I Never Sang for My Father (1970)

I Never Sang for My Father
Directed by Gilbert Cates
Written by Robert Anderson based on his play
1970/US
IMDb page
First viewing/YouTube rental

Gene Garrison: Death ends a life. But it does not end a relationship;which struggles on the survivor’s mind,toward some resolution,which it may never find.

This excellent domestic drama is lifted by its superb performances.

Gene Garrison (Gene Hackman) is the dutiful son of his octogenarian father Tom (Melvyn Douglas) and mother Margaret (Dorothy Stickney).  Margaret has been left frail by a heart attack suffered the previous year.

Tom has been a pillar of the community and seems to be known and liked by everyone in town.  At home, however, he is domineering, stubborn, self-centered, controlling and manipulative.  To add to that, he is growing senile and has started to repeat the same stories over and over again.  Margaret is his biggest cheerleader and tolerates his weaknesses.  Tom has already banished Alice (Estelle Parsons), Gene’s sister, from the family.  Gene has never been able to love Tom.

Gene, a widower, tries to break the news that he intends to move to California to marry a woman  he met there on a business trip.  Tom warns that such a move would “kill” Margaret.  Next Margaret supports Gene in his decision but cautions it could be hard on Tom.

Before Gene can take the next step. Margaret has another heart attack and dies.  Now Tom needs Gene more than ever.  Alice comes home for the funeral and gives Gene some advice.

I really liked this movie.  The whole cast is strong but Douglas is stunning.  He has a master actor’s gift of making the audience feel compassion for and frustration with a character at the same time.  It’s a beautifully nuanced performance. Recommended.

I Never Sang for My Father was nominated for Academy Awards in the category of Best Actor (Douglas); Best Supporting Actor (Hackman); and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium.