American drama Book

I had read Arthur Miller in high school, "The Crucible" & " Death of a Salesman" which I will re-read at some point but "All My Sons" was new but not so new to me. I had heard the OTR (Old Time Radio) version and heard someone, Michael Savage, on the radio mention it years ago, so I knew the gist of this very poignant and of human importance play. Why I say it is important for human beings to read this play because as I will remark later, when "our" interest is placed more important than "others" interest.

I don't think I saw the 1948 film version with Burt Lancaster and Edward G. Robinson but if I do I will add to my review. I did listen to the OTR, LUX Radio Theater version which I will provide a link below. A little different but basically the same.


Arthur Miller's All My Sons came to NYC on January 29, 1947 and finished there November 8, 1949. Arthur Miller had Elia Kazan direct the stage productions and both men had "left wing views" which brought them in the 1950's to the House Un-American Activities Committee. I found this interesting and I am one to wonder about the "Red Scare", to me it is not so black and white. Many were accused that I am sure should not have but to think that there was no underground communist in the government then, before and now, and to label all as a "witch hunt" I am not sure. You definitely may disagree. Why I mention this is "All My Sons" is because of the criticism of "The American Dream". I am not an expert on this committee but find after reading this, the ridiculous idea that this is any type of communist sentiment. First and foremost "The American Dream" is not crushed but the way that a man's greed for more has him not thinking about consequences. It is not just in America, that greed for more effects other human beings and societies at large. Greed can effect ALL HUMANS and must be in our thoughts with our actions. To me this not just one political party, it is something that effects all governments and parties, when human beings should be placed above all greedy desires not just money but power.

From Wikipedia

"All My Sons is based upon a true story, which Arthur Miller's then-mother-in-law pointed out in an Ohio newspaper.[3] The news story described how in 1941-43 the Wright Aeronautical Corporation based in Ohio had conspired with army inspection officers to approve defective aircraft engines destined for military use.[3][4] The story of defective engines had reached investigators working for Sen. Harry Truman's congressional investigative board after several Wright aircraft assembly workers informed on the company; they would later testify under oath before Congress.[3][4] In 1944, three Army Air Force officers, Lt. Col. Frank C. Greulich, Major Walter A. Ryan, and Major William Bruckmann were relieved of duty and later convicted of neglect of duty. "

One thing I had a hard time with was Miller's comments throughout his play about the mother should just move on after a son is found missing. How can a mother move on without proof, she is human and her love and desire makes her want to dream. I did though have a problem with her not letting her missing son's girl find happiness in her other son.

"All My Sons" reminds me of "Death of a Salesman" in the sons regard for the father and how after they find out the truth of their father, the father not able to face the truth. There is a lot to this play especially rings true after WW 2 and reevaluating actions during wartime.



"I've been thinking, y'know?'maybe we ought to put our minds to forgetting him? MOTHER: That's the third time you've said that this week. CHRIS: Because it's not right; we never took up our lives again. We're like at a railroad station waiting for a train that never comes in. "



"That's only a little thing... but... that's the kind of guys I had. They didn't die; they killed themselves for each other. I mean that exactly; a little more selfish and they'd've been here today. And I got an idea'watching them go down. Everything was being destroyed, see, but it seemed to me that one new thing was made. A kind of... responsibility. Man for man."

There are times like when people's lives have to be thought about not dollars and cents. Keller justifies himself but it can not hold.

"Who worked for nothin' in that war? When they work for nothin', I'll work for nothin'. Did they ship a gun or a truck outa Detroit before they got their price? Is that clean? It's dollars and cents, nickels and dimes; war and peace, it's nickels and dimes, what's clean? Half the Goddam country is gotta go if I go! That's why you can't tell me."


The play in short- Businessman Joe Keller is doing well after the war and his partner is still in prison. Ann, the partner's daughter comes to visit after son, Chris Keller invites her hoping to win her heart.


I did not read this edition but a collection of his works which has highlights and notes, if interested to to my "Arthur Miller" shelf above. I chose this edition because of Karl Malden and other actors from the play version.

I enjoyed this play and it deserves to be placed on my "favorite shelf" because its message is spot on!💖








The OTR LUX Radio Theater - January 5, 1950.


Screen Director's Play house- December 1, 1949 - with Edward G. Robinson and Jeff Chandler



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Keller killing himself after hearing about Larry's suicide in the war finally brings back his thought before hearing this, that Larry would understand and Chris is too sensitive. He talks about taking responsibility as to his partner but he has not the courage to face his fate and how he killed his son. Will Ann marry Chris, it is uncertain but I feel they will though they must start fresh.

"Is that as far as your mind can see, the business? What is that, the world'the business? What the hell do you mean, you did it for me? Don't you have a country? Don't you live in the world? What the hell are you? You're not even an animal, no animal kills his own, what are you? What must I do to you? I ought to tear the tongue out of your mouth, what must I do? "

"MOTHER: What more can we be! CHRIS: You can be better! Once and for all you can know there's a universe of people outside and you're responsible to it, and unless you know that you threw away your son because that's why he died."