Changes

== Background and Production ==

== Background and Production ==

The first film, ''[[A Family Affair]],'' was adapted from a [[Broadway]] play titled ''Skidding'' by the playwright [[Aurania Rouverol]]. MGM Studios probably had no notion of making any more films than the one. But the fan mail convinced the executives to revisit the question--probably on the strength of Mickey Rooney's reputation as an actor more than on any other factor.<ref name=Fans>Johnson, Jim. [http://www.andyhardyfilms.com/ Andy Hardy Fan Site Home Page]. Accessed December 21, 2007.</ref>

The first film, ''[[A Family Affair]],'' was adapted from a [[Broadway]] play titled ''Skidding'' by the playwright [[Aurania Rouverol]]. MGM Studios probably had no notion of making any more films than the one. But the fan mail convinced the executives to revisit the question—probably on the strength of Mickey Rooney's reputation as an actor more than on any other factor.<ref name=Fans>Johnson, Jim. [http://www.andyhardyfilms.com/ Andy Hardy Fan Site Home Page]. Accessed December 21, 2007.</ref>

Lionel Barrymore, after making ''A Family Affair'', suffered the accident that would limit him to playing handicapped men for the rest of his career. Lewis Stone took over as the Judge and played that role through the rest of the series proper. The studio also re-cast the roles of the judge's wife Emily and of Andy's regular girlfriend, Polly Benedict. Other than that, and except for the occasional setting away from Carvel, the studios incurred very little expense and could make film after film on relatively low budgets.

Lionel Barrymore, after making ''A Family Affair'', suffered the accident that would limit him to playing handicapped men for the rest of his career. Lewis Stone took over as the Judge and played that role through the rest of the series proper. The studio also re-cast the roles of the judge's wife Emily and of Andy's regular girlfriend, Polly Benedict. Other than that, and except for the occasional setting away from Carvel, the studios incurred very little expense and could make film after film on relatively low budgets.

[[George B. Seitz]] directed nearly all of the films--except that [[W. S. Van Dyke]] directed the seventh (''[[Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever]]''), and [[Howard W. Koch]] directed the reunion film (''[[Andy Hardy Comes Home]]'').

[[George B. Seitz]] directed nearly all of the films—except that [[W. S. Van Dyke]] directed the seventh (''[[Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever]]''), and [[Howard W. Koch]] directed the reunion film (''[[Andy Hardy Comes Home]]'').

== Story Setting ==

== Story Setting ==

Most of the stories took place in the judge's home town of Carvel, [[Idaho]]. However, many of the stories followed the Hardy family either to vacations or to special assignments or other adventures in [[Catalina]], [[California]]; [[Washington, DC]], [[New York City]], a ranch in [[Arizona]], and [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]. In addition, two of the films chronicled Andy Hardy's adventures as a college student in yet another unnamed community.

Most of the stories took place in the judge's home town of Carvel, [[Idaho]]. However, many of the stories followed the Hardy family either to vacations or to special assignments or other adventures in [[Catalina]], [[California]]; [[Washington, DC]], [[New York City]], a ranch in [[Arizona]], and [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]. In addition, two of the films chronicled Andy Hardy's adventures as a college student in yet another unnamed community.

The town of Carvel is fictitious, as is everything connected with it, including Judge James K. Hardy and his family, and the story arc, such as it was (see below), that the films depicted. As depicted in these films, Carvel had a population of 25,000--large enough to have its own [[public school]] system and regularly to elect its own judge, but not much larger. Carvel had its own [[railroad]] station, apparently with excellent railway connections to Washington, DC and to New York City. Carvel also had its own airfield, which figured in only two of the films.

The town of Carvel is fictitious, as is everything connected with it, including Judge James K. Hardy and his family, and the story arc, such as it was (see below), that the films depicted. As depicted in these films, Carvel had a population of 25,000—large enough to have its own [[public school]] system and regularly to elect its own judge, but not much larger. Carvel had its own [[railroad]] station, apparently with excellent railway connections to Washington, DC and to New York City. Carvel also had its own airfield, which figured in only two of the films.

== Characters ==

== Characters ==

== Story Arcs ==

== Story Arcs ==

=== Andy Hardy ===

=== Andy Hardy ===

The major story arc that spans the first fifteen films is the maturing of Andy Hardy, from a callow, womanizing youth to a much wiser young adult. He learns responsibility the hard way--a way perhaps made harder because the judge, even were he so inclined, literally cannot afford to indulge half the demands that Andy frequently makes for money. In one story, however (''[[The Hardys Ride High]]''), Andy gets a taste of wealth when his father receives word that he ''might'' be heir to the fortune left by a dead [[automobile]] magnate--and learns that money definitely ''cannot'' buy happiness and often can land a young man into the sort of trouble of which he had scarcely dreamed.

