My Son John (1952)

User Rating:

4.8/10   

Director:

Leo McCarey

Writers:

Myles Connolly (writer)
John Lee Mahin (adaptation)

Release Date:

8 April 1952 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Helen Hayes	...	Lucille Jefferson
Van Heflin	...	Stedman
Dean Jagger	...	Dan Jefferson
Robert Walker	...	John Jefferson
Minor Watson	...	Dr. Carver
Frank McHugh	...	Father O'Dowd
Richard Jaeckel	...	Chuck Jefferson
James R. Young	...	Ben Jefferson (as James Young)

Runtime:

USA:122 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-16

Company:

Rainbow Productions

Trivia:

Parts of the film were rewritten after actor Robert Walker (John Jefferson) died during production. Several scenes use a double shot from behind, and others recycle footage of Walker from Strangers on a Train (1951). The final scene, where a recording of John delivers an anti-communist speech, is lit with a halo around the tape-recorder.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Hearts and Minds (1974)

In its way, a historical document.

In its way, this film is a historical document (albeit a misguided one), and certainly a product of its time. Made at the height of the infamous red scare, "My Son John" is so fervent in its anti-Communist message that it becomes somewhat fascinating as a piece of social history. Given the overwrought script, the film is not without a talented cast - the great theatrical actress Helen Hayes is actually quite good as the mother, Dean Jagger is OK as the father (although it's not one of his best performances) and Robert Walker is fine as the son who is the object of his parent's suspicions. (Walker actually died before filming was finished, so some scenes were shot with a double or prepared with footage from Walker's earlier film "Strangers On A Train", or re-written to exclude Walker's character or requiring his presence.)

In response to another reviewer, who wondered who had actually seen this film - I saw it a couple of times on Canadian television, the last time being in December, 1990. To my knowledge, it hasn't been shown on Canadian TV (at least in my viewing area) since that time.