User Reviews

First in the wonderful Andy Hardy series from MGM. For those who don't know, this series was as wholesome and American as apple pie. It draws snickers and insults from the "too cool for school" crowd but don't let that put you off of trying these fine films. They were quality dramas with dashes of comedy and lots of heart. The plot to this one has Judge Hardy (Lionel Barrymore) ticking off some businessmen and local politicians over a land deal. So the big shots, including former friends of the judge, band together to try to stop his re-election. There's also a subplot involving the judge's eldest daughter's troubled marriage that intersects with the judge's problems. Meanwhile, son Andy (Mickey Rooney) has the first of many girl problems in this series.

This is the only entry to feature sister Joan. Not sure why she was dropped but the series isn't hurt by it. The roles of Judge Hardy and his wife would be recast in the next film with Lewis Stone and Fay Holden, who would play the roles for the remainder of the series. Once you see them in the parts it will be hard to imagine that anybody else could do the roles justice. Also Mickey Rooney's Andy would become the star of the later films, whereas in the early films (such as this) Judge Hardy is clearly the star. It's a fantastic series that gets its start here in this somewhat atypical but still high quality movie.

This was a charming movie which I unfortunately tuned into half way through, shown on Turner Classic Movies in the wee hours on May 19, 2004. I'll look for it again and tape it. I was surprised to see Lionel Barrymore as Judge Hardy. Very creditable performance. Probably he wasn't used again in the resultant series because of his ill health, but I'm just guessing. It was indeed a treat to see pre-December Bride Spring Byngton (how many of you readers can name her co-stars in that sit com?). And who can name the Western series she was featured in some 40 years ago? I digress. Turner has just started Judge Hardy's Children with Lewis Stone taking his rightful place as Judge Hardy. It's 4:32 am and I think I'm hooked on the students of Carvel High. Check out A Family Affair, you'll like it. Ted Turner must own the rights, so how about an Andy Hardy DVD box?

This is the first of the Hardy Family series of movies. The formula for that series is well known and a part of film lore. This film helps establish some of the values that made America fall in love with The Hardy's, but there are differences in this film that set it apart.

The actors who portray the Hardy's are not all the same. Mickey Rooney, who later became the focus of the family by dint of his energetic and lovable performances, is here. But Judge Hardy and his wife are played by Lionel Barrymore and Spring Byington. It would be easy to prefer the actors who carried on these roles in the later episodes, but Barrymore plays the judge with an energy that is suited for this story (see the scene where he physically throws a man out of his chambers) and Byington, in a subordinate role, really displays the love of a mother and wife (note her reaction when her eldest daughter reveals the path her marriage has taken).

It is true that the Andy Hardy movies are anchored in the values that middle America sees as sacrosanct: good citizenship, democracy, the primacy of the family, a religious outlook. This film establishes those values, but if one looks closer, it is easy to see (in this film) how flimsy those values may be. In even a more dramatic way than Inge's Picnic demonstrates, A Family Affair reveals how shallow people and society may be.

Good citizenship may be an established basis for societies and their governments, but the political process is depicted in this film as run by a corrupt political machine designed to profit ruthless men who care only about their own wealth. Judge Hardy is an exception--an educated man who is willing to suffer scorn in the name of duty and the concept of justice.

Religious values may be advertised as charitable and forgiving, but this film shows that the measure of a town's morals is not how many churches dot the landscape or how many Bible verses are read. In a small town where a man's reputation is his measure and agreements are made on the basis of handshakes, we see that many delight in ruining reputations and that the mob mentality prevails when times get tough.

Democracy might be touted as the cornerstone of American governmental process, but the rule of the majority is nothing more than mob rule. Government's true rule is to protect the rights of those in the minority also.

In the end, it is strength of the Hardy family unit--personified by Judge Hardy--that pulls the family through the crises of its individuals and its external stresses. When Judge Hardy strides into the convention and Andy yells "Give it to them with both barrels, Dad," he has no inkling what his father intends. He displays a fundamental faith in his father and the principles he stands for. His father beams in response, because it is that trust he most cherishes, knowing it binds the family and protects them against any threats.

