An MGM Picture, copyright 17 February 1941 by Loew's Inc. U.S. release date: 21st February 1941. New York opening at the Capitol: 6 March 1941. Australian release: 18 December 1941. 10 reels. 9,090 feet. 101 minutes.SYNOPSIS: Andy is such a go-getting know-and-do-it-all in his last year at Carvel High that he flunks his graduation exam.NOTES: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented a Special Award to "Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio for its achievement in representing the American Way of Life in the production of the Andy Hardy series of films". (Presented at the 1942 Awards Ceremony).Kathryn Grayson's film debut.COMMENT: A screaming bore! In this one, the judge's homespun axioms, Rooney's frantic facial mugging and the cornball situations come uppermost. Seitz's direction is at its most monotonously routine. One prays for Miss Grayson to sing to relieve the tedium and when she does (finally) one is sorry one asked. Not her fault though! See her comment below.Worst horror of all, the film never seems to come to an end. Up with the land of the free is just another excuse for circular dialogue padding.Miss Grayson is not served well by MGM's tacky sound department, particularly in her "Mad Scene" from "Lucia di Lammermoor". Still, she has a certain youthful charm (which transcends her somewhat unattractive clothes), but all told it's not a particularly auspicious debut. Not her fault though. She agrees with me that Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's sound department, under the leadership of Norma Shearer's brother, was a distinctly hit-or-miss affair. Mostly miss. "Douglas Shearer was actually a genius in reverse," Kathryn told me. "That man could take a 90-piece orchestra and make it sound like a tin whistle!"

In this 10th installment of the Andy Hardy series, Andy is class president and he's spending a lot of time with the class secretary, Kathryn (Kathryn Grayson). Naturally, Polly (Ann Rutherford) is jealous, but that's the least of the problems--it seems that Kathryn and her brother are going to be leaving the country just days before their graduation! So, Andy tries to fix things....and totally mucks it up! Additionally, he and the gang work on a school play, his car falls apart while Judge Hardy is driving it and Andy MIGHT not be graduating after all. As far as graduating goes, it IS about time as Mickey Rooney was 21 when he made this film*! If he doesn't graduate soon, he'll soon be collecting social security while still a student! None of it is really the least bit earth-shaking--just the usual family stuff you'll see in an Andy Hardy film. It's generally pleasant and entertaining with one exception. While Kathryn Grayson was lovely and enjoyable in the film, the studio's insistence of having her sing an operatic piece 46 minutes into the film was just dreadful--the same with the song at the 87 minute mark. Some in the audience might have liked it but I suspect most used that time to either take a brief nap or get some popcorn!*The not graduating angle never made a lot of sense. Andy's supposed to be one of the top kids in his class yet did badly on his final English exam and failed. Odd--especially since Andy thought he was going to get an award for scholarship! Can Andy be this insane?! It just didn't seem realistic.

It's time for Andy Hardy to graduate high school in this tenth entry in the wonderful MGM Hardy family series. In this one, big-headed Andy (Mickey Rooney) is so busy planning the graduation festivities that he neglects his studies and fails a big test, putting him in danger of not graduating. Enter his new friends Kathryn and Harry Land (Kathryn Grayson, Todd Karns) and good ol' Polly Benedict (Ann Rutherford) to help him pass the big test to graduate. In addition to this drama, Judge Hardy (Lewis Stone) try to help out Kathryn's dad (Ian Hunter), an international travel agent struggling to find work in small town Carvel. But Andy causes problems here, too.Mickey Rooney and Lewis Stone are both in top form, as is the ever-adorable Ann Rutherford. For many fans of the Hardy series, this is one of the least liked entries. It's a long one (101 minutes) that juggles several different elements when it probably should have stuck to just a couple. It was also meant as a showcase for cute Kathryn Grayson, who makes her film debut here. There's the expected opera singing from her, if that floats your boat. She's the secretary of the film's title, by the way. Ian Hunter and Todd Karns both do great work as her father and brother. The problem is there's just a little too much focus on these guest stars. Fay Holden (Mrs. Hardy) gets only a few scenes and Cecilia Parker (sister Marian) is totally absent. Sara Haden's Aunt Milly does get a little more to do than usual, however, as she figures into the plot about Andy's flunking in a slightly contrived way. Still, despite some flaws, I happen to enjoy this one. The scene where Judge Hardy is driving Andy's jalopy is a hoot. I won't spoil it for you but it's one of my favorite scenes from any of the Hardy films. Another memorable scene has Andy dressed up as a Greek god in the graduation play he was putting on.

If you love Mickey Rooney in his early days, and you can stomach all the "life lessons" of the Hardy series, you'll be all up for this one. Nobody will ever remember this film after they have watched it, but it gives you a warm fuzzy feeling while you're there (like all in this series does).Thankfully, there's no tap dancing in this one, but hang around, this series will cater to all needs. Judy is just around the corner, and you'll see her in the next episode.Anybody under 40 would be well served to ignore this, unless you are a serious film buff. No Judy Garland here, but all the basic Hardy elements are in place. Andy has girl trouble, Dad gives him solid advice, and all ends up well, just like always. The End.