Evening star., 1952-05-08


surprising because McCarey started
with a sound dramatic idea and
q whale of q cast. The latter,
headed by Miss Helen Hayes, is
betrayed along with McCarey by
the producer-director's passion in
the handling of his film theme.
That theme is political, the ef-
feet of a leftward reeling son
on what purports to be an average
American family. The setting is
Washington to large extent and
it could be that the seething po-
litical atmosphere of the place
unbalanced McCarey, too. It has
had that effect upon a great many
otherwise normal humans al
though relatively few Of them
have been movie makers.
In spite Of its artistic dizziness,
"My Son John" is likely to prove
q profitable picture if only be-
cause everyone would like to get
into the controversy over it. This
should compensate McCarey even
as it teaches him that politics can
leave a man with innumerable
wounds to lick. Among its victims
are many more expert than Nc
Carey at that trade.
The lugubrious effect of "My
Son John," one of which has never
happened to McCarey before, is
that it becomes virtually a parody
of what it sets out to be. Some of
its more intensely serious Sc
quences turn out almost comic.
Others, including even some dom
mated by Miss Hayes, come close
to being embarrassingly over
played. i
Both faults, and the tendency
OF the characters to become
caricatureS, are to be laid to
McCarey's direction and his
land Myles Connolly's) story.
There are times, wistfully enough.
when the villain played by Robert
Walker, seems to be the most
sensible character in the film.
Movie directors, at least, should
not become so hotly emotional
when they discuss politics.
MY Son John" is family
life story. It is a troubled life
due to the circumstance that
Miss Hayes son John (Walker)
seems to be renouncing the fami-
ly'S Catholicism for Marxism.
The boy is working in Washington,
running around with the wrong
set especially a girl who seems
to be highly suspected by the
FBI. When he does not come
home to see his healthy, foot
ball player brothers off to Korea,
the family takes it as a bad sign.
Most particularly affected is
the father, a loyal American
Legion member and a vehement |
conformist who might well bore
a sensitive. intelligent son into
political liberalism. This stolid |
parent, played by Dean Jaeger,
Is the nearest thing to a carica-
ture in MY Son john" His
speciality. the song IF You Don't
Like Your Uncle Sammy" some
times puts a grotesque face on
the character which clearly is
the intention of neither McCarey
nor Jaeger.
There can be no complaint of
lack of action in MY Son john"
The events which follow this ex-
pository situation come thick and
fast. Shortly after the erring boy
does visit the family hearth
disturbing it with his air of in
tellectual superiority-he is fol-
lowed by mysterious stranger.
This man (Van Heflin) turns |
out to be an FBI agent who
makes the acquaintance of the
Jeffersons by backing his car
into theirs
Now the chase to find the ex-
tent of the sons leftist leaning
is on in earnest. Before it ends
in his death at the hands of Com
muniStS on the steps of the
Lincoln Memorial, he has chance
to recant and provide MY Son
John" with an incredibly theatre |
(Se. cApN1O7v para All,