Father and Son (1936) User Reviews (3)

Stolid family drama with a pre-stardom James Mason

[Leofwine_draca · 4/10 · 1 July 2016]

FATHER AND SON is a stolid little family drama from 1936, notable only for featuring a pre-stardom James Mason in his second screen role. Mason is so youthful here that he looks unrecognisable, although that plum voice is present and correct. Mason stars in support, playing the son of a jailbird father, played by Robert Rendel. Rendel is released from prison only to discover that his own family would rather forget about him.

To his surprise they make him pose as a long lost uncle rather than head of the family. Meanwhile, a minor crime sub-plot arises which involves a fraudster getting Mason's character involved in the same dodgy business schemes that saw the father jailed in the first place. Sadly, FATHER AND SON is very slow and not very interesting, aside from the acting of Mason and Rendel, so it's really only a film for connoisseurs of the era.

too many coincidences

[malcolmgsw · 5/10 · 21 November 2009]

I can only assume that the previous reviewer of this film can not have seen it as he has the story line completely wrong. The story actually is that Robert Rendel has gone to prison 12years earlier for fraud.When he comes back to his home his wife insists that he call himself his brother as she has told everyone that he is dead.James Mason plays his son who unwittingly is involved with the fraudster who his father was in business with.This fraudster does a bunk again leaving James Mason to carry the can.However Rendel tiring of life on the outside claims

to be the guilty party to spare his son prison.He looks forward to going back inside! This film is so riddled with implausibilities and coincidences as to make the plot seem silly.It is worth watching for the performances of Rendel and Mason but for no other reason.

The 27 Year Old James Mason

[Single-Black-Male · 31 October 2003]

Having made his screen debut at the age of 26 in 'Late Extra', James Mason plays Henry Hamilton in this his second film, who is sent to prison for twelve years. He returns into the bosom of his family, but they refuse to absorb the shame of his conviction.