The primacy of the family is a theme that runs through all of the Hardy Family films and it is one of the reasons this series was so popular.

A Family Affair is well worth seeing, both because it is the first in a series and because it stands apart from the others. There is even a great chase scene. Such action was not used in the later Hardy Family films, which focused entirely on personal interactions.

A FAMILY AFFAIR (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1937), directed by George B. Seitz, may not be an early screen adaptation to what developed into a five season television series of "Family Affair" (1966-1971) featuring the likes of Uncle Bill (Brian Keith), Mr. French (Sebastian Cabot), and the three orphans, Cissy, Buffy and Jodie. This family affair in this case happens to be the screen introduction to an entire different family altogether, that of The Hardys from the small town of Carvel, population 25,000. Initially a Broadway play by Aurania Rouveral , it developed into this movie based on similarities and castings of Eugene O'Neill's screen adaptation to AH WILDERNESS (MGM, 1935) featuring Lionel Barrymore, Spring Byington, Eric Linden, Cecilia Parker and Mickey Rooney, who all were reunited into this little 69 minute programmer which proved popular enough to develop into a family film series. Before becoming relatively known as "The Andy Hardy Series," with some recasting and revisions, the central character for this introduction was not on Andy Hardy but that of Judge James K. Hardy.

Judge James K. Hardy (Lionel Barrymore) is a respected judge in a small town of Carvel, with a family consisting of wife, Emily (Spring Byington), daughters, Joan (Julie Hayden), Marion (Cecilia Parker); son or "kid brother" Andy (Mickey Rooney), along with their live-in Aunt Millie (Sara Haden). The story opens with reporters leaving the Carvel Daily Star for the courtroom where Judge Hardy adjourns a case and later signs a restraining order regarding the prevention of the construction of an aqueduct, causing Hardy to lose his popularity with the neighboring townspeople who oppose the judge with his old-fasshioned ideas. Joan, the eldest daughter, is having marital problems with her husband, William Boothe Martin (Allen Vincent). Marion returns home from college after being away a year, later introducing the family to Wayne Trent III (Eric Linden), a young architect she met while on the train bound for home. Then there's girl-shy Andy, about to attend a party, being asked to chaperone Polly Benedict (Margaret Marquis), a girl he has known since kindergarten. Further situations arise when political enemies try to ruin Judge Hardy's good name through scandals placed in the local newspaper to get him impeached out of office.

A FAMILY AFFAIR is more drama than comedy. The only moment of humor involves Marion and Wayne in a car stranded on the road without gasoline in the middle of nowhere, being pulled down by rope by another car on a curvy country road in high speed by a couple of drunks (Arthur Housman and Don Barclay). This scene is more suspensful than humorous, but lightens up the proceedings to follow. Mickey Rooney's Andy Hardy is here, but there's little of him or his antics to go around. Though the Hardy's have two daughters, only the Joan character is never seen nor seen nor mentioned in future installments. Cecilia Parker, with darker hair here as opposed to blonde, would resume her character in the series under the recast players of Lewis Stone (Judge Hardy), Emily Hardy (Fay Holden), Ann Rutherford (Polly Benedict), and sometimes Betty Ross Clark (Aunt Millie) before Sara Haden became a permanent fixture for the duration of the series. Others seen in A FAMILY AFFAIR are: Charley Grapewin (Frank Redman); Selmer Jackson (Hoyt Wells); Harlan Briggs (Oscar Stubbins); Sam McDaniel ("Whitey"), and Erville Alderson (Dave, the Bailiff).

