 In 1937, Rooney was selected to portray Andy Hardy in "A Family Affair", which MGM had planned as a B-movie.Rooney provided comic relief as the son of Judge James K. Hardy, portrayed by Lionel Barrymore (although former silent film leading man Lewis Stone played the role of Judge Hardy in subsequent pictures).The film was an unexpected success, and led to 13 more "Andy Hardy" films between 1937 and 1946, and a final film in 1958.