The Jeffersons are the ideal picture-perfect all-American family in a small town, but their eldest son John returns home after a long absence spouting views that cause them to worry he may b... Read allThe Jeffersons are the ideal picture-perfect all-American family in a small town, but their eldest son John returns home after a long absence spouting views that cause them to worry he may be a Communist.The Jeffersons are the ideal picture-perfect all-American family in a small town, but their eldest son John returns home after a long absence spouting views that cause them to worry he may be a Communist.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 win & 1 nomination total
- College Professor
- (scenes deleted)
- Jail Matron
- (scenes deleted)
- FBI Agent
- (scenes deleted)
- Parcel Post Man
- (scenes deleted)
- Secretary
- (scenes deleted)
- Professor
- (scenes deleted)
- Ruth Carlin
- (scenes deleted)
- Taxi Driver
- (uncredited)
- Government Employee
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaParts of the film were rewritten after actor Robert Walker (John Jefferson) died during production. Several scenes use a double shot from behind, and others recycle footage of Walker from Strangers on a Train (1951). The final scene, where a recording of John delivers an anti-communist speech, is lit with a halo around the tape-recorder.
- Quotes
Dan Jefferson: John!
John Jefferson: Oh, Father, let's not go into it any more.
Dan Jefferson: Now I've, I've got another subject for you.
Dan Jefferson: As your father, you and I are going to have a talk, a good talk, away from your Mother. And it's about you, son.
John Jefferson: Well, if you'd enjoy it, Father...
Dan Jefferson: Well, I don't know whether you will. But as I told you, we're alert. And we ARE alert.
John Jefferson: You just said that.
Dan Jefferson: Yes, and you sound to me like, like one of those guys that we should be alert about.
John Jefferson: One of those guys?
Dan Jefferson: I just said that you sounded like one, I didn't say that you... 'cos if thought that you really were, you know, I'd take you out in the backyard and I'd give it you, both barrels.
John Jefferson: No trial, huh?
Dan Jefferson: Nah, you're off on the wrong slant. And you know what I'm talking about. Cos as your father, I want to know where you're headed.
John Jefferson: Well, I can help you there. I'm headed for the bathroom, wash my hands and clean up for dinner.
- ConnectionsEdited from Strangers on a Train (1951)
Robert Walker plays "My Son John" Jefferson, whom you recognize immediately as an insidious Commie agent because he creeps like a rat through the shadows wearing a long overcoat with the collar turned up and a broad-brimmed hat pulled down over his eyes, passing secret papers to similarly dressed fifth columnists at night behind Washington monuments.
But John is more than stealthful and insidious: he is sarcastic to his priest (Frank McHugh) and disrespectful to his long-suffering mother (Helen Hayes), which motivates his father (Dean Jagger) to beat him over the head with the family Bible as John kneels at his feet. (Dr. Freud, please put down your note pad). When the family physician (Minor Watson) explains that research scientists are guided by Divine Inspiration while searching for cures to diseases and John sneers, "I see - He hides things and then He helps us find them!" one wonders exactly to whom (or against whom) this propaganda is directed.
"If you don't like your Uncle Sammy," thunders Dean Jagger, former Doughboy, thumping his chest and marching around the living room, "Go back to your home o'er the sea!" - an obvious warning to any fellow traveling pinkos sitting in the audience (or hiding behind studio typewriters), wearing long overcoats with their collars turned up and broad-brimmed hats pulled down low over their eyes.
We don't watch movies to seek out their faults and laugh at their foibles: we want to enjoy them. Suspension of disbelief and a generous tolerance allows us to accept most films of the 30's, 40's and 50's at face value; as we would overlook the primitive special effects of those decades compared to those of our own; as we ignore the fact that clouds don't move on sound stages and the spokes of wagon wheels always seem to be revolving backwards. But it's difficult, if not impossible, to take this silly, pedantic film seriously. Obviously the director and the actors responsible for its production did not, or they would have used their talents (which are formidable) to make a better picture.
When you tire of scoffing, you will lament the waste of talent: Helen Hayes was the First Lady of the American Theater; Robert Walker was one of the finest up and coming young actors of his generation, equally gifted in both drama and comedy; Dean Jagger, Frank McHugh, and Minor Watson were top notch supporting players for over 40 years, from the early talkies well into their old age; and the legendary Leo McCarey, whose long list of screen credits includes "Duck Soup" with the Marx Brothers, and "Going My Way" with Bing Crosby, for which he won the Best Director Oscar in 1945, was also the genius who introduced Mr. Laurel to Mr. Hardy.
This film is not available on either VHS or DVD and to my knowledge is never, shown on TV. It's been years, indeed, decades, since I last saw it. One question, that the film makes no attempt to answer, continues to linger: what was there about John's God-fearing, patriotic upbringing by his overbearing but obviously loving parents that made him join that Communist Party which was so committed to the violent overthrow of American middle-class society and values?
- pae-sk
- Dec 1, 2001
- How long is My Son John?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $1,000,000
- Runtime2 hours 2 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1