The Hardys Ride High (1939) User Reviews (15)

The Hardys Flirt WIth Wealth

[atlasmb · 7/10 · 23 September 2014]

This is the sixth in the series and boy were they cranking them out! They had a successful formula and they were running with it.

The Hardys find they are due to receive a $2 million inheritance, once they take care of some formalities. They pack up the family and travel to Detroit--the big city.

Of course every family member sees his dreams coming true. Andy has plans to become a millionaire playboy. Daughter Marian plans to spend her dollars on dresses and plusher living quarters. Even Judge Hardy catches the fever.

From the beginning, the viewer knows what the final result will be. But there are some surprises--especially regarding the judge, who feels responsible for the well-being of the entire clan.

As in every installment, Andy and Judge Hardy have their man-to-man talk, which yields benefits for them both. And like every episode, basic small-town American values are affirmed.

The Hardys Ride High (1939) **1/2

[JoeKarlosi · 6/10 · 27 November 2007]

Judge Hardy discovers that he may have inherited two million dollars, and in order to claim it he and the family must travel to Detroit. From there, fairly predictable situations arise as everyone basks in extravagances and some people try to take advantage, but this is a decent enough installment that features girl-crazy Andy trying to grow up fast while out on the town. Of course, there is a lesson to be learned as well from Lewis Stone's fatherly figure, and it's a matter of whether or not lying and cheating is any way to come into millions of dollars.

**1/2 out of ****

A Series Low

[boblipton · 6/10 · 15 November 2005]

This is a decent but weak episode in the MGM series, possibly the weakest. The plot concerns the Judge being informed that he has inherited two million dollars and the entire family heading out to Detroit. Mickey Rooney spends almost all of his time mugging and the life lessons and warmth that give life to the series seem to be that if you inherit a major fortune, you shouldn't buy a tuxedo. Lewis Stone, as usual, gives a fine performance, although he is a lot more dithery than usual.

The movie is given the usual MGM gloss and people who like to spot talent on the rise or after the fall may note that Aileen Pringle plays a saleswoman who sells a dress. In the 1920s, she was one of MGM's leading players until Garbo came along and took all the good roles from her.

Another Nice Entry

[Michael_Elliott · 10 May 2010]

Hardys Ride High, The (1939)

*** (out of 4)

The sixth film in the popular MGM series has Judge Hardy (Lewis Stone) learning that he might be the heir to $2 million dollars so the family goes to Detroit to collect the money. Kids Andy (Mickey Rooney) and Marian (Cecilia Parker) soon see green everywhere and begin to change as the chance of getting money begins to turn their character. I wish that I could have watched these films in order but I pretty much just have to catch them as they show up on TCM. With that said, I've really become a fan of the series over the past year and this one here is yet another winner. Once again many people might laugh at the "moral lessons" being taught here as there's no question it's doubtful there is any family as pure as the ones on display here. There's no question these films were just light entertainment meant to tell people how one should live their life. Typically I'd object to such preaching but there's no denying that these characters have a lot of charm and the actors do a brilliant job bringing them to life. This time out we have the Hardy's learning that money can lead to a lot of evil and this is especially true for the kids who start spending before they even get the money. Of course Andy gets caught up with a seedy character and soon ends up with a chorus girl (Virginia Grey) in a very funny sequence. Not only the bad money a lesson here but so is honesty when Judge learns something that might prevent them from the money. As usual the cast make the film work with Stone and Rooney so perfect in these roles that you can't see anyone else doing them. The two have a great chemistry together and they really do come off like a real father and son. Grey is very good in her role of the gold digger and Fay Holden, Parker and Ann Rutherford are as great as usual. The one issue with the film is the final twenty-minutes when the "message" is being told. It goes on about five or ten minutes too long but if you're a fan of the series then there's enough charm here to make it worth viewing.

"Gosh, have I been wasting my time in a country town!"

