My Son, the Hero

In Edgar G. Ulmer's MY SON THE HERO, "Big Time" Percy Morgan (Roscoe Karns) is a down on his luck confidence man who lies and cheats his way out of every close scrape. He shares a SRO hotel room with punch-drunk boxer Kid Slug (Maxie Rosebloom) and colorful Italian immigrant Tony. Together, the trio bounce from scheme to scam always just one step ahead of their marks. As Big Time's gambling losses threaten to engulf him, a telegram arrives announcing that his war hero son Michael is coming to visit. Having lied to his son for years about his wealth and means, Big Time sets up a ruse wherein he "borrows" a mansion and gathers his makeshift family of fellow grifters to convince his son that he's not a bum.

MY SON THE HERO is a slapstick farce peopled with characters out of Damon Runyon and reminiscent of the drawling room comedies of Philip Barry. Stars Roscoe Karns, Maxie Rosebloom and Patsy Kelly (as Big Time's wiseacre Girl Friday, Gertie), give compelling comic performances infused with the real, poignant sadness of individuals who have lost their dignity in the hustle to make money. Linking his observational Berlin street film aesthetic with his talent for Yiddish Comedy, social commentary, and ethnic musical entertainments, director Edgar G. Ulmer delivers a World War II-era comedy of manners featuring his trademark fluid pans, long takes, busy tableaux, mirror shots and rapid fire dialogue.

"My Son, the Hero" was made by tiny Atlantis Pictures and distributed through PRC...a horrid pedigree indeed. Additionally, it was filmed in only six days! And, it stars folks like Patsy Kelly and Slapsy Maxie Rosebloom! So is there any possible way this film would be worth your time? It ain't likely!

When the story begins, you see that Percy Morgan (Karns) is a boxing promoter whose client is a washed up boxer (Rosenbloom). They're both broke when Percy learns that his estranged son is a war hero and he's coming back to the States to visit him. Considering they haven't seen each other for years following Percy's divorce from Michael's mother, the reunion will be awkward. Even more awkward because Percy's created a big lie--that he's some sort of bigshot! To help him out of this predicament is Gertie, as she knows a rich guy who will let them borrow his mansion. She then rents a young lady to pose as her daughter...and Percy's. Can they fool Michael?

The problem with "My Son, the Hero" is that it makes a minor problem into a huge one....and things only seem the get worse the more Percy and his friends lie. Having just told his son the truth is a simple solution...but instead they try to make it wacky....and it is a bit forced. It also suffers from loudness....it is not a subtle film and some of the actors (Rosenbloom and Kelly in particular) are anything but subtle and are impossible to believe. I don't hate Rosenbloom and Kelly--I just don't think they are a good match for this sort of movie. Much of this is because many of the actors play it straight...and it looks as if no one told Rosenbloom or Kelly about this. Overall, this is a passable time-passer but really isn't much more.

By the way, if you care, Rosenbloom was a real life boxer with over 200 career wins...which is pretty incredible.

Some people will find something worthwhile in the most forgettable movies, and they're welcome to their opinion, but "My Son the Hero" is much more of a sow's ear than a silk purse. Some of the actors are fine, the pace is fairly fast, and it isn't awfully boring, but it's a far cry from a good, funny movie. Anyone who sees "darkness" or depth in this silly and derivative picture is seeing only what they want to see.