You're Only Young Once

There was a previous film about this family -"A Family Affair" - made also in 1937. That starred Lionel Barrymore as Judge Hardy and Spring Byington as Mrs. Hardy. Also the Hardy's daughter is married, and her marital problems figure into the plot in a major way. Mickey Rooney is very much a supporting character at that point.

This film changes everything. Lionel Barrymore had health and mobility problems, so Lewis Stone takes over the role of Judge Hardy and very much makes it his own. Spring Byington was not under contract to MGM, so she is not in this film or any other Hardy pictures as Mrs. Hardy. The rest of the supporting cast remains the same, except now Judge Hardy's daughter Marion is now magically single, never married, because more interesting situations can come about that way.

This film takes the family to Catalina Island for a vacation - a long way from Carville. No one family member takes center stage. Instead, both Marion and Andy have romantic problems and learn a few lessons. Lewis Stone as Judge Hardy is probably the central figure if anybody is. And Judge Hardy, before leaving for vacation, takes a chance that could leave the family bankrupt if things don't go his way. And he never even bothered to talk to his wife about it UNTIL it becomes a problem!

MGM apparently correctly judged they had a winning formula in the Hardys, since Lewis Stone appears in a rare epilogue to talk about how this will be a series. It turned out that the series is a good representative of MGM's output prewar and probably American values and outlooks pre war as well. WWII changed everything, and though the series had installments after WWII, it was never quite the same.

This is a good introduction to the Hardy family as it existed in every film but the first one. And that first one is worth watching on its own terms.

The Series Film in the Hollywood of the 1930s through 1950s was the equivalent to a long running T.V. show. The same cast and characters came back on a regular basis to entertain the viewing audience. Or in case of Radio the listening one (1). All the studios at that time had some sort of series. PARAMOUNT the long running HOPALONG CASSIDY starring William Boyd. UNIVERSAL in the 40s featured Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce as SHERLOCK HOLMES and DOCTOR WATSON. WARNER BROTHERS (WB) would display Warren William (primarily) as PERRY MASON or a variety of actors as PHILO VANCE as well as TORCHY BLANE with Glenda Farrell. COLUMBIA, ELLERY QUEEN and 20th CENTURY FOX, CHARLIE CHAN. All minor studios would feature WESTERN series and lets not forget the seemingly endless adventures of what became THE BOWERY BOYS! There were many more, but it was at METRO GOLDWYN MAYER (M.G.M.) that three (3) of the most popular series were created. After the death of its creative genius IRVING THALBERG (09/14/1936) LOUIS B. MAYER, head of the studio quickly acted to maintain the production schedule and to continue the high profitability that the NEW YORK office expected. Series production was part of his solution. DOCTOR KILDARE featuring Lew Aryes and Lionel Barrymore which segued to the DOCTOR GILLESPIE series. MAISIE with the attractive and quick tongued Ann Southern and best remembered ANDREW 'Andy' HARDY. The longest of the M.G.M. series with sixteen (16) films.

The ANDY HARDY series started modestly enough with a pilot (just like they do today) called A FAMILY AFFAIR (1937) with Lionel Barrymore heading the cast as JUDGE JAMES K. HARDY, Spring Byington as MRS EMILY HARDY and Mickey Rooney, ANDY. With the success of this one the series really got going with YOU'RE ONLY YOUNG ONCE (1937). Barrymores physical condition was not up to this series and Byington was to much in demand, so adjustments had to be made. Cast changes were Lewis Stone as JUDGE HARDY, Fay Holden; MRS. HARDY, coming back Mickey Rooney; ANDY as well as Cecilia Parker; MARIAN, Sara Haden; AUNT MILLIE FORREST with Ann Rutherford; POLLY BENEDICT. The series would also feature many character actors under contract to M.G.M. as well as up and comers. Some who would go on to greater things such as Donna Reed and Lana Turner and others would enter oblivion like Helen Gilbert.

The sixteen (16) films can be divided into two (2) parts, the first eight (8) and the second eight (8) ending with ANDY HARDY COMES HOME (1958) reuniting the cast except the late Lewis Stone (09/12/1953). The first eight (8) are of better quality and more balanced with each of the cast getting its fair share of screen time and having their problems addressed. Starting with ANDY HARDY MEETS DEBUTANTE (1940) the focus became ANDY & JUDGE HARDY with the rest there just to fill in. Sort of what happened to LOST IN SPACE (T.V.1965-1968) when after the first season it became the DR. SMITH, ROBOT & WILL show.

The rating we gave, IMDb value of six (6)****** is a good overview of the entire series. It being better then average but not classics in any sense of the word but well worth watching. Our advice is to watch series films like this one (1) at time and no more then three (3) in sequence. When you make a marathon of these series their shortcoming become all to obvious and irritating. A note to those message board whiners, remakes and sequels are a long time reality of this industry so stop whining about it and move on.