[utgard14 · 6/10 · 27 June 2017]

Judge Hardy (Lewis Stone) inherits a fortune so the family moves...to Detroit? Times really have changed. Once in Detroit, the Hardys have difficulty adjusting to their potential newfound wealth. Andy starts to think of himself as a millionaire playboy and acts accordingly. Marian spends like there's no tomorrow. Even Aunt Millie (Sara Haden) gets in on the action, trying to be something she's not to snag a man.

Lewis Stone's good in this one as the Judge's honesty and integrity is tested and, surprisingly, the old stone wall almost cracks. Mickey is fun as usual. His reaction to being invited to the chorus girl's apartment is priceless. The one father/son talk we get is late in the film but it's pretty funny. Fay Holden is as endearing as ever. Cecilia Parker didn't annoy me once in the whole picture. A first! Sara Haden has probably her best movie in the series playing Aunt Millie going through a spinster crisis. Ann Rutherford shines in her far too few scenes as Polly Benedict. Halliwell Hobbes is fun as a butler. Seems like he was always playing butlers. Virginia Grey is fine as the gold-digging chorus girl who helps lead Andy astray. Marsha Hunt and Donald Briggs have bit parts as a bickering married couple who are saved from divorce (for now) by Judge Hardy. The part where he tells the wife "what a generous husband gives is a lot more than you're entitled to" is sure to ruffle feathers today.

This is one of the lesser Hardy films but still enjoyable. They don't do as much with the "coming into money" idea as I think they could have. It was nice to see Haden get some extra material but since the decision she arrives at in the end doesn't carry over into future movies, it almost seems pointless. No Hardy movie is unwatchable. This one just feels lacking. Also the ending just sneaks up on you and we're not given any great closure on the inheritance plot.

The family rides again

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 4 September 2022]

Andy Hardy (Mickey Rooney) wins the big football game but Polly Benedict is trying to make Andy jealous. Judge James Hardy could inherit $2 million and goes to Detroit to back up the claim. The family joins him on the trip. Philip Westcott is the adopted son who would inherit without the Judge's claim and is working secretly to undermine the Hardy family.

It's the sixth film in the Hardy family franchise. Mickey Rooney is being Andy but he's starting to learn his lessons. It's Judge Hardy being the father figure and a man of principles. He can be a little too holier than thou. The opening case is both forward thinking and rather old fashion. Aunt Milly has a big side story. This is the family being the family. I do fear that the money would go to Philip but there is something more than winning in this case.

Judge Hardy's Family in Society

[lugonian · 7/10 · 28 July 2019]

THE HARDY'S RIDE HIGH (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1939), directed by George B. Seitz, marks the sixth entry to the now popular "Hardy Family" movie series, and the first of its three 1939 installments. A standard production in every sense involving the family's moral lesson as to whether or not they could be happy after inheriting a large fortune or being just plain folks from a the small town of Carvel.

Following a courtroom opening where Judge James K. Hardy (Lewis Stone) solves a troubled marriage involving Caleb Bowen (Donald Briggs) coping with his wife, Susan's (Marsha Hunt) spending extravagance, Hardy is soon visited by a lawyer, Jonas Bronell (George Irving), with surprising news that Hardy has inherited $2 million because of he being the great-great grandson of James Standish Leeds, a well-known figure of the War of 1812. The middle-class family, involving the judge's wife, Emily (Fay Holden), daughter, Marion (Cecilia Parker), their 16-year-old football playing son, Andrew (Mickey Rooney), and their matronly Aunt Milly Forrest (Sara Haden), accompany the judge on an airplane bound for Detroit, Michigan, where the judge is to prove himself liable of the inheritance. Taking up residence in the Leeds mansion where they are waited on by family butler, Dobbs (Halliwell Hobbes), and living the life of how rich people live. Their new way of living takes its toll, especially on the children. Aunt Milly, the spinster schoolteacher, wanting to enjoy life before old age sets in for her, begins courting Terry B. Archer (Minor Watson), a middle-aged gentleman she earlier met on the airplane, with the hope their courtship will lead to marriage. Philip Westcott (John King), the adopted son of the Leeds family, shows the family the town, in spite the fact that he may that through Judge Hardy, he may lose the fortune entitled him. Philip even takes Andy to the Paradise Club where the girl-happy teenager gets introduced to Consuela McNish (Virginia Grey), an older chorus girl, and arranges for the young man to spend the evening together in her apartment. As for Marion, she goes on a spending spree buying an expensive dress for herself and charging it to her father's account. After returning home to Carvel, problems arise when the judge discovers evidence that he may or may not rightfully be entitled to the family fortune. Aside from Ann Rutherford returning in a few scenes playing Polly Benedict, Andy's girlfriend, others in the cast include: John T. Murray (Don Davis, the Druggist); Aileen Pringle (Miss Booth, the Saleswoman); Erville Alderson (Bill, Hardy's Bailiff); and William T. Orr (Dick Bannersly, Polly's gentleman caller she met while on vacation to use to get Andy jealous), among others.

