OUT WEST WITH THE HARDYS (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1938), marks the fifth entry to the "Judge Hardy's Family/Andy Hardy" series, following its previous installments of A FAMILY AFFAIR (1937), YOU'RE ONLY YOUNG ONCE (1937), JUDGE HARDY'S CHILDREN (1938) and the immensely popular, LOVE FINDS ANDY HARDY (1938). Featuring the standard cast of Lewis Stone (Judge James K. Hardy), Mickey Rooney (Andrew Hardy), Cecilia Parker (Marian Hardy), Fay Holden (Emily Hardy), this edition also welcomes back Sara Haden as the family's Aunt Milly Forrest, the role recast in two previous installments by Betty Ross Clark. As in many a film series, there would be a matter of time before its title characters would venture out west, and this is it, though not in a sense of cowboys, horses and bar room brawls found in many a western, but another vacation for the family where the father helps with another family's situations.
The story starts off briefly in the courtroom before Judge Hardy (Lewis Stone) receives a telegram from his friend's wife out west who is in need of financial assistance. Later, in the Hardy household, the family is gathered together or dinner before the lights suddenly go out. Son Andy (Mickey Rooney) solves the darkness problem by placing a penny in the fuse box. Situations ensue as Mother Hardy (Fay Holden), upset over her personal problems, feels she needs a rest. To assist his wife, Hardy packs up the family for rest and relaxation out west so Hardy can assist Dora and Bill Northcole's (Nana Bryant and Ralph Morgan) with their troubles. While in Medville, Arizona, Hardy attempts in helping the Northcole's settle their water rights problem with H. R. Bruxton (Thurston Hall), or else they will face eviction from their ranch. Then there's daughter, Marian, who recently had broken up with her boyfriend, Dennis Hunt (Don Castle) back home, becoming romantically involved with Ray Holt (Gordon Jones), a foreman rancher and widower father of an eight-year-old daughter, Jake (Virginia Weidler). Now in love with Ray and contemplating marriage, Marian decides to try out country living by awaking at 5 a.m., and making long preparations of the day starting with breakfast. Jake, however, disapproves of Marian with possibilities of her becoming her new mother, while she has taken a liking to her younger brother, Andy, who rather become involved with a girl closer to his own age. Others in the cast consist of Tom Neal (Aldrich Brown); Anthony Allan (Cliff Thomas); and Gordon Douglas (Mr. Carter). Series regulars Ann Rutherford (Polly Benedict, Andy's girlfriend) and Erville Alderson (Dave, the courtroom bailiff) can be seen in smaller roles.
Though not as successful nor memorable as LOVE FINDS ANDY HARDY, OUT WEST WITH THE HARDYS is standard comedy-drama. Though there are some moments of humor involving Andy trying life as a cowboy, there's also some serious moments involving Andy's accident while riding Jake's Calico horse, resulting to a broken leg, bringing tearful moments involving little Jake. Rooney and Weidler. Who work well together, would team up together again in YOUNG TOM EDISON (1940) and BABES ON BROADWAY (1941).
As with YOU'RE ONLY YOUNG ONCE, where the Hardy's take time away from their hometown of Carvel, OUT WEST WITH THE HARDYS returns to similar material involving Andy's antics and Marian's new romantic interest. A bit slow-moving at 84 minutes, the film is worthy viewing by fans of the series. Never distributed on video cassette but available on DVD, OUT WEST WITH THE HARDYS can be seen from time to time, along with 15 additional episodes in the series, on Turner Classic Movies. Next installment: THE HARDY'S RIDE HIGH (1939) (***)