While not a memorable as AH! WILDERNESS nor the Hardy movie series that followed, notably LOVE FINDS ANDY HARDY (1938) featuring Mickey with Judy Garland, A FAMILY AFFAIR comes as a sheer reminder to television dramady programs following the same stature as "Father Knows Best," starring Robert Young and Jane Wyatt, where Father is always around to help with family problems. Quite agreeable viewing, with sole interest in seeing Lionel Barrymore's take as Judge Hardy, minus any father-and-son, "man-to-man" talks with Andy as Lewis Stone did that would later make the series so famous . This wholesome Hardy series in fact did more for Mickey Rooney than any other performers. This is where it all began. This was the Hardy's family affair.

Never distributed on video cassette, A FAMILY AFFAIR, and other "Andy Hardy" episodes (1937-1958), can be seen and enjoyed on Turner Classic Movies cable channel. (***)

"A Family Affair" takes us back to a less complicated time in America. It's sobering to see how different everything was back then. It was a more innocent era in our country and we watch a 'functional' family dealing in things together. The film also marks the beginning of the series featuring the Hardy family.

The film, directed by George Seitz, is based on a successful play. Judge James Hardy, and his wife Emmily, are facing a domestic crisis that must be dealt with. Married daughter Joan comes home after she has committed a social blunder and her husband holds her responsible. At the same time, another daughter, Marion, brings home a beau, who is clear will clash with her father. The happy teen ager Andy, seems to be the only one without a problem until his mother makes him escort Polly to the dance, something he is reluctant to do.

Needless to say, Judge Hardy will prove why he knows best as he puts a plan into action to get everyone together again. After all, he is a man that understands, not only the law, but how to deal with those outside forces that threatens his standing in the community and what will make his family happy.

Lionel Barrymore plays Judge Hardy with conviction. He is the glue that holds everything together. Spring Byington is seen as Emily, the mother. Mickey Rooney has a small part in this film, but he is as always, fun to watch. Cecilia Parker and Julie Haydon appeared as the daughters, Marion and Joan. Sara Hayden and Margaret Marquis are also featured in the film as Aunt Milly and Polly, the girl that surprises Andy with her beauty.

"A Family Affair" is a good way to observe our past through the positive image painted of an American family.

The Hardy Family made its debut for MGM in this film, A Family Affair. But to those who've seen other films of the series it looks like Mickey Rooney, Cecilia Parker, and Sara Haden were all dropped into another family of Hardys in an alternate universe Carvel.

Judge and Mrs. Hardy started out here as Lionel Barrymore and Spring Byington and they had another older daughter played by Julia Haydon. Haydon has marriage problems with her estranged husband Allen Vincent. Parker is quarreling with her boyfriend Eric Linden and Mickey Rooney is having his eternal problems with the opposite sex. All that however plays into the main plot line of this film, Judge Hardy's re-election is in peril over an injunction he issued against building a dam.

That was the difference between this Hardy films and the rest to follow with Lewis Stone and Fay Holden as the Hardy parents. The kids even Mickey Rooney are clearly in support of Lionel Barrymore. That would not be the case in the rest of the series.

Talk about judicial activism, when the man who originally brought the suit wants to the withdraw because he's been bribed, Barrymore throws him out on his ear. I can't think of another judge anywhere in the real world who wouldn't want to clear his docket if the parties settled out of court. He continues on and Barrymore's political opponents who have a vested and hidden interest in the dam played by Selmer Jackson and Charley Grapewin try to block his party from renominating him.

Of course it all works out in the end as it always did. Lionel Barrymore was no less wise and no less honest than Lewis Stone in subsequent films.

A Family Affair is certainly a tribute to the simpler times it was made in, but still nice viewing.

This is a excellent start to the film career of Mickey Rooney. His talents here shows that a long career is ahead for him. The car and truck chase is exciting for the 1937 era. This start of the Andy Hardy series is an American treasure in my book. Spring Byington performance is excellent as usual. Please Mr Rooney or owners of the film rights, take a chance and get this produced on DVD. I think it would be a winner.

As a one off film I doubt this would be much noticed. Since it started the Andy Hardy series that starred Mickey Rooney, it is worth watching as the first of that series long on Americana and starlets, notably Judy Garland.