While the "Hardy Family" series would be a great introduction for young MGM starlets, THE HARDY'S RIDE HIGH promises no film debuts nor introductions of any kind. It basically consists of Marsha Hunt and Virginia Grey, who have been in the movie business for quite some time, assuming smaller roles for this entry. With the story focusing on how money can change a simple-minded family to living the lifestyle of the rich and famous, it finds Aunt Milly becoming glamorous with her agreeable dressing and modern hairstyle to impress her new gentleman caller; Marion and her mother having their breakfast in bed served by their butler; while Andy dresses up in tuxedo and top hat pretending to be a "big shot" in an expensive night club, only to come to reality through his father's reasoning, notably for not smoking or booze drinking. At one point, Andy buys a cigarette case, mistaking its cost of $175 to $1.75. Even briefly the sensible judge nearly lets the money get the best of him before contemplating its consequence if he goes through with his intentions,and so much more. As much as the story and acting are delivered in manner, especially by Sara Haden in a change of pace by becoming glamorous and having more to do plot-wise than usual, what "Andy Hardy" movie would be complete without any "man to man" talks between father and son?

Though never distributed on video cassette, THE HARDY'S RIDE HIGH has been placed on DVD disc and often plays in cable television's Turner Classic Movies. Next in the series, ANDY HARDY GETS SPRING FEVER (1939), and more teenage situations as well, (***)

About as good as this series gets!

[JohnHowardReid · 7/10 · 20 October 2017]

Lewis Stone (Judge James K. Hardy), Mickey Rooney (Andy Hardy), Fay Holden (Mrs Emily Hardy), Cecilia Parker (Marian Hardy), Ann Rutherford (Polly Benedict), Sara Haden (Aunty Milly Forrest), Virginia Grey (Consuela McNish), John King (Phil Westcott), Minor Watson (Terry B. Archer), George Irving (Bronell), John T. Murray (Don Davis), Halliwell Hobbes (Dobbs), Don Castle (Denis Hunt), Aileen Pringle (Miss Booth, saleswoman), Truman Bradley (shop assistant), Marsha Hunt (Susan Bowen), William Orr (Dick Bannersly), Donald Briggs (Caleb Bowen), Erville Alderson (court attendant), Phil Tead (cab-driver), Frances MacInerney (Sylvia), Alex Pollard (headwaiter), Ann Morris (Rosamund), William Tanner (desk clerk).

Director: GEORGE B. SEITZ. Screenplay: Agnes Christine Johnson, Kay Van Riper, William Ludwig. Based on characters created by Aurania Rouverol. Photography: Lester White, John F. Seitz. Film editor: Ben Lewis. Art directors: Cedric Gibbons and Eddie Imazu. Set decorator: Edwin B. Willis. Music score: David Snell. Hair stylist: Martha Acker. Make- up artist: Neil Wakeman. Unit manager: Arthur Rose. Assistant director: Tom Andre. Props: Charles Ryan. Assistant cutter: Tom Biggart. Wardrobe: William Cogswell. Supervisor: J.J. Cohn. Gaffer: John Cooney. First grip: Jack Franzen. Wardrobe: Myrtle Gallegher. Stand-in for Fay Holden: Inez Gay. Script clerk: Russ Haverick. Assistant cameraman: John M. Nikolaus. Stand-in for Mickey Rooney: Dick Paxton. Still photographer: Frank Tanner. Stand in for Lewis Stone: Lee Trainor. Sound recording: Douglas Shearer. Sound mixer: Ralph Shugart. Western Electric Sound System. Producer: Lou Ostrow.

