My Son John (1952)
Average Rating: 5.6/10
Reviews Counted: 5
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 2
No consensus yet.
Release Date: Jan 1, 1952 Wide
liked it
Average Rating: 2.7/5
User Ratings: 72
My Rating
Movie Info
Filled with the kind of Red Scare propaganda that must have delighted members of McCarthy's House Un-American Activities Committee, this drama chronicles the attempts of two All-American parents to save their son from the temptations of Communism. Unfortunately, they are too late. The arrogant and intellectual young man, a worker in a federal agency, returns home from a long absence spouting pro-Ruskie doctrine and deriding the beliefs of capitalism and US at every opportunity. Enraged at his
Jan 1, 1952 Wide
Watch It Now
Cast
-
Helen Hayes
Lucille Jefferson -
Van Heflin
Stedman of the FBI -
Robert Walker
John Jefferson -
Dean Jagger
Dan Jefferson -
Minor Watson
Dr. Carvey -
Frank McHugh
Fr. O'Dowd -
Richard Jaeckel
Chuck Jefferson -
-
Jimmie Dundee
Taxi Driver -
Douglas Evans
Government Employee -
Nancy Hale
Nurse -
Todd Karns
Bedford -
William McLean
Parcel Post Man -
Frances Morris
Secretary -
David Newell
FBI Agent -
Erskine Sanford
Professor -
Margaret Wells
Nurse -
Irene Winston
Ruth Carlin -
Gail Bonney
Jail Matron -
Eghiche Harout
College Professor -
James Young
Ben Jefferson -
ADVERTISEMENT
All Critics (5) | Fresh (3) | Rotten (2)
Paranoiac emotionally overwrought Red Menace drama.
The movie is swathed in very thoughtful shades of gray almost throughout.
Leo McCarey's sociopolitical hysterectomy finally hits home video in a Blu-ray that appears downright ashamed of its contents.
Leo McCarey (better known for his screwball comedies) has made an agit-prop, an overtly political film that reflects the fear and paranoia generated by McCarthy in the 1950s.
Robin Wood has written about how McCarey loves romantic couples but seems to loathe families, and this point is borne out most harrowingly in My Son John, the skeleton film in his closet, and one of the most personally revealing.
Audience Reviews for My Son John
Super Reviewer
Discussion Forum
There are no discussion threads for My Son John yet.
What's Hot On RT
The Last Stand, Side Effects
Trailer for new Coen Bros movie
Fast & Furious cars gallery
Blockbusters ranked!
Featured on RT
- Parental Guidance: Epic and Beautiful Creatures 0
- Comic Book Movies You Can Watch Online 2
- In Pictures: The Cars of Fast & Furious 0
- Digital Multiplex: Warm Bodies and Aftershock 6
- Discover the Best-Reviewed Films in Summer Movie Scorecard 2013 0
- RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: The Last Stand and Side Effects 17
- Box Office Guru Wrapup: Star Trek Softer Than Expected at #1 87
Top Headlines
-
Vin Diesel Says Fast & Furious 7 Will Take Place in L.A.
0
-
10 Things You (Probably) Don't Know About the Hangover Movies
1
-
Zack Snyder, Christopher Nolan, and David S. Goyer Talk Man of Steel
0
-
New Transporter Trilogy in the Works
0
-
Richard Linklater Plans "Spiritual Sequel" to Dazed and Confused
0
-
King of Kong Filmmaker Seeks Funding for Lost Limb Documentary
0
-
Which Film Franchise Has Been the Best for Female Characters?
6
Fresh Links
Featured
Star Trek Movies Ranked
HitFix offers their own take on the worst-to-best of the Enterprise crew's cinematic adventures.
Top 10 Star Trek Villains
Rolling Stone unveils the Enterprise's most irksome adversaries.
Celebrity Yearkbook Flashback
We'll bet you never realized how many stars were cheerleaders and high school athletes!
50 Most Classic Movie Moms
In celebration of Mother's Day, TimeOut offers up 50 iconic matriarchs from the big screen.
Weirdest Movie Siblings
From Twins to The Royal Tenenbaums, Moviefone explores cinema's oddest siblings.
Promos
Follow RT on Twitter!
Spice up your feed with hourly Tomatometer updates!
