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My Son John

Play trailer Poster for My Son John Released Apr 8, 1952 2h 2m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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40% Tomatometer 10 Reviews 21% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Wholesome American husband and wife Dan (Dean Jagger) and Lucille (Helen Hayes) are disgusted when their son, John (Robert Walker), a government worker, begins exhibiting pro-Communist tendencies. Despite his parents' interrogations -- and the intervention of a government worker who tells the couple their son is an undercover spy -- John maintains his innocence, but it soon becomes clear that he is lying. John eventually has a change of heart about his unpatriotic deeds, but it may be too late.

Critics Reviews

View All (10) Critics Reviews
Bob Thomas Associated Press Its intentions are of the highest calibre; unfortunately the entertainment qualities are not. Jul 24, 2019 Full Review Joseph Jon Lanthier Slant Magazine Leo McCarey's sociopolitical hysterectomy finally hits home video in a Blu-ray that appears downright ashamed of its contents. Aug 21, 2012 Full Review James Baldwin The Devil Finds Work Nothing can possibly redeem so grisly a species of sentimental dishonesty, but Robert Walker's gleefully vicious parody of the wayward American son does a great deal to demystify it. May 1, 2024 Full Review Nell Dodson Russell Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder My Son John proves once again that Hollywood believes the only way to tackle a "problem" film is to belabor a point even at the sacrifice of realism. Jan 15, 2022 Full Review Manny Farber The New Leader It is done with such earnestness as to be slow-moving, but the actors are masters of intricate timing and intonation and have the easy spontaneity and control to put across a story that is mostly talk in parlor, bedroom, and bath. Sep 15, 2021 Full Review Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine ... the implications of the story may prove distasteful to many a ticket - buyer who thoroughly detests the horrors of a police state. Oct 28, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (8) audience reviews
Steve D Attacking communism is something I can get behind. It still can't be the only motive for your film. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 04/06/24 Full Review SICKS6SIX S made at the height of the anti-communist fear tearing America apart, amazed it got made considering the McCarthy purge on Hollywood, as for the film, it wanders about aimlessly when viewed today but in 1951 I'm sure it caused a stir, the old ideas set against the new reflected in john and his parents, the acting is quality, the story could have been so much better, dare I say more daring, but getting black listed was a very real threat back then, watch it and see, its better than some and not as good as others, middle of the road, Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Audience Member filled with anti-communist propaganda this is more notably robert walker's last picture, he died while still in production and some shots of him were borrowed from 'strangers on a train' for the death scenes. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member A very problematic picture. The politics are appalling, but it's still a domestic drama worth seeing. The most effective scenes (and they are very moving) don't dwell on politics so much as the mother's anguish of losing the child she once knew. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Audience Member Paikoittain melko huvittava antikommunistinen draama ja ajankuvaus. Kuitenkin liian pitkäveteinen ja raskassoutuinen että ollakseen "niin huono että on hauska". Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Audience Member Somewhat paranoic drama looking at the perceived communist threat in the 40's and 50's. Overwrought in both direction and performance-Helen Hayes in particular seems on the very verge throughtout the film. Walker died suddenly during the making of the film and his performance was completed by cobbling together outtakes from Strangers on a Train and the use of a stand-in in some scenes, it's easy to pick out most of the those where this was done and it cast an odd pall over the picture. A strange experience. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Read all reviews
My Son John

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My Son John

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Movie Info

Synopsis Wholesome American husband and wife Dan (Dean Jagger) and Lucille (Helen Hayes) are disgusted when their son, John (Robert Walker), a government worker, begins exhibiting pro-Communist tendencies. Despite his parents' interrogations -- and the intervention of a government worker who tells the couple their son is an undercover spy -- John maintains his innocence, but it soon becomes clear that he is lying. John eventually has a change of heart about his unpatriotic deeds, but it may be too late.
Director
Leo McCarey
Producer
Leo McCarey
Screenwriter
Myles Connolly, Leo McCarey
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 8, 1952, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Oct 1, 2015
Runtime
2h 2m