Copyright 17 April 1939 by Loew's Inc. Presented by Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer. New York opening at the Capitol, 13 April 1939 (ran 2 weeks). U.S. release: 21 April 1939. Australian release: 29 June 1939. 8 reels 80 minutes.

SYNOPSIS: Judge Hardy inherits $2 million.

NOTES: Academy Award, "for representing the American Way of Life".

COMMENT: In this one, the 6th of the series, Judge Hardy and family go to Detroit (of all places!) to claim a $2 million inheritance. Andy chickens out on a rendezvous with slinky Virginia Grey. Aunt Milly is romanced (she thinks) by Minor Watson.

Despite its unpredictable denouement, the script is not quite as shamelessly sentimental or irritatingly corny as usual. Also the budget is surprisingly larger — noticeable especially in its lavish sets. Seitz's direction is comparatively competent for a change (though totally undistinguished).

All told, moderately entertaining. If you're curious to see one of the Seitz 1930s entries, this is about as good as they get.

The Hardys Ride High is another in the enjoyable Judge Hardy's Family series

[tavm · 8/10 · 8 June 2015]

Just watched this, the sixth in the Judge Hardy's Family series. Seems the family may have inherited some money so they go to Detroit to claim their share. Of course, Andy has delusions of grandeur which he enacts quickly when a supposed relative takes him out on the town and he sees chorus girls for the first time! I'll stop there and just say that I liked most of the film especially when some of the focus is on spinster Aunt Milly and her dressing up and going out with someone she likes very much. Mickey Rooney, as always, is his usual exuberant self. Oh, and what he tells Polly at the end! So on that note, I highly recommend The Hardys Ride High.

Middle of the road Andy Hardy film

[vincentlynch-moonoi · 7/10 · 18 November 2016]

Judge Hardy learns that he is in line to inherit $2 million...or is he? What will it do to his family? To him? He's about to find out, and although by today's standards the crises seem minor, it's a shock to the judge.

This is a fairly good Andy Hardy movie, although I was hoping in the nightclub sequence that we might see some of Mickey Rooney's lively dancing ability. Alas, we did not.

Lewis Stone is fine -- as always -- as Judge Hardy (what a wonderful character actor). Mickey Rooney almost seems a bit subdued here; not his best outing in this series. Cecilia Parker as one of the daughters was okay...and for awhile I thought she was a very young Lana Turner. Fay Holden good as mother Hardy. Ann Rutherford as Polly Benedict has only a very small part here. Sara Haden good as 'Aunt Milly'. One of my favorite character actors -- Minor Watson -- has a role as a romantic swindler; not one of his better roles.

Not the best of the Andy Hardy series, but decent.

The dark, ugly side of the Hardy family.

[planktonrules · 4/10 · 10 July 2018]

I really wish they'd never made "The Hardys Ride High". This is because although the family normally extols the virtues of decency and are a lovely middle class bunch of people, in this film the ugly hidden side of them comes out...a side that audiences probably did not enjoy seeing. After all, in this film they seem very self-absorbed and greedy....which is nothing like the Hardys in other movies.

When the story begins, Judge Hardy learns he's probably the heir to a $2,000,000 fortune. However, again and again, they say 'probably' but the family assumes a lot--that he can prove he's related to the dead man and that it's $200,000,000! This is because everyone in the family begin thinking about how they'll spend it and they also begin putting on airs. Suddenly, instead of having a nice family breakfast, many of them choose to have breakfast in bed! And, when Marian buys a $265 dollar dress, it's hard to care about these people...as in today's money, that dress would be many thousands of dollars AND the family still isn't 100% sure the inheritance is theirs. Instead of loving this nice family, you start finding yourself annoyed by them! Their sense of entitlement is grotesque.