YOU'RE ONLY YOUNG ONCE (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1937), directed by George B. Seitz, marks the second installment to what was initially noted to be the "Judge Hardy's Family" series. With a new cast replacing its original stars from the introduction film, A FAMILY AFFAIR (MGM, 1937): Lionel Barrymore by Lewis Stone (Judge Hardy); Spring Byington by Fay Holden (Emily Hardy); Margaret Marquis by Ann Rutherford (Polly Benedict); and Charley Grapewin by Frank Craven (Frank Redman), only Cecilia Parker, Mickey Rooney and Sara Haden have become the only hold-outs resuming their original roles. As for the Wayne Trent character, Eric Linden's picture is seen only through a photograph, while the eldest Hardy daughter, Joan (Julie Hayden) was dropped entirely. Mickey Rooney as Andy Hardy has more to do here than the previous entry, while Cecilia Parker's older sister, MariOn becomes MariAn. Selmer Jackson playing Hoyt Wells returns for the second and last time, while the Frank Redman character, originally played by Charley Grapewin, would be played for the only time by Frank Craven this time around.

For its plot summary, the story begins with a courtroom session with Judge Hardy (Lewis Stone) listening to his latest case. After the case is called to rest, Judge Hardy comes to a conclusion of taking his first vacation away from the bench in eleven years. He takes his wife, Emily (Fay Holden), Aunt Milly (Sara Haden) and their two teenage children, Marian (Cecilia Parker) and Andy (Mickey Rooney) off to Catalina Island where the judge intends on doing some fishing. While there, Marian (Cecilia Parker), still in love with Wayne Trent, finds romance with a young lifeguard named Bill Rand (Ted Pearson), unaware to the fact that she cannot marry him. Andrew (Mickey Rooney), the youngest and only son, becomes acquainted with Josephine "Jerry" Lane (Eleanor Lynn), regardless of the fact that he is now in serious with Polly Benedict (Ann Rutherford), his girl back home in Carvel. Because Josie comes from a respectable family of high society, Andy becomes somebody he isn't in order to make a good impression with her. While the family goes through their personal problems, Judge Hardy (after catching a marlin swordfish, a 280-pound fish which goes in the record book dated August 21, 1937), finds some unexpected news awaiting upon their return home. Looks for Charles Judels (Captain Swenson); Erville Alderson (Dave, the Bailiff); Robert Wayne (Ed Carper); Norman Phillips (Harold "Fish" Face); and Spec O'Donnell in supporting roles.

Although forgotten and overlooked among what was to become known as "The Andy Hardy Series," YOU'RE ONLY YOUNG ONCE was successful enough to produce more installments. Many situations provided are typical but somewhat dull in the proceedings. Lewis Stone makes a satisfactory head of the family, though his advanced age could be overlooked as appearing more grandfatherly than a father figure. Spring Byington would have made a great Mrs. Hardy, but was committed to another series, the now forgotten "Jones Family" (1936-1940) over at 20th Century-Fox Studios.

Never distributed to video cassette, this 79-minute restored edition of YOU'RE ONLY YOUNG ONCE (with the conclusion of Lewis Stone as Judge Hardy talking directly to the viewers thanking them for watching and to look forward for more in later installments in the "Judge Hardy's Family" series), can be found on the Turner Classic Movies cable channel. Next installment: JUDGE HARDY'S CHILDREN (1938). (**1/2)

The Hardy family is going on a summer vacation to Catalina Island in California. Each member has their own misadventures. Father is obsessed with catching a swordfish. Marian falls for a married local. Andy is taken with a fast girl. The Judge is told that his business deal threatens everything including their home.

There is some recasting. Lewis Stone is a capable old actor. Luckily for the series, Mickey Rooney does return. This is all wholesome lessons about bad romances. It's a lot of father knows best. It's light comedy and family friendly. It's another era. It must also be a good time for Catalina tourism.

You're Only Young Once is the second film in the Hardy family series from MGM, the first to introduce Lewis Stone, Fay Holden, and Ann Rutherford in their roles in the series and the last to not mention the word 'Hardy' in the title. Quite a lot of precedents I must say.

Lewis Stone has decided the family needs a vacation and he's fixed Catalina Island as the destination of his choice because he wants to get in some deep sea fishing after swordfish. The others all have different ideas, but Stone not a dictatorial tyrant by any means, he brings them all around with charm and sweet reason.

It wouldn't be a Hardy family movie without some young romance. Mickey Rooney falls Eleanor Lynn, child of a several times married woman who is in Reno shedding husband number 4 and leaving Lynn to her own devices. And Cecilia Parker finds handsome lifeguard Ted Pearson on the beach and he's already married.

In the meantime back at the ranch known as their hometown of Carvel, the Judge has co-signed a loan for his friend Frank Craven which has come due and the Hardy home is in jeopardy. But Stone isn't a judge for nothing and the trip to Catalina actually gives him the idea on how to save the situation. For that you watch the movie.

The death of Mickey Rooney has removed the last survivor of this and a whole slew of films. Mickey is at once, brash, eager, charming, a bit naive and a devoted son. It's probably how all his fans remember him.

The Hardy series with its family revamped and set for the duration gives us a good one in You're Only Young Once.