ANDY HARDY'S PRIVATE SECRETARY (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1941),directed by George B. Seitz, marks the tenth installment to the popular "Andy Hardy" family series starring Lewis Stone (Judge Hardy); Mickey Rooney (Andy Hardy); Fay Holden (Emily Hardy); and Sara Haden (Aunt Milly Forrest). One series regular, Marian Hardy, as played by Cecilia Parker, does not appear here, but does introduce a new MGM starlet, a soprano by the name of Kathryn Grayson, beter known in later years for her popular MGM musicals including SHOW BOAT (1951) and KISS ME KATE (1953).

The story opens typically in the courtroom with Judge Hardy (Lewis Stone) preciding a case involving a young teenager (Charles Smith) who finds life difficult being six feet tall among shorter eighth grade students, until a lecture about President Abraham Lincoln sets him straight. Hardy is then telephoned by George Benedict (Addison Richards) of the Carvel National Bank informing him that his son, Andrew (Mickey Rooney),has signed his name to a bad check of $280. Andy, now 18, about to graduate from Carvel High School within a week, is not only class president, but responsible for many activities at once, such as the school's bookkeeping and upcoming play with students dressed in Roman costumes. With so much going on for Andy, it is suggested that he hire Kathryn (Kathryn Grayson) as his private secretary to handle data on his extracurricular activities, with her brother, Harry (Todd Karns),who resents Andy, in decorating the gymnasium, where commencement is to be held. Their father, Steven V. Land (Ian Hunter),a widower, a highly educated man and former travel agent in Europe for ten years, now works as a night watchman for Peter Dugan's (Joseph Crehan) garage. Because of his ability to speak nine languages, Judge Hardy arranges for this skillful man for a better paying job in South American with the help of J.O. Harper (Don Douglas),a state representative of Washington. Land does get him the job, but has to leave for South America by Thursday, two days before his children are to graduate, thus missing their big event. In the meantime, Andy might not be able graduate himself for failing his final exam in English class.

Returning to the series are Georgie Breakston as Andy's best friend, "Beezy" Anderson; Gene Reynolds as Jimmy MacMahon, the role he originated in LOVE FINDS ANDY HARDY (1938),appears for one scene; and Margaret Early as Clarabelle Lee, the role she originated in JUDGE HARDY AND SON (1939). Series regular, Ann Rutherford, returns as Andy's girlfriend, Polly Benedict, who shows jealously over his attention towards fellow classmate, Kathryn Land. With Deanna Durbin being the operatic teenage rage for Universal of the 1940s, Grayson's movie debut is heavily influenced by Durbin, especially during her showcase scene singing such operatic arias as Johann Strauss's "The Voices of Spring," and "Lucia de Lammamoor" by Gaetano Douizetti. Grayson gets a chance to vocalize a down-t-oearth Cole Porter tune, introduced in BROADWAY MELODY OF 1940 (1940) titled "I've Got My Eyes on You.," more to Andy Hardy's liking but not to Polly.

Interestingly, with the story focusing more on Judge Hardy and son, one would wonder about the rest of the family members. Fay Holden's Mrs. Hardy appears late into the story (39 minutes) while Cecilia Parker's Marian is said to be away in New York City. It's a wonder why such a close relative like Andy's sister was not able to return home in time to attend her brother's graduation? It also seems odd to have Andy's Aunt Milly as his teacher in English while students related to teachers are often assigned to another classroom under another instructor. Yet it is Andy's own Aunt Milly who must fail her nephew for not passing his big exam, and to show no favoritism in that matter. Another overlong (101 minutes) segment, ANDY HARDY'S PRIVATE SECRETARY, being quite typical, holds interest through most of it. Hence its title, the story sets more on Andy Hardy's preparation for high school graduation than on his new romance with his private secretary. Yet its title is put to good use in attracting attention to the studio's new singing personality, Kathryn Grayson. Yes, there is that usual "man-to-man" talks between the judge and Andy, which in turn becomes strict father to son talk after judge learns his son won't be part of his graduation class of 1941.

Formerly distributed on video cassette in the 1990s, ANDY HARDY'S PRIVATE SECRETARY can be seen whenever broadcast on Turner Classic Movies. Next in the series, LIFE BEGINS FOR ANDY HARDY (1941) which marks the return of Judy Garland as Betsy Booth and Andy's return to The Big Apple, New York City. (*** diplomas)

Before I review the movie proper, since It's a Wonderful Life is my favorite movie, I had to mention a player from there making his film debut in this one: Todd Karns who plays a Land family member named Harry-the same first name he would eventually have in IAWL when he became a Bailey. He has a sis named Kathryn-the same first name as the lady playing her, Kathryn Grayson-also making her debut. Andy tries to help them, as the family is poor, with bettering their lives but he makes some mistakes along the way. Oh, and Andy and girlfriend Polly are supposed to graduate in this one though because of what happens to Andy involving his teacher-his own Aunt Milly, that may not happen to him. Let's just say there's some things she won't do and leave it at that. Ms. Grayson does some nice opera tunes but she's really entertaining when she also does a Cole Porter song! There's more drama than laughs here but there's still plenty to enjoy in Andy Hardy's Private Secretary. P.S. This was the first time in the beginning credits of this series when the names of the actors weren't printed in front of their portrait of-from left to right-Mickey Rooney, Lewis Stone, Fay Holden, and Cecilia Parker. That was because Ms. Parker was absent here, for some reason.

Overachiever Andy Hardy tries too hard to do everything in his final weeks of high school to wrap up those innocent years and everything seems to fall apart. He's bounced a check on the class budget, flunked an English final (with Aunt Millie as his teacher) and changed the contents of a telegram which causes the rescinding of a job offer to the struggling Ian Hunter whom Judge Hardy is trying to help. Andy makes his daughter, Kathryn (Grayson) his private secretary which makes his girlfriend Polly (Ann Rutherford) jealous once again.

So once again Andy's in trouble, and while there was never a film title in the series "Andy Hardy gets into Trouble", this should have been it. As it turns out, Grayson is only Andy's secretary for a short time anyway, making that title rather pointless. But the chance to see the young future star of musical classics like "Show Boat" and "Kiss Me Kate" in her film debut and singing as a teenager is a delight. Once again too, the students of Carvel put on a play with Andy and Polly in the leads, and Rooney looks like a shrunken Cagney in his wig and beard.

Highlights of this film are Judge Hardy's kindnesses to Hunter and his family and the animosity between Grayson's brother (also a senior though it is not mentioned that they are twins) and Andy, as well as Haden's sincere regret of having to fail her nephew. It's one of her best moments in the series and it is filled with heart. But Grayson singing too is a real plus, Rooney gets put in his place once again to send him crashing back to earth, and Stone gets some of his best material, showing a sternness that he didn't often indicate realistically. This is the real "Life Faces Andy Hardy", and there are some great lessons to be learned here, one of the better episodes of the series.