Edward, My Son

Year: 1949

Runtime: 112 mins

Language: English

Director: George Cukor

Drama

The film adapts the successful Broadway play, following a hard‑nosed businessman who, after the death of his only son, is forced to confront the choices that have defined his life. He reflects on his unhappy marriage, the impact of his ruthless approach to business, and the questionable parenting that left his family in turmoil, leading to a sobering journey of self‑examination.

Edward, My Son (1949) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Edward, My Son (1949) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In post‑war London a restless economy frames the world of Arnold Boult, a hard‑nosed businessman whose every move feels calibrated against a shifting market and a restless family life. He shares a modest home with his wife, Evelyn Boult, and their young son, Edward, whose presence lingers as both a source of quiet joy and an unspoken pressure. The couple’s circle includes the trusted physician Doctor Larry Woodhope and a charismatic financier, Harry Sempkin, whose arrival hints at the complex interplay of friendship, ambition, and the temptation to bend the rules that define the era.

The Boult marriage has long been strained by Arnold’s relentless drive for success and Evelyn’s growing unease. Their partnership, though outwardly solid, is underscored by whispered doubts about the cost of their aspirations. Edward’s fragile health adds a layer of urgency, compelling Arnold to consider extreme measures to preserve his son’s future, while Evelyn wrestles with the moral implications of protecting a child whose path seems increasingly precarious. The domestic sphere thus becomes a microcosm of larger societal tensions, where love, duty, and the pursuit of wealth intersect in uneasy harmony.

Against a backdrop of smoky offices, cramped apartments, and the lingering after‑effects of war, the film adopts a measured, introspective tone. It balances the stark realism of a city rebuilding itself with the intimate drama of a family caught in the crosscurrents of ambition and affection. The cinematography favors muted palettes and lingering close‑ups, emphasizing the weight of unspoken words and the quiet intensity that drives each character’s decisions.

As Arnold faces the aftermath of his son’s loss, the story pivots toward a sobering examination of the choices that have shaped his life. The narrative invites viewers to contemplate where protection ends and control begins, and whether a man who has built his empire on decisive, sometimes ruthless actions can ever reconcile the shadows he casts on those he loves.

Last Updated: December 05, 2025 at 09:46

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Movies about Obsessive Fathers like Edward, My Son

Stories of fathers whose love becomes a destructive, all-consuming force.If you were captivated by the tragic paternal obsession in Edward, My Son, explore these films with similar themes. This collection features dramatic stories of fathers whose love becomes destructive, leading to moral decay and family tragedy. Find movies about paternal control, sacrifice, and the heavy price of obsession.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a linear, often decades-spanning journey where a father's initial protective instinct gradually warps into control and manipulation. His actions, justified to himself as being for his child's benefit, systematically damage his marriage, his ethics, and his child's well-being, culminating in an inevitable and profound personal loss or isolation.

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These films are grouped by their central focus on a specific, powerful character arc: the downfall of a patriarch through his own distorted love. They share a heavy emotional weight, a steady, deliberate pacing that builds a sense of doom, and a consistently bleak or sad tone that explores the dark side of parental devotion.

Stories of Moral Decay like in Edward, My Son

Character studies of a steady, self-inflicted fall from grace.For viewers who appreciated the theme of self-inflicted ruin in Edward, My Son, this section highlights similar movies about moral decay. Discover character-driven dramas where protagonists make destructive choices that lead to their isolation. These films share a bleak tone, heavy emotional weight, and a focus on the consequences of unethical behavior.

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Narrative Summary

These stories typically follow a linear progression where a character's defining flaw initiates a chain reaction of poor decisions. Each choice, while seemingly logical to the character, sacrifices a piece of their morality or a key relationship. The pacing is steady, methodically building the consequences until the protagonist is left completely isolated, physically or emotionally, with no hope of redemption.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread are united by their core narrative pattern: a protagonist's journey into self-wrought isolation through moral failure. They share a high-intensity, heavy emotional vibe, a steady pacing that feels inevitable, and a consistently bleak or dark tone that leaves little room for hope, focusing instead on the grim outcomes of human failing.

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Edward, My Son Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Edward, My Son

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