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IMDbPro

Mon père, cet étranger

Original title: The Young Stranger
  • 1957
  • Tous publics
  • 1h 24m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
719
YOUR RATING
James MacArthur in Mon père, cet étranger (1957)
Drama

After a 16-year-old, neglected by his movie producer father, gets in trouble, his father doesn't believe his claim of self-defense.After a 16-year-old, neglected by his movie producer father, gets in trouble, his father doesn't believe his claim of self-defense.After a 16-year-old, neglected by his movie producer father, gets in trouble, his father doesn't believe his claim of self-defense.

  • Director
    • John Frankenheimer
  • Writer
    • Robert Dozier
  • Stars
    • James MacArthur
    • Kim Hunter
    • James Daly
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    719
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Frankenheimer
    • Writer
      • Robert Dozier
    • Stars
      • James MacArthur
      • Kim Hunter
      • James Daly
    • 30User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
      • 1 nomination total

    Photos2

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    Top cast38

    Edit
    James MacArthur
    James MacArthur
    • Hal Ditmar
    Kim Hunter
    Kim Hunter
    • Helen Ditmar
    James Daly
    James Daly
    • Tom Ditmar
    James Gregory
    James Gregory
    • Police Sgt. Shipley
    Whit Bissell
    Whit Bissell
    • Grubbs
    Jeffrey Silver
    • Jerry Doyle
    • (as Jeff Silver)
    Jack Mullaney
    Jack Mullaney
    • Confused Boy
    Tom Pittman
    Tom Pittman
    • Lynn Spears
    Charles Davis
    • Detective
    Gary Vinson
    Gary Vinson
    • Boy in Courtroom
    • (scenes deleted)
    Leon Alton
    Leon Alton
    • Peter Kalish
    • (uncredited)
    Roxanne Arlen
    Roxanne Arlen
    • Carhop
    • (uncredited)
    Mitzi Blake
    • Usherette
    • (uncredited)
    Noble 'Kid' Chissell
    Noble 'Kid' Chissell
    • Detective
    • (uncredited)
    Jean Corbett
    • Woman in Movie Theatre
    • (uncredited)
    Bill Couch
    • Boy
    • (uncredited)
    Oliver Cross
    • Man at Police Station
    • (uncredited)
    Edith Evanson
    Edith Evanson
    • Lottie
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • John Frankenheimer
    • Writer
      • Robert Dozier
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews30

    6.5719
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    Featured reviews

    Wizard-8

    Gets better as it goes along

    I usually get a kick out of teenspoitation movies made in the '50, mainly because the characters and their attitudes seem so dated when seen today. So when this movie came up on Turner Classic Movies, you can be sure I was careful to tape it. The beginning of the movie seems to promise that it will be pretty campy. The teenage protagonist upset that he has to drive his own crummy car since his father won't let him use his brand new car? The teenage protagonist venting his building angst by putting his feet up on the chair in front of him in a movie theater? But not long after all that, the movie gets pretty serious - and compelling. You'll start to sympathize with the teenage protagonist (even though the movie doesn't make him TOTALLY likable), and understand why he is so upset, and why he does the things he does. MacArthur is actually pretty good in the title role, even though he seems to be just a little too old to be a teenager. And Frankenheimer's direction is overall pretty solid. Today's teenagers may think this to be tame stuff, but older viewers in a nostalgic mood will probably find this to be a pleasant surprise.
    7arthur_tafero

    Better Than Rebel Without a Cause - The Young Stranger

    Rebel Without a Cause was an interesting film, even with the histrionics of James Dean, an actor that was decent, but not as good as James McArthur, in my opinion. The storyline and direction of this film is also superior to the overrated Rebel Without a Cause. It is a true coming of age film about a young man in a slightly dysfunctional family (mostly the father), who has trouble getting anyone to believe the actual events of a minor incident. It is a very interesting perspective of this time period in American history. The father-son relationship is at the crux of the film, and I was very sensitive to that issue, as I am close to my son, Joe. A good study in growing pains of a teenager.
    7bmacv

    Adolescent angst and affluence: a ‘50s tale

    What often threatens to turn into a soppy and soft-headed drama about misunderstood middle-class youth ends up a surprisingly shaded and subdued movie by John Frankenheimer (his first, though he had started in television, directing among other things an earlier version of this script).

    We are still in those semi-mythic ‘50s when teenagers drove jalopies and jeans were still dungarees. James MacArthur (adoptive son of playwright Charles and actress Helen Hayes, and later to enter pop culture as Hawaii 5-0's Danno) gets involved in a minor incident in a movie theater which escalates to his throwing a punch at the manager (Whit Bissell) and being booked down at the police station. His dad (James Daly), a big-shot movie producer gets the call, doesn't listen to his son's version of the story, and pulls strings to get him off.

