All My Sons 1948

     This film is based on a play of the same name by Arthur Miller.  Joe Keller is a successful businessman.  He’s a self-made man now in middle age.  He has been owner managing and manager of manufacting business with his partner Herb.  His son Larry is missing in action in WWII.  His other son Chris believes Larry is dead but Joe’s wife and Larry’s mother Kate believes he is alive.  Chris tells Joe that he is in love with Ann but she was supposed to marry Larry.  Another aspect is that Ann’s father is Herb and he is now in prison because the manufacturing company shipped defective airplane parts.  The failure of these parts caused plane crashes and deaths.  George, Ann’s brother comes to visit the Keller’s and he tries to convince Ann not to marry Chris.  George has visited his father Herb in prison and he believes Joe is guilty and he framed Herb.

     This is a complicated film.  Kate Keller believes her son Larry is still alive and she doesn’t want anyone to say that he’s dead.  Joe doesn’t know how Kate will stand it if her son Chris and Ann marry because that says Larry is dead.  Is Joe lying about being sick on the day the defective parts were shipped and leaving the shipping responsibility to Herb?  Is George making this all up about Joe framing his father Herb?  Is George just sour and sore because his father is in prison?  A lot of questions!!  This was a powerhouse movie with Edward G. Robinson and Burt Lancaster together!!  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

94 min, Drama directed by Irving Reis with Edward G. Robinson, Burt Lancaster, Mady Christians, Louisa Horton, Howard Duff, Frank Conroy.

Note:  Imdb 7.4 out of 10, 77% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 4.7* out of 5* with 28 reviews, TCM Leonard Maltin 3* out of 4*.

Special Note:  Filmed at Culver City, Universal City, Santa Rosa, California.  The Broadway production opened January 29, 1947, ran for 328 shows and won the 1947 Tony Award for the Best Play.  There was a one-hour radio adaption of this movie on May 1, 1950 on Lux Radio Theater.  The Screen Guild Theater also broadcast a half-hour radio adaptation on November 11, 1948 with Edward G. Robinson and Burt Lancaster.  The band Twenty One Pilots got its name from the lives lost because of the faulty parts.  They began performing in Columbus, Ohio in 2009 with three members.  Currently the founder Tyler Joseph and drummer Josh Dun are still performing.  Nick Thomas and Chris Salih left in 2011.