Adapted from the stage, "Edward, My Son" is a striking film about the monomaniacal obsession of one man for his son. The son, meanwhile, never appears on screen. But like a planet unseen but known to exist by the effects of its gravitational force, Edward is an influence on his father and others.Spencer Tracy plays the father, Lord Boult, whose flashbacks constitute the core of the story. The viewer sees Boult's ruthless pursuit of business success as a means to providing for his son. Over more than twenty years, Boult never changes much, but his wife (Deborah Kerr) is like a tragic reflection of his dealings (and lack of feelings). Her transformation over the years is one of the great acting performances."Edward, My Son" is well worth seeing, especially for Ms. Kerr's tour de force, which is accomplished mostly in "snapshots" over the years, as opposed to lengthy expositions.

Outstanding 1949 film with Spencer Tracy giving one of the best of his many performances ever. This time, Tracy is conniving as a father who supposedly will break all the rules for his son, but it must be remembered that at the same time Tracy benefits as he spoils his son to ultimate tragedy, and literally loses his wife, admirably played by Deborah Kerr.Amazing that despite 10 Oscar nominations, Tracy wasn't nominated here. Kerr received her first of 6 losing bids as she is perfect as the wife, who was so much better off as a struggling partner. Wealth, a title and success, certainly did not help her.It is very effective that you never see this spoiled, pampered son Edward throughout the picture. Yet, you are able to convey a full imagine of him just like you did with 1940's "Rebecca."The film poses many ethical, moral problems such as starting a fire to gut his business but at the same time pay for his son's much needed operation.The person who made up Kerr up deserved an Oscar for that job. Kerr goes from a young housewife to an elderly souse, looking like a tragic Norma Desmond, depicted by Carol Burnett.Tracy's preaching to the audience is well effective. You know that he shall come up as the devil. Ian Hunter is just fine in the supporting role as the doctor who loved Evelyn, (Kerr) but could not bring himself to lead her away from an emotionally abusive Tracy.

"Edward, My Son" is a 1949 film based on the play that starred Robert Morley. Here the stars are Spencer Tracy, Deborah Kerr, and Ian Hunter. The title role, Edward, is never seen. The movie is really about his father, Arnold Boult, who spoils the boy and ruins everything and everybody he touches.There was a mention that Spencer Tracy was miscast, that the character shouldn't be so amiable but more acid. I think in a way, Tracy's amiability was more sinister - he threatened people and seemed so cheerful about it. It's quite effective.The revelation, the stunning, knockout performance comes from Deborah Kerr as Arnold's unhappy wife Evelyn. Young, pretty, and cheerful in the beginning, her character development, in looks and personality, is remarkable - right down to her osteoporotic walk with the slightly stooped shoulders. How often do we see really wonderful actors play older people with just a little gray in their hair, with nothing else changed? The only other "aging" performance I have seen to equal this was Emma Thompson at the end of "Remains of the Day."I always knew Deborah Kerr was a fine actress, but obviously, she mostly did roles that were beneath her capability.Ian Hunter is very good as the doctor s a man who see through Arnold's behavior, and who has always been in love with Evelyn.Don't miss Kerr's performance in this film.

MGM looked for a bankable star to handle the role of Arnold Boult? It could only be Spencer Tracy, their finest actor with a recognizable face and name, So Robert Morley did not play his self-created dream part, but Tracy inherited it. Fortunately Tracy was fully able to give the role it's best spin if it's creator was unavailable.Tracy being called a Canadian enables him cover his accent and to aim for social advancement that America can't really match. The social advancement is really for the sake of the one figure in the film who never appears: Edward Boult. He is like Sebastian in SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER or Harvey in HARVEY. We are aware of his personality, and even sense his presence, but we never view his face or hear his voice.Arnold Boult and his wife Evelyn (Deborah Kerr) have just moved to a middle class district. They have two good pieces of news. First Arnold has begun a partnership with one Harry Sempkin (Mervyn Johns) in a warehouse. Secondly Arnold and Evelyn are blessed with a baby Edward. But Edward is sickly, and their friend Dr. Larry Woodhope (Ian Hunter) warns that unless Edward gets some treatment it may prove fatal for him. Arnold is totally concerned about this, and decides that he needs the money quickly. The warehouse is stocked with goods, and they have an inflated insurance policy. The warehouse goes up in smoke. Eventually the insurance companies (who are not fully satisfied - more about that late) pay up, Boult uses the money to save Edward, but also to go up in the business world (dragging a bewildered Evelyn and a frightened Sempkins with him). Sempkins is frightened because he has already had a spell in prison on a minor fraud, and he was hoping to make a new, clean beginning with the warehouse.The story follows the expansion of Arnold's business deals to include newspaper chains, automobile companies, and the like. As has been pointed out, his Canadian background and newspaper interests make him seem a bit like Max Aiken, Lord Beaverbrook, but Aiken was never crooked. Along the way Sempkins gets framed for another swindle (and returns for a heavier prison term), and Edward is spoiled rotten despite Evelyn's trying to restrain Arnold. Dr. Woodhope (who loves Evelyn) has to stand by and watch all of this - for Arnold has a nasty disposition towards anyone who tries to stand in his way. His break with Evelyn comes when she attempts to get legal custody in a separation, and Arnold blackmails her into accepting the status quo or being divorced and kept from ever seeing her son again.He does similar numbers on others too. When Edward is doing his own thing at a leading public school run by Mr. Hanray (Felix Aylmer) the latter plans to expel the boy. Boult shows up and turns out to have been buying up debts owed by the school that could cause foreclosure. He offers Hanray a choice - close the school or graduate Edward. Hanray makes the choice that Boult seeks.Eventually Edward gets a young woman pregnant, but she is not the type that Boult wants for his son - nothing less than a member of the aristocracy for Edward. The girl leaves...and takes away a future that Boult did not think of.Edward is killed in the war in a plane disaster (he was fooling with the plane to impress a woman, it went out of control, and killed him and the crew). This finishes Evelyn, who has become an alcoholic. She dies within a few years.Boult's social rise has been complicated. Rumors about his methods make people treat him at arms length. Sempkins commits suicide at his office building, temporarily stopping Bou;t's knighthood. But only the death of Edward shatters him - he really loved the boy. The insurance companies are still curious about the warehouse fire, and apparently closing in.Then he learns the young woman had her baby son. The only person who knows their location is Dr. Woodhope, but when he and Boult face off the Doctor won't crack. And now Boult has no clout left - he is sentenced to five years in prison for the warehouse fire.He comes out at the end of the film addressing the audience. He did it all for Edward, and he is now determined to find Edward's son and do it all for him too! The film ends with Tracy looking around the screen seeking the familiar features of his missing grandson.Except for Edward Hyde Tracy never appeared in as negative a part in his major star films. Arnold Boult is a far cry from Father Flannagan or Manuel. There is nothing positive for Arnold. He loves Edward as a person to carry on his name - to breed a line of Arnold Boults. One wonders what would have happened if Edward ever had the temerity to say he wasn't interested.Deborah Kerr's Evelyn is a sad character. She does try to keep a state of balance but fails to because her husband is just too overpowering. Her final collapse is the death of the son she loved but could not save. Hunter's Doctor is proper in his official relationship with the Boults, and also victimized as he could probably have given Evelyn the right helpmate for her child. His refusal to assist Arnold in their last confrontation is emotionally satisfying. As for Mervyn Johns, he comes on with all the hope of the future running on this partnership - not realizing his partner is the Devil - and ends a walking ghost. His suicide is like an afterthought