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My Son John

9 votes

In this Cold War drama, a woman suspects her son is a Communist spy.

Status: Released

Released Date: 1952-04-08

Runtime: 122 mins

Director: Leo McCarey

Spoken language: English

Genres: Drama

Original title: My Son John

Production Companies: Rainbow Productions, Paramount Pictures

Production Countries: United States of America

Cast

Helen Hayes

Van Heflin

Dean Jagger

Robert Walker

Minor Watson

Frank McHugh

Richard Jaeckel

James Young

Taxi Driver (uncredited)

Jimmie Dundee

Government Employee (uncredited)

Douglas Evans

Nurse (uncredited)

Nancy Hale

Professor at Graduation Ceremony (uncredited)

Sam Harris

Bedford (uncredited)

Todd Karns

John Jefferson (voice) (uncredited)

Leo McCarey

Reviews

Geronimo1967

When we get to the very end of this film we get some sort of explanation, but for the most part I was uncomfortably in the dark as to the goings-on at the “Jefferson” home. “Dan” (Dean Jagger) and wife “Lucille” (Helen Hayes) have three sons. Two are in the army, the third “John” (Robert Walker) has recently returned home from Washington, but seems out of sorts. He no longer wants to go to church, is uninterested in his old friends and haunts and he also takes phone calls from people who don’t want to leave messages. Curious, but not really suspicious, his parents have a shunt in their car with the visiting “Stedman” (Van Heflin) who initially laughs it off, then he comes calling for his $18-odd for the repair, then - well his presence and the tone of the film both take a more sinister turn. It’s an America where communist paranoia permeates everywhere, even small towns where gossips are quick to put two and two together and end up with whatever they want to. Question is. Who exactly is “John” now? I found the story all too thin and meandering and for it to have resonated it needed something more substantial to sustain it as it dragged along for just over the two hours. That said, though, there is one stand-out effort and that comes from Helen Hayes. Jagger is always safe pair of hands, but it is Hayes whose character becomes more and more confused, conflicted and uncertain that delivers a powerful characterisation as we head to the conclusion that tests every ounce of her mother’s love. That finish, in itself, has a foreboding and/or empowering message to it but you can hear that for yourself if you make it that far. Perhaps if it was half an hour shorter and much more focused, it might have worked better. As it is, it is regularly quite dull.

2025-07-21

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