Andy Hardy's Private Secretary (1941)

Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

In this 10th installment of the Andy Hardy series, Andy is class president and he's spending a lot of time with the class secretary, Kathryn (Kathryn Grayson). Naturally, Polly (Ann Rutherford) is jealous, but that's the least of the problems--it seems that Kathryn and her brother are going to be leaving the country just days before their graduation! So, Andy tries to fix things....and totally mucks it up! Additionally, he and the gang work on a school play, his car falls apart while Judge Hardy is driving it and Andy MIGHT not be graduating after all. As far as graduating goes, it IS about time as Mickey Rooney was 21 when he made this film*! If he doesn't graduate soon, he'll soon be collecting social security while still a student! None of it is really the least bit earth-shaking--just the usual family stuff you'll see in an Andy Hardy film. It's generally pleasant and entertaining with one exception. While Kathryn Grayson was lovely and enjoyable in the film, the studio's insistence of having her sing an operatic piece 46 minutes into the film was just dreadful--the same with the song at the 87 minute mark. Some in the audience might have liked it but I suspect most used that time to either take a brief nap or get some popcorn!*The not graduating angle never made a lot of sense. Andy's supposed to be one of the top kids in his class yet did badly on his final English exam and failed. Odd--especially since Andy thought he was going to get an award for scholarship! Can Andy be this insane?! It just didn't seem realistic.

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.

In the tenth of sixteen Andy Hardy films it was decided to finally let Mickey Rooney graduate from Carvel High School. That event centers around all the plot situations in Andy Hardy's Private Secretary.Hiring of a private secretary comes about through some bad bookkeeping by class president Mickey Rooney. When he hires a secretary, pretty Kathryn Grayson, the problems of her family which consists of father Ian Hunter and brother Todd Karns get intertwined with the Hardys. Fortunately wise old Lewis Stone as Judge Hardy is there to straighten it all out.This film was Kathryn Grayson's feature film debut and she has a couple of opera arias delivered in fine style. Naturally she's the hit of the graduation.One of the big problems is that Rooney involved that he is almost doesn't graduate because he flunks the final exam in English. Making matters worse was the English teacher is his aunt Sara Haden. But of course that too is resolved.Was there ever a place as perfect as Carvel? Next to it George Bailey's Bedford Falls is positively sin city and that's before the angel does his thing.Even Ann Rutherford as loyal girlfriend Polly Benedict takes Rooney back once again. Half, maybe more than half the Hardy films have Rooney getting involved with another girl like Grayson only to have Ann Rutherford take him back. Why she didn't give Mickey his walking papers permanently is one of the mysteries of the silver screen.Still Andy Hardy's Private Secretary with its featured singing of Kathryn Grayson is a good example of why the series was so popular with Americans. Places like Carvel just had to exist somewhere in the USA.

If you love Mickey Rooney in his early days, and you can stomach all the "life lessons" of the Hardy series, you'll be all up for this one. Nobody will ever remember this film after they have watched it, but it gives you a warm fuzzy feeling while you're there (like all in this series does).Thankfully, there's no tap dancing in this one, but hang around, this series will cater to all needs. Judy is just around the corner, and you'll see her in the next episode.Anybody under 40 would be well served to ignore this, unless you are a serious film buff. No Judy Garland here, but all the basic Hardy elements are in place. Andy has girl trouble, Dad gives him solid advice, and all ends up well, just like always. The End.