All My Sons (film)
| All My Sons | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Irving Reis |
| Screenplay by | Chester Erskine |
| Based on | the play All My Sons by Arthur Miller |
| Produced by | Chester Erskine |
| Starring | Edward G. Robinson Burt Lancaster |
| Cinematography | Russell Metty |
| Edited by | Ralph Dawson |
| Music by | Leith Stevens |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 94 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $2 million[2] |
All My Sons is a 1948 suspense post-WWII drama directed by Irving Reis, based on Arthur Miller's 1946 play of the same name, and starring Edward G. Robinson and Burt Lancaster. The supporting cast features Louisa Horton, Mady Christians, Howard Duff, Arlene Francis, and Harry Morgan.[3]
Plot[edit]
Joe Keller is sorry to hear son Chris plans to wed Ann Deever and move to Chicago, for he hoped Chris would someday take over the manufacturing business Joe built from the ground up.
Ann's father Herb was Joe’s business partner, but when both men were charged with shipping defective airplane parts that resulted in wartime crashes and deaths, only Herb was convicted and sent to prison.
Another son of the Kellers' is in the Army air corps, missing in action and presumed dead. Ann used to be engaged to him and her engagement to his brother upsets Kate Keller, who hasn't yet accepted that son Larry is gone for good.
Ann's attorney brother George strongly discourages her from marrying a Keller, and many in town still whisper that Joe was responsible for the death of twenty-one pilots. A war widow even calls Joe a murderer to his face in a restaurant.
On a visit to Ann's father in prison, Chris hears how Joe called in sick on the one day the Army came to pick up the airplane parts. Joe admits to Chris that he knew they were defective, but repairs would have been costly and could have bankrupted the business. Chris strikes his father in anger at hearing this.
A letter from Larry reveals that he knew of his father's guilt and intended to go on a suicide mission in a plane, no longer wanting to live with the family's shame. This is the final disgrace for Joe, who shoots himself. Chris and Ann leave together with Kate's blessing to their future.
Cast[edit]
- Edward G. Robinson as Joe Keller
- Burt Lancaster as Chris Keller
- Louisa Horton as Ann Deever
- Mady Christians as Kate Keller
- Frank Conroy as Herb Deever
- Howard Duff as George Deever
- Lloyd Gough as Jim Bayliss
- Arlene Francis as Sue Bayliss
- Harry Morgan as Frank Lubey (as Henry Morgan)
- Elisabeth Fraser as Lydia Lubey
Production[edit]
Reportedly Burt Lancaster postponed his own first production, Kiss the Blood Off My Hands in order to take the role of Chris, an ex-GI who initially idolizes his father, not knowing what he has done.[4]
Reception[edit]
Box Office[edit]
The film made a relatively small loss for Universal.[2]
Critical response[edit]
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In his film review, critic Bosley Crowther contrasted Arthur Miller's play to the screenplay. While stating that the screenplay was more restrained, he praised the acting. He wrote, "In the role of this rugged individualist, Mr. Robinson does a superior job of showing the shades of personality in a little tough guy who has a softer side. Arrogant, ruthless, and dynamic in those moments when his 'business' is at stake, he is also tender and considerate in the presence of those he loves ... As the right-thinking son of this corrupt man, Burt Lancaster is surprisingly good and, although he appears a bit dim-witted at times, that is not implausible. Louisa Horton is natural as his sweetheart and Mady Christians plays the mother intensely. Irving Reis' direction is slightly stilted in some scenes but generally matches the tempo of a fluid script".[5]
Accolades[edit]
Nominations
- Writers Guild of America Award: Best Written American Drama - Chester Erskine; The Robert Meltzer Award (Screenplay Dealing Most Ably with Problems of the American Scene) - Chester Erskine; 1949.
References[edit]
- ^ All My Sons at the American Film Institute Catalog
- ^ a b "Diana Pic Top U Loser". Variety. 2 February 1949. p. 6.
- ^ All My Sons at the American Film Institute Catalog.
- ^ Hollywood Vineyard. The Film Daily, trade magazine, Sept 8, 1947. Accessed: October 9, 2019.
- ^ Crowther, Bosley. The New York Times, film review, March 29, 1948. Accessed: August 12, 2013.
External links[edit]
- All My Sons at IMDb
- All My Sons at AllMovie
- All My Sons at the TCM Movie Database
- All My Sons at Letterboxd
- All My Sons at Rotten Tomatoes
- All My Sons film trailer on YouTube
Streaming audio[edit]
- All My Sons on Screen Directors Playhouse: December 2, 1949