Saturday, January 24, 2009

Snuggly blankets and hot chocolate in front of a cozy fire

That's what the Andy Hardy movies are to me. When TCM shows them, they usually do a chunk of them in a row in one day. I think I've seen most of them now, the most recent block being shown over Christmas, which was the perfect time for them, what with the gooey family feelings and all.

They are, of course, a completely unrealistic picture of family life -- even more so now than when they were made. And yet, I love them, and watching them is so relaxing. For one thing, you always know what to expect -- Andy falls for girl, gets in some kind of (totally harmless) trouble, has man-to-man talk with Dad -- and yet the details of the story are different each time, so there's a combination of old and new which keeps my interest.

Even as the feminist in me kind of recoils from Mother Hardy's obvious belief that she's just a mere woman who can't even balance her checkbook, there is something comforting in watching her fuss over the children or bustle around in the kitchen -- and what dinners she makes! And the men always come to the table in coats and ties! It's hard to believe that people actually lived that way, although my dad tells stories of the days when men walked the boardwalk at the Jersey shores in coats and ties and hats, the women in dresses and pantyhose and gloves. There is a style about it (and classic films in general, from the manners to the decor) that seems so quaint today, but it's a style I enjoy.

My current box set dream is an Andy Hardy box set...and my birthday is next month, Ted Turner! Hear my cries! For your benefit, here's a list of the films (and in checking IMDB to create the list, I notice Mickey Rooney currently has 323 movies to his name...wow!):
  • A Family Affair (Lionel Barrymore was the original Judge Hardy, but I like Lewis Stone much better)
  • You're Only Young Once
  • Judge Hardy's Children
  • Love Finds Andy Hardy
  • Out West with the Hardys
  • The Hardys Ride High
  • Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever
  • Judge Hardy and Son
  • Andy Hardy Meets Debutante
  • Andy Hardy's Private Secretary
  • Life Begins for Andy Hardy
  • The Courtship of Andy Hardy
  • Andy Hardy's Double Life
  • Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble
  • Love Laughs at Andy Hardy
  • Andy Hardy Comes Home

Hmm. Maybe I haven't seen most of them after all.

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