The first film is passable though at times plot points simply pop into place and it is very of its time as it tries to moralize about marriage and other issues. Its main virtue is simply a step back in time to a simpler era. Thankful after the first two films the series became a bit less preachy and more enjoyable.

Just watched this, the first film in the Hardy Family series. Lionel Barrymore, who I'll always first think of as Mr. Potter in It's a Wonderful Life-my favorite movie, is the Judge Hardy character who's in it with threats of no renomination because of something he's against resulting in his offspring not liking him as well. Mickay Rooney is here as Andy Hardy. He was 16 at the time. Spring Byington is the mother. Both she and Barrymore would reunite for You Can't Take It With You a year later. Nice mix of drama and comedy throughout. Mickey is especially funny but there's also a turn by screen drunk Arthur Housman who I usually associate with Laurel & Hardy. So on that note, I highly recommend A Family Affair.

In the small town of Carvel, Judge Hardy (Lionel Barrymore) is under pressure from the powerful over an unfavorable ruling. The local newspaper is ordered to spread disparaging rumors about his family starting with his daughter Joan's secretly failing marriage. The Judge is throwing a party for returning college daughter Marion who has invited engineer Wayne Trent III. Wayne has come to town to work on the project which is in danger due to the Judge's restraining order. The youngest sibling Andy Hardy (Mickey Rooney) has a crush on Polly Benedict but she has to reject him due to his father's position.

I expected more of Mickey Rooney. The first of the series is actually less about him and he's really only a supporting character. Judge Hardy is a man for all seasons. I actually would like the ending to be different but it's not surprising to do it this way. It's a very standard happy ending. The family's struggles are compelling. I like their relationships. All in all, this is a good family drama.

Family Affair, A (1937)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

The first film in the Andy Hardy series is actually a lot more different in tone, subject matter as well as cast members than the later films. Here we have Lionel Barrymore playing Judge Hardy who must fight off some higher ranked members of the city who want to blackmail him into approving a plant coming to town. They plan on using a scandal involving his daughter (Julie Haydon) while his other daughter (Cecilia Parker) strikes up a relationship with a new man. It's nearly impossible to watch this film without comparing it to future entries. Not only does Barrymore get the main role but we have Spring Byington playing Emily Hardy and of course in future films we only have one daughter. I think Barrymore is pretty good in the role, although I will add that I prefer Lewis Stone. I think Stone did a better job at making a character as Barrymore is pretty much just playing his usual, tough self here. I was a little surprised at the subject matter as we get a lot of talk about scandal and even a brief mention of suicide. What's really surprising, and in a way kills the film, is that the small town flavor just doesn't ring through because the city is full of some mean people who will scoop pretty low in terms of blackmail and various other ugly things. This ugly nature pretty much kills what the series was trying to be like and in many ways I think it's safe to call this a standalone film and pretend that the real Andy Hardy series started with the next entry. As I said, Barrymore isn't too bad but the rest of the cast are clearly trying to find what they want to do with the characters. I wasn't overly thrilled with Haydon who is a bit too wooden for me. Mickey Rooney makes his first appearance here as Andy but really doesn't have much to do. Sara Haden is also here as Aunt Milly but she too is pretty much in the background. This certainly isn't a bad film but in the end it's not that all memorable and in the end I think the series was much better off with the changes it would eventually make.

A Family Affair is the first of the Andy Hardy movies, but ironically, the movie doesn't center around the love-crazed teen. In fact, Mickey Rooney actually claims to dislike girls! He complains about having to take a girl to a dance, but by the end of the movie, he's realized the joys of his hormones, setting the stage for the next dozen movies. The star of the movie is the patriarch, Lionel Barrymore, who-again, ironically-didn't continue on in any of the other Andy Hardy movies, but was replaced by Lewis Stone. He plays the upstanding judge who has to sort through his family's various problems, including his two daughters' love lives. His wife, Spring Byington, was also replaced by Fay Holden in the subsequent movies. Sara Haden, the spinster aunt, was the only one besides Mickey Rooney who remained.

