All My Sons *** (1948, Edward G Robinson, Burt Lancaster, Mady Christians, Howard Duff, Louisa Horton) – Classic Movie Review 9311

Director Irving Reis’s 1948 black and white drama All My Sons is based on Arthur Miller’s classic Tony Award-winning play and stars Edward G Robinson, Burt Lancaster, Mady Christians, Howard Duff and Louisa Horton. It is written for the screen by Chester Erskine, who also produces.

Chris Keller (Lancaster) tries to find out if his beloved manufacturer father Joe (Robinson), married to sweet Kate (Christians), deliberately sold poorly made aircraft in World War Two, leading to many deaths. When Ann Deever (Horton), the girlfriend of Lancaster’s dead brother, re-appears and falls in love with him, Kate (Christians) is shocked into action and Ann Deever (Horton)’s brother opposes the match too, accusing Joe (Robinson) of corruption.

Fine acting, especially by Robinson and Lancaster at their distinguished peak, leads the way in this powerfully performed, very watchable but still stagey version of the complex and provocative Arthur Miller classic play.

All My Sons is a posh and intriguing item, even if Hollywood should maybe have left discussions about business ethics alone.

Also in the cast are Arlene Francis, Frank Conroy, Lloyd Gough, Harry Morgan [Henry Morgan], Harry Harvey, Pat Flaherty, George Sorel, Therese Lyon, Charles Meredith, Herbert Vigran, Elisabeth Fraser, Walter Bonn, Helen Brown, Jack Gargan, Jerry Hausner, Herbert Heywood, William Johnstone, Joe Kerr, Frank Kreig, Richard LaMarr, Al Murphy, William Ruhl, George Slocum, Walter Soderling and Victor Zimmerman.

The original Broadway production opened at the Coronet Theater in New York on 29 January 1947, ran for 328 performances and won the 1947 Tony Award (New York City) for Best Play.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9311

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