A FAMILY AFFAIR

US, 1937, 69 minutes, Black and white.
Lionel Barrymore, Spring Byington, Mickey Rooney, Eric Linden, Cecilia Parker, Sara Haden, Charles Grapewin, Julie Haydon.
Directed by George B. Seitz.

A Family Affair was the first of the Hardy Family films. It developed into an extraordinary series for just over ten years from the mid-'30s to the mid-'40s and was one of MGM's most successful series.

In this film, Lionel Barrymore plays Judge Hardy. The role was taken then by Lewis Stone. Spring Byington is Mrs Hardy but she did not remain with the series, the role going to Fay Holden. However, Cecilia Parker as Marian, Mickey Rooney as Andy and Sara Haden as Aunt Millie all remained with the series.

The film is a conventional enough family movie of the mid-'30s, reflecting life in the small town, traditional American values and upright behaviour and the confrontation with political and social corruption. Background of family life and changing values is evident, especially with indications of marriage break-up and divorce. However, the Hardy family always were staunch upholders of traditional values.

1.Entertaining family story from the '30s? The beginning of the series? The response of American and world audiences to these cinema images of family?

2.Small budget, black and white photography, the small American town? The cast? Musical score?

3.The title and its focus on family? The Hardy family embodying the American values?

4.Lionel Barrymore as Judge Hardy (and comparisons with Lewis Stone)? In court, his age and experience, love for his wife, his children? Treatment of his children - stern but understanding? The political corruption, the building of the waterway, the newspapers and their influence? His investigations, the attacks on him, his going for further investigations of documentation, the plane ride, his vindicating his stance? The campaign against him, the family slurs, his talk with his son-in-law, his support, the reconciliation? The triumph of good in the small town? The image of the wise father of the '30s?

5.The Hardy family: the mother, loving but scatty, supporting her husband, concerned about the children? Work in the home? Religious values? Andy Hardy, the teenager, the lively Mickey Rooney, the scrapes, girlfriends, learning from experience? Marian, coming home, her boyfriend, the difficulties? The older daughter, the marriage break-up, her husband and the antagonism? Her flirtation? Its being used by enemies? The family confronting the difficulty, the son-in-law and his reaction, coming to the support of Judge Hardy?

6.The viaduct promoters, double-deals, political corruption, contracts? The newspapers, confrontations, support? Political and financial blackmail? The exposure?

7.Popular ingredients for melodramas? And the combination with family entertainment?