A Secretária de Andy Hardy

It's time for Andy Hardy to graduate high school in this tenth entry in the wonderful MGM Hardy family series. In this one, big-headed Andy (Mickey Rooney) is so busy planning the graduation festivities that he neglects his studies and fails a big test, putting him in danger of not graduating. Enter his new friends Kathryn and Harry Land (Kathryn Grayson, Todd Karns) and good ol' Polly Benedict (Ann Rutherford) to help him pass the big test to graduate. In addition to this drama, Judge Hardy (Lewis Stone) try to help out Kathryn's dad (Ian Hunter), an international travel agent struggling to find work in small town Carvel. But Andy causes problems here, too.

Mickey Rooney and Lewis Stone are both in top form, as is the ever-adorable Ann Rutherford. For many fans of the Hardy series, this is one of the least liked entries. It's a long one (101 minutes) that juggles several different elements when it probably should have stuck to just a couple. It was also meant as a showcase for cute Kathryn Grayson, who makes her film debut here. There's the expected opera singing from her, if that floats your boat. She's the secretary of the film's title, by the way. Ian Hunter and Todd Karns both do great work as her father and brother. The problem is there's just a little too much focus on these guest stars. Fay Holden (Mrs. Hardy) gets only a few scenes and Cecilia Parker (sister Marian) is totally absent. Sara Haden's Aunt Milly does get a little more to do than usual, however, as she figures into the plot about Andy's flunking in a slightly contrived way. Still, despite some flaws, I happen to enjoy this one. The scene where Judge Hardy is driving Andy's jalopy is a hoot. I won't spoil it for you but it's one of my favorite scenes from any of the Hardy films. Another memorable scene has Andy dressed up as a Greek god in the graduation play he was putting on.

After too many trips to New York and Chicago, staying home in Carville was a pleasant experience. There are touches of the sappiness of It's a Wonderful Life which extends to the casting. Watching in December probably helped the enjoyment level. With both the romance and Andy Hardy's overacting kept to a minimum the film resembles a simple sitcom. fans of a simpler era and a few smiles will enjoy this one.

In this Andy Hardy installment, Andy is less girl crazy than in others. That is probably due to a shift in focus to Kathryn Grayson, making her noteworthy debut as Andy's classmate. It is understandable that MGM would want their newest surefire star to make a big splash in a vehicle that would guarantee plenty of viewers.

Judge Hardy teaches Andy lessons in charity and citizenship while assisting a family fallen on difficult times. Andy's classmates-Kathryn and Harry Land-are given roles in the high school graduation festivities as part of this project. Naturally, we get to hear Kathryn's amazing singing voice.

Andy, who is wrapped up in every aspect of the ceremonies, spreads himself too thin, but Kathryn becomes his private secretary, helping him with his organization. Still, he manages to bungle important details, causing consternation and some major problems.

Miss Grayson holds her own, acting-wise, with the rest of the cast, and her singing voice is a singular joy that surely must have wowed audiences in 1941. Still, she lacks the effervescence of another singing starlet who graces Andy Hardy films-Judy Garland, who would match Mickey Rooney's energy and hep-cred in various film pairings.

This entry in the Hardy family series of films seemed a bit thin and not quite as satisfying as the previous entries. This is the last one in which Andy is a high school student as he graduates in this installment.

The focus is very much shifted to the Land family. There are two children in the family - Kathryn (Kathryn Grayson) and Harry. Strangely enough they are both graduating from high school - Are they twins? It's never explained. The father (Ian Hunter) speaks nine languages but is a failed businessman and is working as a night watchman, so the family is somewhat impoverished. Since Kathryn has taken some secretarial courses, Andy makes her his titular "private secretary" since he's so busy being class president and supervising all of the activities associated with graduation that he needs assistance.

And that's the rub - Andy is so busy with the trappings of graduation he gets distracted, doesn't study, and fails his final exam in English and thus can't graduate. That's even with his aunt Milly administering and grading the exams. Conflict of interest anyone? On top of that he changes one word in a telegram of which he was not the author and causes Mr. Land to lose a job opportunity, thinking he was doing a good deed but interfering nonetheless. How will this all work out? Watch and find out.

This was Kathryn Grayson's first feature film, and it feels like this entire thing was just an excuse to give the kid a star turn. MGM didn't even bother to give her character a first name different from her own! I like several of the musicals she starred in over the years, but she gets three whole numbers of this operatic stuff and it just doesn't fit well into this kind of film. The style was popular from the late 30s into the 40s due to Deanna Durbin being such a hit over at Universal. Judy Garland, when she appeared in the Hardy family series, sometimes only got two numbers, and the popular standards she sang fit much better into this type of film.

It's a last chance to see Andy Hardy mess up and use his underage status as an excuse, so I'd say if you like this series of films you'll like this one too. But maybe you can do what I did and mute the volume during Grayson's numbers and stay out of reach of that high pitched screech.

Before I review the movie proper, since It's a Wonderful Life is my favorite movie, I had to mention a player from there making his film debut in this one: Todd Karns who plays a Land family member named Harry-the same first name he would eventually have in IAWL when he became a Bailey. He has a sis named Kathryn-the same first name as the lady playing her, Kathryn Grayson-also making her debut. Andy tries to help them, as the family is poor, with bettering their lives but he makes some mistakes along the way. Oh, and Andy and girlfriend Polly are supposed to graduate in this one though because of what happens to Andy involving his teacher-his own Aunt Milly, that may not happen to him. Let's just say there's some things she won't do and leave it at that. Ms. Grayson does some nice opera tunes but she's really entertaining when she also does a Cole Porter song! There's more drama than laughs here but there's still plenty to enjoy in Andy Hardy's Private Secretary. P.S. This was the first time in the beginning credits of this series when the names of the actors weren't printed in front of their portrait of-from left to right-Mickey Rooney, Lewis Stone, Fay Holden, and Cecilia Parker. That was because Ms. Parker was absent here, for some reason.