The major story arc that spans the first fifteen films is the maturing of Andy Hardy, from a callow, womanizing youth to a much wiser young adult. He learns responsibility the hard way—a way perhaps made harder because the judge, even were he so inclined, literally cannot afford to indulge half the demands that Andy frequently makes for money. In one story, however (''[[The Hardys Ride High]]''), Andy gets a taste of wealth when his father receives word that he ''might'' be heir to the fortune left by a dead [[automobile]] magnate—and learns that money definitely ''cannot'' buy happiness and often can land a young man into the sort of trouble of which he had scarcely dreamed.

Andy learns a lot of life lessons along the way, mostly having to do with love and lust (and the difference between the two). In one film (''[[Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever]]''), he develops a schoolboy crush on one of his teachers; in another (''[[Love Finds Andy Hardy]]''), he is asked, as a favor to a friend, to keep the friend's rather vampish girlfriend ([[Lana Turner]]) company.

Andy learns a lot of life lessons along the way, mostly having to do with love and lust (and the difference between the two). In one film (''[[Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever]]''), he develops a schoolboy crush on one of his teachers; in another (''[[Love Finds Andy Hardy]]''), he is asked, as a favor to a friend, to keep the friend's rather vampish girlfriend ([[Lana Turner]]) company.

=== Judge Hardy ===

=== Judge Hardy ===

Judge James Hardy himself had several story arcs, most of which revolved around his work as a judge. In the first film, he clashes with a shady water-project builder who tries to influence the judge's rulings by planting false scandals about the judge's married daughter in the town newspaper and even fomenting a movement to remove the judge from the bench. Having survived that fiasco, the judge almost loses his home after the vindictive, frustrated, and conniving aqueduct builder induces him to make a major mistake in co-signing a note shortly before the property for the failed water project goes into foreclosure. The judge survives that, too, and on the strength of his experience with the water project he receives an appointment to a utilities commission in Washington--where unscrupulous politicians also try to influence the judge by coaxing information from the judge's younger daughter, Marion. Through it all, the judge refuses to be manipulated and bases all his rulings on the letter of the law and a proper determination of equity.

Judge James Hardy himself had several story arcs, most of which revolved around his work as a judge. In the first film, he clashes with a shady water-project builder who tries to influence the judge's rulings by planting false scandals about the judge's married daughter in the town newspaper and even fomenting a movement to remove the judge from the bench. Having survived that fiasco, the judge almost loses his home after the vindictive, frustrated, and conniving aqueduct builder induces him to make a major mistake in co-signing a note shortly before the property for the failed water project goes into foreclosure. The judge survives that, too, and on the strength of his experience with the water project he receives an appointment to a utilities commission in Washington—where unscrupulous politicians also try to influence the judge by coaxing information from the judge's younger daughter, Marion. Through it all, the judge refuses to be manipulated and bases all his rulings on the letter of the law and a proper determination of equity.

His reputation for integrity well-established, the judge soon travels to Arizona to help a friend who is threatened with the loss of water rights--and discovers that the other party is benefiting from the earlier diversion of a river and must, by law, restore the river to its original course. Soon afterward, the judge receives word that he might be entitled to a multimillion-dollar legacy--but then turns up evidence, to which he alone has access, that he is not so entitled. In perhaps the most poignant demonstration of personal integrity that the series offers, the judge presents the evidence and declines the legacy--and learns in the process that the testator's conniving relatives had thought to entrap him.

His reputation for integrity well-established, the judge soon travels to Arizona to help a friend who is threatened with the loss of water rights—and discovers that the other party is benefiting from the earlier diversion of a river and must, by law, restore the river to its original course. Soon afterward, the judge receives word that he might be entitled to a multimillion-dollar legacy—but then turns up evidence, to which he alone has access, that he is not so entitled. In perhaps the most poignant demonstration of personal integrity that the series offers, the judge presents the evidence and declines the legacy—and learns in the process that the testator's conniving relatives had thought to entrap him.

Beginning with the seventh film, the judge had no continuing story arcs. From then on, any case that he handled in the course of the series was decided at the end and had no lasting repercussion. Judge Hardy did not appear in the reunion film; according to the story line, he had died while his son was out in California, and his judgeship had passed to one successor and then fallen vacant when Andy returned to Carvel.

Beginning with the seventh film, the judge had no continuing story arcs. From then on, any case that he handled in the course of the series was decided at the end and had no lasting repercussion. Judge Hardy did not appear in the reunion film; according to the story line, he had died while his son was out in California, and his judgeship had passed to one successor and then fallen vacant when Andy returned to Carvel.