM. With that said, I've really become a fan of the series over the past year and this one here is yet another winner. Once again many people might laugh at the "moral lessons" being taught here as there's no question it's doubtful there is any family as pure as the ones on display here. There's no question these films were just light entertainment meant to tell people how one should live their life. Typically I'd object to such preaching but there's no denying that these characters have a lot of charm and the actors do a brilliant job bringing them to life. This time out we have the Hardy's learning that money can lead to a lot of evil and this is especially true for the kids who start spending before they even get the money. Of course Andy gets caught up with a seedy character and soon ends up with a chorus girl (Virginia Grey) in a very funny sequence. Not only the bad money a lesson here but so is honesty when Judge learns something that might prevent them from the money. As usual the cast make the film work with Stone and Rooney so perfect in these roles that you can't see anyone else doing them. The two have a great chemistry together and they really do come off like a real father and son. Grey is very good in her role of the gold digger and Fay Holden, Parker and Ann Rutherford are as great as usual. The one issue with the film is the final twenty-minutes when the "message" is being told. It goes on about five or ten minutes too long but if you're a fan of the series then there's enough charm here to make it worth viewing.

Judge Hardy (Lewis Stone) inherits a fortune so the family moves...to Detroit? Times really have changed. Once in Detroit, the Hardys have difficulty adjusting to their potential newfound wealth. Andy starts to think of himself as a millionaire playboy and acts accordingly. Marian spends like there's no tomorrow. Even Aunt Millie (Sara Haden) gets in on the action, trying to be something she's not to snag a man.

Lewis Stone's good in this one as the Judge's honesty and integrity is tested and, surprisingly, the old stone wall almost cracks. Mickey is fun as usual. His reaction to being invited to the chorus girl's apartment is priceless. The one father/son talk we get is late in the film but it's pretty funny. Fay Holden is as endearing as ever. Cecilia Parker didn't annoy me once in the whole picture. A first! Sara Haden has probably her best movie in the series playing Aunt Millie going through a spinster crisis. Ann Rutherford shines in her far too few scenes as Polly Benedict. Halliwell Hobbes is fun as a butler. Seems like he was always playing butlers. Virginia Grey is fine as the gold-digging chorus girl who helps lead Andy astray. Marsha Hunt and Donald Briggs have bit parts as a bickering married couple who are saved from divorce (for now) by Judge Hardy. The part where he tells the wife "what a generous husband gives is a lot more than you're entitled to" is sure to ruffle feathers today.

This is one of the lesser Hardy films but still enjoyable. They don't do as much with the "coming into money" idea as I think they could have. It was nice to see Haden get some extra material but since the decision she arrives at in the end doesn't carry over into future movies, it almost seems pointless. No Hardy movie is unwatchable. This one just feels lacking. Also the ending just sneaks up on you and we're not given any great closure on the inheritance plot.

Judge Hardy discovers that he may have inherited two million dollars, and in order to claim it he and the family must travel to Detroit. From there, fairly predictable situations arise as everyone basks in extravagances and some people try to take advantage, but this is a decent enough installment that features girl-crazy Andy trying to grow up fast while out on the town. Of course, there is a lesson to be learned as well from Lewis Stone's fatherly figure, and it's a matter of whether or not lying and cheating is any way to come into millions of dollars.

**1/2 out of ****

Andy Hardy (Mickey Rooney) wins the big football game but Polly Benedict is trying to make Andy jealous. Judge James Hardy could inherit $2 million and goes to Detroit to back up the claim. The family joins him on the trip. Philip Westcott is the adopted son who would inherit without the Judge's claim and is working secretly to undermine the Hardy family.

It's the sixth film in the Hardy family franchise. Mickey Rooney is being Andy but he's starting to learn his lessons. It's Judge Hardy being the father figure and a man of principles. He can be a little too holier than thou. The opening case is both forward thinking and rather old fashion. Aunt Milly has a big side story. This is the family being the family. I do fear that the money would go to Philip but there is something more than winning in this case.