All My Sons (1987) (TV)

Director:

Jack O'Brien

Writer:

Arthur Miller (play)

Release Date:

19 January 1987 (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 | Crying | WWII

Cast

  (Credited 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)

a superior filmed stage play

The second TV version of Arthur Miller's first successful play puts a highly talented group of actors together and gives them the gift of good staging, inspired direction, and a thorough understanding of what the play is about. As often happens with Miller, family members war with each other due to mutual misunderstanding and an emotional experience ensues before a resolution of sorts.

The problematic family here are the Kellers, headed by veteran actor James Whitmore as dad Joe and Walton mum Michael Learned as mum Kate. Their children are played by the impossibly blue-eyed Aidan Quinn as Chris, Zeljko Ivanek (who never did quite make it in movies) as George, and Joan Allen (who would appear in The Crucible a decade later on the big screen) as Ann.

An interesting play in a good adaptation, although with no sense of cinema or television ('The Crucible' would be a good example of what the cinema could add to Miller's work). But with acting and writing this good, it is fabulous just to have a permanent record, whether you are a student of Arthur Miller's plays or not.