As I mentioned above, I found the Hardys less than lovable in this installment. While eventually the family does the right things, seeing them spending wildly and losing track of who they really were is pretty sad, as you've come to like them so much. A rare disappointment.

I don't get Mickey in this one

[richspenc · 6/10 · 27 March 2016]

I loved some of the Andy Hardy films. All of the Hardy films with Judy Garland were great because I just love Judy so much. Especially "Love finds Andy Hardy" with Judy's wonderful tearjerking song "I'm just an in between". And I loved all the backyard Judy/ Mickey musicals i.e. " Babes on Broadway", "Strike up the band", etc. I also loved " Andy Hardy's double life" cause I love Esther Williams and that was her sweet debut.

"The Hardy's ride high" was one of my least favorites of the series for several reasons. Andy makes a very stupid move with a beautiful girl which I explain more later in this review. Judge Hardy was a little more over the top here than normal. His usual honest, sensible character here seemed a little less sensible here than normal, such as his reaction to when Andy told Dad how he spread a bunch of lies about him being a dumb drunk. Dad/Judge didn't even have a reaction, which I didn't quite get. I also don't get how Andy told lies about his dad that extreme, when his dad had always been so good to him. Compared to how a lot of fathers have treated their kids in more recent times, Andy's dad was very good to him. The Hardy's fly to Detroit in this film and are looking at possibly inheriting 2 million dollars. Wow, for 1942, that's like the good life for the rest of their lives and then some. We get a look at the old style passenger propeller planes of the 40s before jet aircraft were invented. And back then, only the very rich flew, which the Hardy's were in this film. The middle classes usually travelled long distance by train back then. We also get a look at a Detroit car factory, Detroit being the city of car building since the early 1900s. General Motors had been there since the 1920s. Anyway, Andy meets this guy who invites him to a chorus girl club. At the club right away, this dancing beauty winks and smiles at Andy, and gives him her address to come over to her place after the show. What is it Micky Rooney had that made him such a ladies man? Even other characters in his films seem to keep asking him that. Anyway, this is the part where Andy makes the stupidest move. He's at the girl's apartment. The place looks very nice and fancy, bottles of liquor, and a maid addressing him formally, "Wont you please come in Mr. Hardy". Then the girl shows up looking so gorgeous, dressed stunningly, and showing Andy the utmost pleasure, interest, gentleness, flirting smiles and warmth. What does Andy do? He runs! He runs away as fast as he can. I DON'T GET THAT. I could somewhat understand him not wanting to cheat on Ann Rutherford/Polly, but she already cheated on him in this film with " Mr. Fancy pants". Besides, Andy and Ann were never that committed, they were always fooling around with other people. They were always "on again, off again". Sort of like Kevin Arnold and Winnie Cooper in the " Wonder Years". Anyway, how could Andy run away from that wonderful beauty who invited him for special, personal, one on one time in her lavish apartment? I don't get it! Then he drops and loses his friend's $170 cigarette case while running away in his sudden case of idiocy. That and Judge Hardy not being all up to scratch in this film is the reason I gave it a 6.

Aunt Millie gets a romance!

[HotToastyRag · 4/10 · 18 November 2019]

In the sixth Andy Hardy movie, Mickey Rooney is a real pain in the neck. He completely acts his age, so you'd better get ready for a bunch of sixteen-year-old antics. The patriarch of the family, Lewis Stone, finds out that he's potentially the heir to a two-million-dollar fortune, and when the entire family goes to Detroit to explore the family tree, everyone gets into trouble.

