New on DVD: The Andy Hardy Collection, Volume I

I mentioned last weekend that a set of Andy Hardy films would be coming out from the Warner Archive, but didn't have details on the release date.

I'm very happy to say that the Andy Hardy Collection, Volume 1 is now available for purchase from the Archive. The first 400 copies sold, which are now sold out, were autographed by Mickey Rooney. Pretty special!

The movies seem to have been selected somewhat randomly, rather than going in strict chronological order. The six titles included in Volume 1:

YOU'RE ONLY YOUNG ONCE (1937), the second film in the series and the first to star Lewis Stone as Judge Hardy and Fay Holden as Mrs. Hardy. Lionel Barrymore and Spring Byington played the roles in the very first film, A FAMILY AFFAIR (1937). I reviewed the first two films briefly in 2006. Hopefully A FAMILY AFFAIR will be included in a future set.

OUT WEST WITH THE HARDYS (1938), guest starring Ralph Morgan and Virginia Weidler.

JUDGE HARDY AND SON (1939), with June Preisser and Martha O'Driscoll.

ANDY HARDY MEETS DEBUTANTE (1940), with Diana Lewis, who became Mrs. William Powell the same year.

ANDY HARDY'S PRIVATE SECRETARY (1941), featuring the film debut of Kathryn Grayson (pictured at the right).

LIFE BEGINS FOR ANDY HARDY (1941), with Judy Garland and Patricia Dane.

The Archive listing states "Each film in this collection has either been newly remastered, or digitally upgraded from a recent progressive master source. Although none of these films have been 'fully restored,' the result is a distinct improvement in quality, and the first new work done to any of these films in decades."

Fans have been waiting for these films to come to DVD for a long time now, so this is a very exciting release! I'll be looking forward to the release of future volumes in this series.

For information on other recent Archive releases, including the Robert Montgomery Collection, please visit my post of November 17th.