All My Sons (1986) (TV)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Jack O'Brien

Writer:

Arthur Miller (play)

Release Date:

19 January 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | War

Plot:

Two families, related by friendship and love, face up to the consequences of greed and avarice in the post-war years. Love and death play equal roles in determining the outcome of events. |

Plot Keywords:

Love | Death | Tony Award Source | Suicide | Haunted By Past

Cast

James Whitmore	...	Joe Keller
Aidan Quinn	...	Chris Keller
Michael Learned	...	Kate Keller
Joan Allen	...	Ann Deever
Zeljko Ivanek	...	George Deever
Layne Coleman	...	Frank Lubey
Mary Long	...	Lydia
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joanna Miles	...	Sue Bayliss
Alan Scarfe	...	Dr. Jim Bayliss
Marlow Vella	...	Burt

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Trivia:

The original Broadway production of "All My Sons" opened at the Coronet Theater in New York on January 29, 1947, ran for 328 performances and won the 1947 Tony Award (New York City) for the Best Play for the author Arthur Miller. His original script was used as the basis for the screen play for the movie version.

Movie Connections:

Version of "Estudio 1: Todos eran mis hijos" (1967)

James Whitmore's performance is not to be missed.

Set in the boom years following WWII, I missed this little gem when it originally aired in 1986. As soon as I learned that James Whitmore was in the cast, I knew I was guaranteed a brilliant performance. No disappointment there. Don't confuse the title, "All My Sons" with the almost 50 year old Fred MacMurray sitcom of the same name. The resemblance stops there. It was nice seeing the accomplished Michael Learned again, this time in the role of Joe Keller's(James Whitmore's)wife. I particularly enjoyed the intense interaction between James Whitmore's character and 'George'. Not to be overlooked is the performance by the young actor portraying Joe Keller's son, Aiden Quinn. No unnecessary chit-chat filler dialog, every word carefully chosen to lure the audience to the shocking conclusion. I would be remiss in not mentioning Joan Allen's performance as the strong willed Ann Deever, sweetheart of Joe Keller's long missing in action other son. It was no surprise when I learned after the viewing that it was a TV adaptation of an Arthur Miller play. It was great watching the master at work. James Whitmore could act more with a facial expression or a gesture, than a lesser actor with 10 pages of dialog. Cast him in a work like this, and you have cinema magic!