Calling all Sara Haden fans: Aunt Millie finally gets a romance! She has an impassioned speech at the start of the movie, lamenting her role as the spinster aunt in the family and society, and she meets a respectable, considerate, handsome man on the airplane. Later on, she gives herself a makeover and appears at dinner with her hair done up and in a beautiful gown. Fay Holden bursts into tears, and Mickey says, "Don't cry! Aunt Millie will make herself ugly again if you want her to!" It's insulting, but classically blunt in Andy Hardy fashion. Mickey doesn't limit his insults to his aunt, and says to his father, "You're old; you couldn't change even if you wanted to," as Lewis Stone struggles to keep his hurt feelings to himself. Poor Judge Hardy; he has to take so much from his son. In every movie, he has to juggle everyone else's problems as well as his own, and he has at least one "man-to-man" talk with Mickey. Usually these famous talks are about girls or financial problems, and this movie proves to be no exception. He has an unending amount of patience; I've seen almost every one of the Andy Hardy movies, and he has yet to lose his temper.

Mickey and Cecilia Parker both get into trouble wanting to fit in with the upper crust. They buy things they can't afford and make friends with the wrong crowd. "Summon the butler!" Mama Hardy declares. Right on cue, Halliwell Hobbes introduces himself as the butler. How fitting, since he made a career of playing dozens of butlers in old movies! Fay Holden is the only one who doesn't let the money go to her head. She doesn't buy fancy clothes and still concerns herself with the daily cooking for her family. She and Lewis have a couple of cute scenes together, reminding the young folks in the audience that their parents were once young and in love, too.

All in all, this movie isn't that great. Mickey's ridiculous antics and manipulative, bratty personality are tough to take. I did like Sara Haden's part, and Lewis Stone's model father role is at his best. He's known as Honest Judge Hardy for a reason. Keep in mind, Sara Haden's best known for her role as the spinster aunt in these movies, so don't get your hopes up. If you do like her, though, this is the movie that gives her the biggest part, and I'm sure she appreciated getting such a big chunk of the story.

Not a typical Hardy family film

[joestevensus-10727 · 4/10 · 16 October 2019]

Once again the Hardy family hits the road. After trips to Catalina, DC and the not so wild west, Detroit and wealth is the destination for this film. Unfortunately the All-American family struggles with greed and the wholesome nostalgia that sells these films in the modern era seems conspicuous by its absence. There are still pleasant moments, but the Hardy family as millionaires in a big city mansion just aren't quite the same as the Hardy family in Carville.

The Hardys Hit A Low Note

[bkoganbing · 3/10 · 17 April 2010]

Lewis Stone in his role as Judge Hardy in this series became known as the screen's symbol of integrity, but in The Hardys Ride High his honesty was carried to some ridiculous lengths.

The Judge is brought the fabulous news from attorney George Irving that he could be the heir to several million dollars. And a fabulous mansion in Detroit which the foster son of the late relative will of course have to vacate.

But heir John 'Dusty' King ain't going down without a fight. He decides on a charm offensive first with Ann Rutherford and especially with wide eyed Mickey Rooney.

It's easy to see why playboy Dusty was disinherited with his spendthrift ways. If the Hardys can establish a relationship which dates back to Stone's great-great-grandfather who was a War Of 1812 hero he gets the inheritance. Otherwise it goes to a children's hospital.

The outcome is absolutely ridiculous. Even in the world of Carvel the judge known for his granite integrity would have fought as would have Dusty King for a piece of the estate. I'm sure a Surrogate's Court in Wayne County, Michigan would have made an equitable solution for all parties, the Hardys, King, and the children's hospital.

The tone for this film is set early on when Mickey Rooney pays court on steady girl friend Ann Rutherford in his football uniform ready to recount his gridiron exploits when he finds her at home entertaining the rich, slightly older, and far more sophisticated William T. Orr. Mickey's being put down makes him resolve to become more of a man of the world and the inheritance will give him the means to achieve that. But the idea of little Mickey playing varsity football in high school is just a bit much to swallow. I don't think Andy Hardy would have made the team even in 1939.

Sara Haden who is mom Fay Holden's spinster sister and lives with the Hardys even gets a makeover and becomes a mark for con artist Minor Watson. The whole family faces crises of a different kind.

The Judge was too honest and just a bit too much for me to swallow the message of The Hardys Ride High.