I was homeschooled K-12, as was my younger sister, and the response my parents frequently received after telling this to people was, “What about socialization?” They would respond that we were in dance classes and plays as proof that we participated in group activities, but fellow parents couldn’t seem to fathom raising your children without the public school system.
I’m very grateful for the superior education we received through being homeschooled, but I’m equally grateful that we weren’t constantly subjected to peer pressure and the bad influences that go along with unsupervised socialization. Group mentality is a problem which is intrinsic to sinful human nature, but it’s become much worse since parents have turned the raising of their children over to the public school system.
The Story
Judge Hardy (Lewis Stone) decides to take his wife, Emily (Fay Bainter), sister-in-law Milly (Sara Holden), and two children on a two-week vacation to Catalina Island. Neither Andy (Rooney) nor Marian (Cecilia Parker) is happy about this, since both youngsters want to vacation at the same destination as their sweethearts, Polly Benedict (Ann Rutherford) and Wayne Trent. However, they don’t pine for long, as they both quickly develop other romantic interests on Catalina. On the boat to the island, Andy meets sophisticated Geraldine “Jerry” Lane (Lynn), a flirtatious young girl with a wealthy, four-times-divorced mother. The impressionable lad begins spending all his time with her.Meanwhile, Marian catches the attention of lifeguard Bill Rand (Ted Pearson), and they begin seeing a lot of each other. Marian quickly gets very serious about Bill, who is separated from his wife but says they can get married once he is divorced. Judge Hardy is concerned about these new influences, and he keeps a close eye and sympathetic ear for his children. Back in their hometown of Carvel, there may be some trouble brewing for the Hardy family because of a note Judge Hardy endorsed.
The Scene
Andy and Jerry spend a lot of time together during his stay in Catalina. Young Mr. Hardy is in a difficult moral dilemma because of their relationship. While keeping company with Jerry, he is greatly influenced by her callous, materialistic viewpoint. She throws money around, so he begins thinking he needs to get more money. She acts much older than she is, so he complains about being treated like a child. She mocks traditional family life, so he begins to think his simple little family is too old-fashioned.
One day, Judge Hardy accidentally comes upon Andy and Jerry in town as the youngsters are saying goodbye. Out of friendly interest, the judge decides to meet his son’s new girlfriend for himself. Although he is polite and gracious, as always, she is impertinent and sarcastic, implying that he is trying to pick her up. Appalled by her immoral worldview, the judge tells Andy that the young woman is a bad seed, but Andy responds very rebelliously. Flaring up, he accuses his father of being an old-fashioned fuddy-duddy and storms into the house.
Its Significance
The resolution of the Jerry scenario is the first instance in the Hardy series of Andy and his father having a “man to man” talk. It’s also the first time Andy gets in with a bad crowd, which happens in many of the later films, and ends up realizing that his father’s advice was correct. Judge Hardy’s denunciation of Jerry is one of the most powerful warnings against a bad friend on film. He isn’t angry. His attitude isn’t judgmental or accusatory. As a fair judge, he merely states the facts impartially as a warning for his son.He says, “Andy I’m going to tell you a few things that may be mighty bitter to take, but this girl isn’t good. I suppose she’s a product of the bad features of the age we live in, but that doesn’t keep her from being rotten fruit. She’d poison whatever she came in contact with, mentally, morally, and spiritually.” Andy protests that she’s okay and is deeply insulted when his father asks whether he’s interested in her for the money she has to spend. The judge apologizes after seeing his reaction, but Andy refuses to discuss the matter further, man to man. When his father asks why, Andy snaps, “Because you’re old. You’re an old fogey. Dad, you’re 50 years behind the times!” “There are some things that don’t change,” the judge counters. “I’m old enough to choose my own friends,” Andy insists, “and if I can’t, I’m not going to live at home!”
Naturally, Andy doesn’t like what his father says about his sophisticated new friend at the time, but it makes him see her true colors for himself that night. When she puts her arms around his neck and kisses him, the usually romantic Andy is repulsed by the advances, yelling for her to stop strangling him. He says that he wants to want it, not have some girl hanging on him. He says, “You know, it suddenly occurs to me that you’re just a spoiled kid.” She argues that she’s sophisticated. He says, “This dark room, smoking, that junk (referring to glasses of alcohol). Your mother does it, so you think you should do it, too.” The next day, he tells his father that he’s done with Jerry. He says that it’s a case of what’s the most fun, claiming that football training is more fun than necking.
Dad Knows Best
This scene set up the character of Andy Hardy and his relationship with his father, which was strong enough to sustain the series for 14 more movies. The scene in Jerry’s room could have led to a very dangerous situation between the adolescent couple, as implied by her line, “I thought this would be pretty cozy.” The next day, Andy acts very nonchalant when telling his father about what happened, but Judge Hardy deduces what happened. It’s obvious that he’s very proud of his son. Andy doesn’t want to admit out loud that his father was completely right, but they obviously have an understanding.This scene is a beautiful example of a wise father, whose strong advice helps an impressionable boy flee the temptations of drinking, smoking, and a designing woman. Strong parents can help their children resist peer pressure and bad influences.