    But MacArthur keeps carrying a chip on his shoulder, which even his sympathetic mom (Kim Hunter) can't knock off. Things worsen in the Coldwater Canyon homestead until MacArthur, trying to vindicate himself, stages a reprise of the original incident....

    The movie doesn't quite avoid the attitudes – and cliches – of its time, but presents them with considerable nuance: Every character gets an honorable hearing; every point of view has its merits (and reactions to the movie will depend on what viewers bring to it). There are flaws (the word `crummy,' a standard rebellious euphemism of the era, is used about 30 times too often) but they're outweighed by strengths. The movie benefits from a strong cast (most notable among them the excellent character actor James Gregory, as a police detective) and a resolutely non-exploitative way of telling its story. From a vantage point in the new millennium, the hot water MacArthur finds himself in may seem a little tepid, but The Young Stranger remains honest and honorable.
    8Tom-207

    Timeless film of a teenager coming to terms with his anger.

    This eloquent, simple film makes a remarkably clear statement about a teenager and his father. A theatrical release, the director, John Frankenheimer, learned his craft in the early, challenging days of live television in New York City. Indeed, he directed the teleplay on which the film is based, "Deal a Blow," on the CBS drama series "Climax." "Young Stranger" represents his Hollywood debut. After a hiatus of four years, during which he would do more television, he returned to direct "The Young Savages" with Burt Lancaster and, a year after that, "All Fall Down" with Warren Beatty and Angela Lansbury.

    The casting is competent with James Daly and Kim Hunter (particularly good) playing the parents of the title character performed by James MacArthur (his first theatrical film) who played the same role in the television version which was his first appearance on the small screen. Look for James Gregory and Whit Bissell in supporting roles.
    8planktonrules

    Despite being a relatively unknown film, it's a dandy.

    When the story begins, Hal (James MacArthur) and his friend are at a movie theater and Hal is behaving a bit like a jerk with the man sitting in front of him. He SHOULD have taken his feet off the chair and that would have been the end of it. However, Hal wouldn't back down and the man goes to get the manager. At this point, Hal backs off and tries to just leave the theater to diffuse the situation. But the theater owner has an usher grab him and drag him back into the theater and, not surprisingly, a scuffle breaks out. Hal slugs the manager, as he was trying to get away. Soon, he's arrested and the police and the boy's father both refuse to listen to him and hear his side of the story.

    Following this incident, Hal is very mouthy and angry. Much of it you can understand--his father, in particular, would not listen nor support him at all. And, in addition, it seems that Dad's way of handling things is to lecture and then bail his son out of trouble...but the boy is longing for a real connection with the man. At the same time, it becomes obvious that the father has also alienated his wife, as he is very closed emotionally with her as well. It becomes obvious that Hal and the family could use some therapy...not the police.

    This is a really exceptional family drama. The characters and dialog seem very real and the story is very moving. Well worth your time.

    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Based on a real incident between this film's screenwriter Robert Dozier and his father William Dozier, then head of production at RKO.
    • Goofs
      After Harold gets up to leave after asking his father to borrow the car, the shadow of the boom mic can be seen moving in and out of frame in the upper left hand corner of the screen.
    • Quotes

      Helen Ditmar: [about their sixteen year old son, Hal] We've taught him to tell the truth. You and I, we've tried to teach him to be honest and fair, haven't we? Isn't that what we've tried to teach him? If he's telling the truth, you should be proud of him, but all he got from you is a lot of abuse. He's right about one thing: you don't know him. He's a stranger to you.

      Tom Ditmar: I... always thought I knew him pretty well. How do you talk to him? I don't know. I can't say three words to him without offending him some way.

      Helen Ditmar: The only time you see him is at the dinner table... or when you want to punish him for something. I remember once when you lectured him about charging too many things at the department store. He came to me later, very upset, and very confused. He was sorry about the money, but asked me, "why is it Dad always bawls me out for spending money, when money is the only thing he ever gives me?" I couldn't answer him. Maybe you can. I even had to tell him you loved him yesterday. He didn't know that. Your son didn't know you loved him.

    • Crazy credits
      opening title card "James MacArthur as The Young Stranger."
    • Connections
      Featured in Decoy: Ladies Man (1958)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 11, 1960 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El joven extraño
    • Filming locations
      • John Marshall High School - 3939 Tracy Street, Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Stuart Miller Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $350,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 24m(84 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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