Tedfoldol everything you have heard about this movie is true.

Plustown A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

Mathilde the Guild Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Billy Ollie Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

utgard14 Third entry in MGM's wonderful Hardy series has Judge Hardy (Lewis Stone) taking the family to Washington DC. The Judge has been hired by the federal government to preside over a commission investigating utility monopolies. Soon he learns all about Washington's ugly side when lobbyists use the words of his daughter Marian (Cecilia Parker) to blackmail him. Meanwhile, Andy (Mickey Rooney) falls for a French diplomat's daughter.Lewis Stone is good as the stoic Judge, but Mickey Rooney is the scene stealer. He brings boundless enthusiasm and humor to the picture but he also handles the dramatic moments quite well. He really was one of the all-time greats. In one of the movie's best scenes, he shows a bunch of rich kids how to do the Big Apple. My favorite moments from this series were the great father-son talks Stone and Rooney had. They have a couple here, one where Judge takes Andy to visit Washington landmarks and lectures him on rebellion and another where Andy unintentionally helps a defeated Judge figure out how to fight back against a frame-up.Fay Holden is extremely likable as the somewhat addled Mrs. Hardy. Her best moment comes when she and the Judge talk about a time when Andy had diphtheria as a baby and almost died, followed shortly after by her father passing. These little sentimental moments are the kinds of things MGM did so well, particularly in this series. Cecilia Parker has the unenviable job of playing the most flawed Hardy, Marian. Some modern viewers might like her character the most because she was so flawed but she's easily my least favorite and I can't help but think part of that is due to Parker's performance. Marian and Andy make similar mistakes in this one but where Rooney makes Andy rootable, Parker's Marian comes across as difficult and petulant. Betty Ross Clarke makes the first of two appearances as Aunt Millie. I'm not sure why Sara Haden missed these two but she would return to the cast in Out West with the Hardys. Adorable Ann Rutherford shines in her few scenes ("Don't you ever think of anything else but grabbing people in dark corners and kissing them?"). Nice support from Jonathan Hale and Ruth Hussey as the villainous lobbyists.An enjoyable entry in the series, mixing comedy and drama with a heaping dose of life lessons. Some of the issues examined here are patriotism, insurrection, and putting on airs to impress people. Judge Hardy does a fair amount of soapboxing, per usual. Many today won't care for what he has to say. Heck many back then probably didn't. But these sorts of views, be they old fashioned or not, are never heard in films today. It's one of the many things I find refreshing and even fascinating about this series, and "Louis B. Mayer's America" in general.

tavm This was the third in the Hardy family series. It's also the third written by Kay Van Ripper who made an appearance in the trailer of this one with the other cast members in scenes made only for that short theatre ad-a rarity for a writer. In this one, Judge Hardy is invited to Washington, D.C. for a committee hearing so the rest of them come along too. As usual, that means Andy and Marian also meet members of the opposite sex they get smitten with there with most of the emphasis on Andy's courting a French diplomat's pretty daughter. Mickey Rooney is, as always, very funny as Andy and it's sooooo cool seeing him cut the rug here with that French girl! Oh, and Betty Ross Clarke takes over the Aunt Milly role in this and the next installment. Also, while I didn't recognize him here while watching, Jonathan Hale has a role in this as one of the corrupt politicians. Later in the year, he'd begin a regular role as J.C. Dithers in the Blondie series. I'll review those concurrently with these Hardy reviews chronologically by release dates. So on that note, Judge Hardy's Children is another winner in the Hardy series!

JohnHowardReid As this screenplay (based on characters created by Aurania Rouverol) is credited solely to Kay Van Riper, we now know who to blame for the judge's smart little speeches and his seemingly endless man-to-man talks. In this entry, Judge Hardy is called to Washington (a most unlikely scenario, but we'll let that pass) to head a commission on monopolies (at least that has the right Roosevelt flavor) for the handsome reward of $200 a day! The judge takes his family with him, of course. Mickey falls for a French girl while Marian is given a whirl by the villains, Hale and Hussey. Alas, this promising scenario is all but drowned in such a welter of verbiage, I unhesitatingly nominate this entry as the worst of the series, despite the valiant efforts of its players, and its attractive sets (Stan Rogers) and costumes (Jeanne).As usual, this one was yawnfully directed in a super bland style by George B. (for boring) Seitz.

CitizenCaine Judge Hardy and family head to Washington where he and his two children get into trouble. The judge has trouble with the aqueduct situation that first arose in the first Andy Hardy film: A Family Affair. Marion Hardy, Andy's older sister, has romantic trouble with a political hack. Andy gets a crush on a French diplomat's daughter. Andy inadvertently helps the judge solve his own problem when explaining to his dad about his success with girls! Fay Holden frets about her loved ones as Mrs. Hardy. This is a typical, fun family film from the 1930's that is mostly dated today, but it's still entertaining in predictable formula fashion. Mickey Rooney is full of energy again as Andy Hardy, tripping on staircases several times and going bonkers over girls. Ann Rutherford is Polly, and Ruth Hussey has an early role as one of the individuals getting the judge in hot water. The highlight of the film is when Andy "shames" the French diplomat's daughter in front of her tutor, swinging to the "big apple" at a Washington society party for young people. **1/2 of 4 stars.