Directed by: Willis Goldbeck

Starring: Mickey Rooney, Lewis Stone, Sara Haden, Bonita Granville, Lina Romay, Fay Holden, Dorothy Ford, Hal Hackett, Dick Simmons

PAGE OR STAGE: Based on the Andy Hardy characters created by playwright Aurania Rouverol. The film’s original story was written by Howard Dimsdale, with a screenplay by Harry Ruskin and William Ludwig.

STORY

Andy Hardy is home again.

After two years in the Army, Andy returns to Carvel and the familiar warmth of the Hardy household, but the irrepressible young man who left home has grown up, at least a little. His mother Emily quickly becomes convinced that romance is in the air when she catches Andy studying displays of wedding rings and baby clothes.

She’s right about the romance. She’s just got the wrong girl.

Andy has his heart firmly set on Kay Wilson, his college sweetheart, and he can’t wait to return to Wainwright College and pick up their relationship where they left off. Even the beautiful Isobel Gonzales, who immediately takes a shine to Andy, can’t distract him.

But Andy is about to discover that life didn’t stand still while he was away.

When he finally returns to college, his dreams of a happy reunion with Kay collide with reality. The girl he loves has moved on, leaving Andy heartbroken and struggling to figure out what comes next.

Enter Coffy Smith — a warmhearted, exceptionally tall young woman who becomes Andy’s companion for a college dance. Andy initially worries about what everyone will think, but the evening teaches him something considerably more important about kindness, friendship and looking beyond appearances.

Through romantic disappointment, comic misunderstandings and another round of fatherly wisdom from Judge Hardy, Andy begins to realize that growing up means accepting that life doesn’t always follow the script you wrote for it.

Mickey Rooney brings his boundless energy back to one of his signature characters, but there’s something different about Andy this time. He’s no longer simply the mischievous teenager forever getting himself into trouble. He is a returning serviceman standing at the awkward doorway between youth and adulthood.

And, naturally, he’s still Andy Hardy — so he doesn’t walk through that doorway without stumbling over a few things first.

AIN BACKSTAGE SECRETS & AINTOIDS
ANDY COMES HOME FROM WAR

The passage of time wasn’t merely something invented for the movie. Mickey Rooney himself had served in the United States Army during World War II. Production on Love Laughs at Andy Hardy did not begin until after Rooney completed his military service, making Andy’s return from the Army particularly appropriate for Rooney’s return to the series.

THE MOVIE THAT HAD TO WAIT

The picture was being discussed as early as 1944, when Rooney was approaching his military service. According to contemporary reporting documented by AFI, June Allyson was originally considered for the role eventually played by Bonita Granville. Production was postponed, however, and filming finally took place after Rooney returned from military service.

FROM PAGE TO THE HARDY FAMILY

The Hardy family began with characters created by playwright Aurania Rouverol. MGM first brought them to the screen in A Family Affair in 1937. What followed became one of Hollywood’s most successful recurring family-film series, with Mickey Rooney’s Andy emerging as its breakout character.

MICKEY ROONEY GREW UP WITH ANDY

Rooney spent a remarkable portion of his young career playing Andy Hardy. Audiences watched the character navigate school, money, girls, family troubles and the pains of growing up while Rooney himself matured in front of the camera. By Love Laughs at Andy Hardy, both actor and character had traveled a considerable distance from the teenagers audiences first met.

LEWIS STONE — THE DEFINITIVE JUDGE HARDY

Lewis Stone once again plays Judge James Hardy, whose conversations with Andy became one of the trademarks of the series. No matter how tangled Andy’s latest predicament became, a conversation with his father usually helped him see the situation differently.

This would be Stone’s final appearance as Judge Hardy. He died in 1953, before MGM returned to the Hardy family for Andy Hardy Comes Home in 1958.

BONITA GRANVILLE JOINS ANDY’S WORLD

Bonita Granville plays Kay Wilson, the young woman Andy believes he is coming home to marry. Granville had already enjoyed a substantial Hollywood career and had received an Academy Award nomination as a teenager for her memorable performance in These Three.

A VERY DIFFERENT LEADING LADY

Dorothy Ford, who plays Coffy Smith, stood approximately six feet tall — and the movie makes Andy’s reaction to her height part of its comedy. But Coffy ultimately becomes much more than a visual joke. Her kindness forces Andy to confront his own embarrassment and assumptions, giving their storyline an unexpectedly tender quality.

AINTOID: ITS WORKING TITLE WAS UNCLE ANDY HARDY

Before becoming Love Laughs at Andy Hardy, the picture carried the working title Uncle Andy Hardy. The alternate title continued to be associated with the film after production.

AINTOID: PRODUCTION ACTUALLY STOPPED

Filming began in the spring of 1946, but production was briefly suspended in June when Sara Haden, who played Aunt Milly, underwent an operation and needed time to recover.

AINTOID: THIS LOOKED LIKE THE END

For years, it was.

Love Laughs at Andy Hardy was the last Hardy Family film of the original run. More than a decade later, MGM unexpectedly brought Andy back in Andy Hardy Comes Home in 1958, with Mickey Rooney now playing an adult Andy with a family of his own.

AINTOID: ONE MORE HARDY FILM WAS PLANNED

There could have been another Hardy adventure much sooner. Contemporary reports cited by AFI indicated that celebrated author Booth Tarkington was expected to write a proposed film titled The Hardy Family’s Country Cousin.

It was never made.

AINTOID: THE HARDYS HAD BECOME A HOLLYWOOD INSTITUTION

What began with A Family Affair in 1937 developed into a remarkably durable screen family. The Hardy pictures gave audiences an idealized American hometown called Carvel and a recurring cast of characters whose problems could range from teenage romance and money troubles to the changing responsibilities of adulthood.

At the center of nearly all of it was Mickey Rooney — growing up right alongside Andy.

POSTERS
DATE RELEASED

February 1947