"My Son John" was made at the height of the McCarthy House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) communist witch hunt, so expect some patriotic flag waving.
It's the story of the Jefferson family who live in an un-named typical American town living typical American lives. Mother Lucille (Helen Hayes) is a sickly nervous person who is proud of her family, Father Dan (Dean Jagger) is president of the local Legion and both are staunch Catholics. Sons Chuck (Richard Jaeckel) and Ben (James Young) are football playing brothers who have just joined the army to go fight the evil in Korea. But then there is John (Robert Walker).
John has returned from abroad a changed man. He no longer agrees with his father's views and much to his mother's anguish and that of Parish Priest Father O'Dowd (Frank McHugh), refuses to attend Sunday mass during his visit home. He receives phone calls from a mysterious woman and dashes off to secret meetings without explanation. He announces that he is to be awarded an honorary degree by an un-named university where he is scheduled to give the commencement address.
Dan and Lucille are involved in a minor traffic accident with a stranger named Stedman (Van Heflin). Stedman is an FBI agent who uses the accident to gain the confidence of the Jeffersons. Tension grows between John and his father, particularly when John "makes notes" on a patriotic speech Dan is to make to his Legion colleagues.
Stedman identifies himself to Lucille who becomes distraught over the thought that her eldest son may be a communist. In a disagreement with Dan, John is struck by the old man and tears his trousers. John, who has to leave suddenly, Leaves the trouser behind and asks his mother to donate them to the church rummage sale. Unfortunately, John had left a incriminating key in the trousers and excitedly gets his mother to retrieve it. Curious and still not believing that John is a communist, flies to Washington and goes to the apartment of the female communist sympathizer who has just been exposed.
Shocked, Lucille returns home and now realizes that John had been involved with this woman. She confronts him. And in the highlight of the film, she pleads with him to change his ways before it is too late. John at first refuses. When his mother's health begins to fail, he relents and promise to right his wrongs by changing his planned commencement speech. John's colleagues fearing that he will expose them have him killed.
John, however, had recorded the speech beforehand and it is this that is played before the graduating class vindicating him in the eyes of his parents.
The film has some slow spots and an overlong running time. There is no action to speak of until the end. Helen Hayes plea to her wayward son is the highlight of the movie as she begs him on bended knee to reform. Robert Walker, who died before his scenes were completes, gives another sinister performance as John. His missing scenes were completed using a double and out takes from his previous film "Strangers On a Train" (1951). Kudos also to Dean Jagger as the flag waving father. He rarely had a leading role like this one.
It's the story of the Jefferson family who live in an un-named typical American town living typical American lives. Mother Lucille (Helen Hayes) is a sickly nervous person who is proud of her family, Father Dan (Dean Jagger) is president of the local Legion and both are staunch Catholics. Sons Chuck (Richard Jaeckel) and Ben (James Young) are football playing brothers who have just joined the army to go fight the evil in Korea. But then there is John (Robert Walker).
John has returned from abroad a changed man. He no longer agrees with his father's views and much to his mother's anguish and that of Parish Priest Father O'Dowd (Frank McHugh), refuses to attend Sunday mass during his visit home. He receives phone calls from a mysterious woman and dashes off to secret meetings without explanation. He announces that he is to be awarded an honorary degree by an un-named university where he is scheduled to give the commencement address.
Dan and Lucille are involved in a minor traffic accident with a stranger named Stedman (Van Heflin). Stedman is an FBI agent who uses the accident to gain the confidence of the Jeffersons. Tension grows between John and his father, particularly when John "makes notes" on a patriotic speech Dan is to make to his Legion colleagues.
Stedman identifies himself to Lucille who becomes distraught over the thought that her eldest son may be a communist. In a disagreement with Dan, John is struck by the old man and tears his trousers. John, who has to leave suddenly, Leaves the trouser behind and asks his mother to donate them to the church rummage sale. Unfortunately, John had left a incriminating key in the trousers and excitedly gets his mother to retrieve it. Curious and still not believing that John is a communist, flies to Washington and goes to the apartment of the female communist sympathizer who has just been exposed.
Shocked, Lucille returns home and now realizes that John had been involved with this woman. She confronts him. And in the highlight of the film, she pleads with him to change his ways before it is too late. John at first refuses. When his mother's health begins to fail, he relents and promise to right his wrongs by changing his planned commencement speech. John's colleagues fearing that he will expose them have him killed.
John, however, had recorded the speech beforehand and it is this that is played before the graduating class vindicating him in the eyes of his parents.
The film has some slow spots and an overlong running time. There is no action to speak of until the end. Helen Hayes plea to her wayward son is the highlight of the movie as she begs him on bended knee to reform. Robert Walker, who died before his scenes were completes, gives another sinister performance as John. His missing scenes were completed using a double and out takes from his previous film "Strangers On a Train" (1951). Kudos also to Dean Jagger as the flag waving father. He rarely had a leading role like this one.