Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > Harry & Son (1984)

Harry & Son (1984) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 8 | slideshow)

Overview

User Rating:
5.7/10   746 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 19% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Paul Newman
Writers:
Ronald Buck (writer)
Paul Newman (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for Harry & Son on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
2 March 1984 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama more
Tagline:
They're two men with nothing in common. They're father and son. more
Awards:
1 nomination more
User Comments:
"Just Part Of The Ritual" more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Paul Newman ... Harry Keach
Robby Benson ... Howard Keach

Ellen Barkin ... Katie Wilowski
Wilford Brimley ... Tom Keach
Judith Ivey ... Sally

Ossie Davis ... Raymond

Morgan Freeman ... Siemanowski

Joanne Woodward ... Lilly
Katherine Borowitz ... Nina
Maury Chaykin ... Lawrence
Michael Brockman ... Al
Cathy Cahill ... Waitress
Robert Goodman ... Andy

Tom Nowicki ... Tommy
Claudia Robinson ... Nurse
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Harry and Son (USA) (alternative spelling)
more
Runtime:
120 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Iceland:L | Australia:PG | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Norway:12 | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:7 | USA:PG

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Tom Cruise auditioned for the role of 'Howard Keach'. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Dèmoni (1985) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
9 out of 10 people found the following comment useful:-
"Just Part Of The Ritual", 4 March 1999
Author: Michael Coy (michael.coy@virgin.net) from London, England

You see, it can be done. It is possible, even in the last decades of the 20th century, to make a good feature film that concentrates on character and eschews action. We don't need car chases to help us through the story, because we care about Harry and Howie and want to see what befalls them. Paul Newman co-wrote, directed and produced this absorbing tale of father and son, continuing his long tradition of intelligent movie-making.

Harry works the wrecking ball on a demolition site. He is a gruff, inarticulate fifty-something who likes his job. Howie is maybe 20, a dreamy young man who wants to be a writer. He has no real work, dividing his time between the car wash where he has a part-time job, his surf board and the family's hot tub, in which he does most of his writing.

And therein lies the conflict which drives this story. Harry was brought up not to question the importance of working for a living. His inflexible blue-collar morality is offended by Howie's lazy, self-indulgent lifestyle. Howie, on the other hand, grew up in a climate where self-expression and leisure activities count for more than the humdrum business of earning a living.

A medical condition forces Harry out of his job. Newman is impressive as the ageing, weakening man's man who is gutted by the loss of his livelihood, because to him it means the loss of his validity as a man. He sees Howie's vitality and intelligence and cannot come to terms with his son's lack of ambition. In one of their regular fights, Harry encapsulates the situation neatly. "I want a job and can't get one," he tells Howie. "You can, and don't."

Bright and personable, if a little too pretty in the John Travolta way, Bobby Benson plays Howie with enthusiasm. The contrast between the dour widower and his cheerful, energetic son is nicely conveyed. Supporting the two central performances are Joanne Woodward as Lillie and Ellen Barkin (Katie). Lillie is a friend of the family who develops a 'thing' about Harry. Her daughter Katie is a girl of easy morals whose relationship with Howie rekindles after a break-up.

Nice touches include the black screen at the very start which is shattered by Harry's wrecking ball, and the backlighting which gives Katie a 'halo' as she sets out her ethical position. I didn't like the too-convenient cheque which arrives from John Davidson or the ease with which secretary Sally can be suborned for sex. For me, Benson overacts horribly in the 'discovery' scene. Indeed, what happens to Harry is an unnecessarily dramatic event in this gentle, understated film.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Harry & Son (1984)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Filming locations? sd_mike
Strange, but could not stop watching Robby Benson bertoele
All Robby Benson!!!!!!!!!! dataconflossmoor
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Full Moon in Blue Water The Kite Runner Stevie Runt Martian Child
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Drama section IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.