My Son John

US (1952): Spy/War

Straight-faced propaganda for the McCarthy era, this is one of the most inexplicable episodes in film history, with talents such as Helen Hayes and Leo McCarey involved. Hayes is a mother of three sons, two on their way to Korea (Richard Jaeckel and James R. Young) and the third (Robert Walker) a pseudo-intellectual fellow traveler. Her eyes slowly open and her son finally renounces his Party spying, just in time to take a bullet from the Reds, expiring on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Absolutely loony scenes of patriotic paranoia (Dean Jagger clouting his son with the Bible) make for a fascinating watch. Also features Van Heflin, Minor Watson and Frank McHugh. McCarey, who wrote the story and directed the film, testified as a friendly witness before the House Committee on Un-American Activities in 1947, naming colleagues as suspected Communists. (Paramount) (amctv.com)

Parts of the film were rewritten after actor Robert Walker (John Jefferson) died during production. Several scenes use a double shot from behind, and others recycle footage of Walker from Strangers on a Train (1951). The final scene, where a recording of John delivers an anti-communist speech, is lit with a halo around the tape-recorder.

· Writing (Motion Picture Story) 1952: Leo McCarey

1 nomination