When Cecilia Parker goes on a tearful tirade accusing her father of ruining her and the rest of the family's lives, Lionel says in his own inimitable way, "Well what about my side of it, darling?" Only Lionel Barrymore can be crotchety, wise, loving, understanding, and logical, all without being stern or unreasonable. However perfect his delivery is, it isn't enough to convince Cecilia, and she leaves the room in tears calling him a "bling old fogie." If you're shying away from this movie because you don't feel like watching goofy Mickey Rooney, he's hardly in the movie. This is Lionel's show, and as usual, he's wonderful. It's hard to believe he'd play such a famous villain as Mr. Potter after you've seen him as the perfect dad, Judge Hardy.

The first entry of the Andy Hardy films has a different look than the succeeding movies because of casting. Most noticeable difference is Lionel Barrymore playing Judge Hardy and Spring Byington playing his wife and mother of the Hardy children. Still Mickey Rooney is in this one playing Andy Hardy, one of the most memorable movie roles ever. And he does a fair amount of scene stealing (witness the finale involving the judge's political speech). It's Rooney, who's performance is most memorable. This film deserves to be considered an unqualified success for spawning the best movie franchise ever to grace the big screen.

This is a B rated movie with an A+ cast! Lionel Barrymore and Spring Byington were excellent in it!

It was the first of the Andy Hardy series and the only one to feature them as the parents. I read Lionel did not want to do the series. He knew he would eventually be upstaged by Rooney and he wanted none of that! Lionel was too big of a star for that anyway. He ask for a large sum of money knowing he would not get it. Smart move! Dr. Kildare series was right around the corner too.

I'm not a big Rooney fan so I wasn't even going to watch this. But it's not about Andy Hardy that much. Its more about Judge Hardy's issues and his family. Judge Hardy was clearly the star in this first movie! Interesting storyline and much better than I expected. I knew it would be with Lionel involved! He was stern but loving here. Very good at patriach roles! I'll be honest and say I have watched little of the rest of series. But Andy was cute in this too! This is one I still go back and watch. 10 out of 10 for me.

Always thought it was "Judge Hardy's Children". But this was fun stuff and I always enjoy Barrymore and Byington; Sara Haden was much less spinsterly in this as was the case as the series developed. The story was certainly more serious than the series came to be - and as someone pointed out, Judge Hardy was the focal point and not Andy. Sure glad that they ultimately cast Ann Rutherford in the "Polly Benedict" role.

I had watched a few movies in the Andy Hardy series and while they were mildly entertaining, they were kind of repetitive and a bit annoying (though I guess I feel this way partly because Mickey Rooney gets on my nerves after a time). Since most have his name in the title, I didn't know "A Family Affair" was the first in the series, until I started watching it. Maybe they should have quit while they were ahead.

I have nothing against Lewis Stone and Fay Holden, who played Judge Hardy and his wife in the movies that followed, but they couldn't hold a candle to Lionel Barrymore and Spring Byington. I could say that it's because I'm biased, as they're two of my fav actors, but I don't think that's the case. At any rate, L. B. did a superb job as a judge of strong moral character and conviction, who stuck to his guns about an aqueduct being a bad idea for the town, despite pressure from the outside, and angry neighbors, even the disappointment of his family, like his youngest daughter, whose boyfriend would be out of a job because of this. He had good reason for huis decision, as you find out toward the end of the film.

The judge and his wife do their best to give their children a moral compass to live by and are there to support them when things go wrong, without judging them (no pun intended), like when their eldest daughter's marriage is in trouble, partly because of her foolish mistake.

There's also some of Andy Hardy's silliness, (kid with a bit of an attitude problem, as well as conceit), which sets the tone for what's to come in the rest of the films. That's too bad, because this one focused on everyone in the way the rest never did, putting the spotlight on Andy instead. That took away a lot, making them a lot less interesting, at least to me. I only saw two or three of them, and that was enough.

If you only see one, see this first one, you can skip the rest.