The Hardys go west in this routine--actually, a little less than routine--outing in the "Hardy Family" series. This entry seemed to have lost the fabled MGM "gloss" and looked more like something from Monogram, with its preponderance of glaringly obvious rear projection and use of stock footage. Beefy Gordon Jones, best remembered as Mike the Cop in the "Abbott & Costello" '50s TV series, played in several westerns and always looked out of place, as he does here, especially as the love interest for Andy's sister. Lewis Stone does his usual good job as the stern but caring Judge Hardy, and Virginia Weidler as an eight-year-old "cowgirl", is--as has been previously mentioned--excellent, coming across as cute but not cloying. Although I've only seen a few Hardy films and am aware of Mickey Rooney's tendency to overact outrageously, it's a wonder he didn't permanently stretch his face out of shape with his out-of-control mugging or break some bones with the wild pratfalls he took. This is probably the most irritating ham-acting job I've ever seen him do, and that's saying something.
If this is a typical example of the Andy Hardy films, then I'm glad I've only seen a few and have no plans to see any more.
If this is a typical example of the Andy Hardy films, then I'm glad I've only seen a few and have no plans to see any more.