All My Sons (1948)

During WW2, industrialist Joe Keller commits a crime and frames his business partner Herbert Deever but years later his sin comes back to haunt him when Joe's son plans to marry Deever's daughter.

Director:

Irving Reis

Writers:

Arthur Miller (based on the play by), Chester Erskine (written for the screen by)

Stars:

Edward G. Robinson, Burt Lancaster, Mady Christians

2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Edward G. Robinson	...	Joe Keller
Burt Lancaster	...	Chris Keller
Mady Christians	...	Kate Keller
Louisa Horton	...	Ann Deever
Howard Duff	...	George Deever
Frank Conroy	...	Herbert Deever
Lloyd Gough	...	Jim Bayliss
Arlene Francis	...	Sue Bayliss
Harry Morgan	...	Frank Lubey (as Henry Morgan)
Elisabeth Fraser	...	Lydia Lubey

Storyline

All My Sons tells the story of Joe Keller, a successful, middle-aged, self-made man who has done a terrible and tragic thing. He framed his business partner for a crime and engineered his own exoneration. Now, his son is about to marry the partner's daughter, the affair is revisited, and his lie of a life is unraveled.

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Plot Keywords:

deception | partner | self made man | world war two | war widow | 

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Taglines:

All your days you will remember ... all my sons.

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Genres:

Drama | Film-Noir

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

The band Twenty 0ne Pilots got its name from the play's villains' prior casualties which continue to haunt two families and the lives they touched and ended.

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Goofs

When Joe comes out of the house upon Annie's arrival, he comes down the front steps and walks into the yard with his arms raised. In the next instant, he's back at the steps and his arms are down.

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Quotes

Jim Bayliss: Put her to bed, Joe. Both of you go to bed. Staying up won't help; sleep will. Sleep's a wonderful thing, the best thing about living.

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Connections

Referenced in The Universal Story (1996)

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Soundtracks

You'll Never Know
(1943) (uncredited)
Music by Harry Warren
Played on piano by Louisa Horton

User Reviews

All My Sons- For Social Justice and Humanity ***1/2

Excellent film dealing with Arthur Miller's story of a man who sold defective plane parts to the military during World War 11 resulting in the death of many pilots.

Edward G. Robinson gave us an outstanding performance as the conflicted individual, who did this for his own selfish-interests only to escape prosecution but to see his partner jailed.

This is a story of intense inter-family conflicts. The partner's daughter was to be married to Joe's (Robinson's) son Larry in the film. The picture begins with the fact that Larry is missing in action. Ann, played by Louisa Horton, is now becoming engaged to Joe's other son, Chris, played with marvelous insight by a young Burt Lancaster.

Mady Christians is also a standout as Joe's devoted wife, who herself is in denial that Larry is probably dead and knowing full well what her husband did was wrong.

This is a terrific film dealing with moral conflict and the ultimate tragic resolution to it.

You have to wonder what Edward G. Robinson had to do to be nominated for an academy award.

This is Arthur Miller at his best writing. A truly American classic.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

May 1948 (USA)

Also Known As:

All My Sons

Filming Locations:

Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1