The 1942 film "The Courtship of Andy Hardy" is based one of a series of films made from 1937 to 1946 about a young man living with his family in the fictional midwestern town of Carvel. Andy Hardy was portrayed by actor Mickey Rooney and these films were extremely popular during the period. Andy likes girls and is always getting into trouble with them. In this film Andy's father, a judge, is overseeing the divorce of the Nesbits who have a teenage daughter Melodie. Melodie has been greatly affected by her parents's arguing and is shy and unpopular. Andy Hardy has just graduated from high school and is headed to college in the fall. Judge Hardy asks Andy to escort the plain Melodie to a school dance and to ensure that she has a good time. Andy offers money to some other boys to dance with her. Andy flashes coins to signal that he wants another boy to "cut in" and dance with Melodie. The coins are portrayed by an unusual prop coin, the Prosperity Lucky Ship Good Luck Coin.

Andy has graduated from high school and has been working as an automobile mechanic for a garage. He owns an old well-used car known as a "jalopy" and is using it as a tow truck.

Andy tows a damaged car to the garage and the car's owner accuses Andy of stealing it.

Judge James Hardy, Andy, his sister Marian, Aunt Milly, Mrs. Emily Hardy.

Andy talks to his father about the stolen car charge and his father agrees to investigate it. Judge Hardy then mentions the Nesbit divorce and asks Andy to take the Nesbit daughter Melodie on dates. Andy has a steady girl friend Polly but she is out of the area for the summer. Andy calls Melodie and asks her to a dance being held at the high school.

Melodie is supposed to be plain and unattractive. Andy approaches his friends and asks them to dance with Melodie.

The friends do not want to dance with Melodie until Andy offers them money and IOU's (I Owe You notes). Andy signals to the boys that he wants one to take over the dance with Melodie.

The coin appears to be the size of a half dollar or 50 cent coin.

Andy waves the coin around to attract attention.

The coin is a Prosperity Lucky Ship Good Luck Coin.

A Prosperity Lucky Ship Good Luck Coin:

White metal, 30 mm, 10.38 gm
Obverse:
Woman standing holding cornucopia, rising sun to right
PROSPERITY / 1932 / LUCKY COIN
Reverse:
Sailing ship facing right
LUCKY SHIP / SUCCESS TO YOU

For more about this coin please visit: Prosperity Lucky Ship Good Luck Coin

One boy accepts the offer and takes the coin.

The boy dances with Melodie and during the dance a boy named Harry Land notices Melodie and refuses to take money to dance with her. After the dance ends Andy takes Melodie home.

Andy gives Melodie some advice including to wear a black dress and to have her hair styled. Andy escorts Melodie to the next dance.

Andy sees his friends and makes the same financial arrangement with them. All are surprised when the "new" Melodie makes an entrance.

Andy is able to retrieve his money and IOU's from the boys who now want dances with Melodie.

Back in town Judge Hardy sees the Nesbits.

The film has a happy ending: Judge Hardy settles the Nesbit divorce by convincing the couple to get along and to be nicer to Melodie who now has a steady boyfriend in Harry Land. The owner of the "stolen" car has accepted Andy's explanation that he did not steal it. Andy's girlfriend Polly has returned and they are back together.

The end frame has a notice attached:

The film was released in March of 1942. By this time the United States was involved in World War II and Defense Bonds were renamed War Bonds.

Mickey Rooney as Andy Hardy
Cecilia Parker as Marian Hardy
Lewis Stone as Judge James K. Hardy
Fay Holden as Mrs. Emily Hardy
Ann Rutherford as Polly Benedict
Sara Haden as Aunt Milly Forrest
Donna Reed as Melodie Eunice Nesbit
Director: George B. Seitz
Writers: Agnes Christine Johnston, Aurania Rouverol