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Edward, My Son

1949, Movie, NR, 112 mins

Edward, My Son: Review

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Tracy is a business tycoon who not only dotes on his son Edward, never seen throughout the film, but also will destroy anyone or anything who gets in the spoiled young man's crooked way. Though outwardly affable, Tracy is as ruthless as a banzai charge and, in protecting his son's fortunes, drives two persons to suicide and even commits arson. When his wife, Kerr, tries to reform his evil ways, she is promptly put in her place. She begins drinking, so much so that it causes her death. The thoroughly corrupt son, who has abandoned his mistress after learning that she is pregnant, is killed in a plane crash. (He is flying and showing off.) Tracy is then found guilty of torching one of his establishments and is sent off to prison. Upon his release he tries to locate his grandson, but friends of the boy's mother refuse to let him see the child, fearing Tracy will corrupt him as he did the father. This powerful though somewhat dated drama saw great success on the London stage, where Robert Morley starred as the corrupt businessman. It was felt that Morley would not have the box-office appeal for the part, so it was given to Tracy, who is really miscast, although he gave the role his all. Morley, who coauthored the play, was to say in his Reluctant Autobiography: "I used to be asked in those days whether I wouldn't have liked to play in the film myself, but I think I much preferred to sell it to Metro for Spence. A fine actor, he was criticized for his performance in the film because he played it too straight." Kerr gave a stunning performance which brought her the first of her six Oscar nominations. In softening the British vehicle for Tracy's talents, scriptwriter Stewart changed the character's nationality from British to Canadian to excuse Tracy's American accent, and his sinister character was filed down at the edges to make him more palatable to viewers, all of which made an already complex story confusing. leave a comment
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