''My Lover, My Son'' (also known as ''Hush-a-bye Murder'') is a 1970 American-British co-production

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

directed by

John Newland John Newland (November 23, 1917 – January 10, 2000) was an American film director, actor, television producer, and screenwriter. Early life and career Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Newland began his career in vaudeville while still in his teens. ...

and starring

Romy Schneider Rosemarie Magdalena Albach (23 September 1938 – 29 May 1982), known professionally as Romy Schneider (), was a German and French actress. She is regarded as one of the greatest screen actresses of all time and became a cult figure due to ...

Donald Houston Donald Daniel Houston (6 November 1923 – 13 October 1991) was a Welsh actor whose first two films—'' The Blue Lagoon'' (1949) with Jean Simmons, and '' A Run for Your Money'' (1949) with Alec Guinness—were highly successful. Later in his ...

and

Dennis Waterman Dennis Waterman (24 February 1948 – 8 May 2022) was an English actor and singer. He was best known for his tough-guy leading roles in television series including ''The Sweeney'', ''Minder (TV series), Minder'' and ''New Tricks'', singing the ...

. It tells the story of a mother clinging to her maturing son. The film is based on

Edward Grierson Edward Grierson (9 March 1914 – 24 May 1975) was a Northumberland barrister and a writer of crime novels. His debut crime novel is the outstanding '' Reputation for a Song'', a classic inverted detective story. Grierson also wrote five novels, s ...

's 1952 novel '' Reputation for a Song''.

Plot

Francesca Anderson leads an unhappy marriage with her husband Robert. Her real attention is dedicated to her son James, who reminds her of her late lover Macer. Francesca is the only one who knows that James is not Robert's, but Macer's son. So Francesca reacts jealously when James falls in love with a girlfriend, Julie. James intervenes in an argument between his parents and kills Robert. During James' trial, Francesca gives the crucial testimony in favour of her son, who is found not guilty. To Francesca's discomfort, James escapes his mother's clinging and decides to stay with Julie.

Cast

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin The ''Monthly Film Bulletin'' was a periodical of the British Film Institute published monthly from February 1934 until April 1991, when it merged with '' Sight & Sound''. It reviewed all films on release in the United Kingdom, including those wi ...

'' wrote: "Television director John Newland brings a surface professionalism to his first feature and makes good use of cameraman David Muir's feeling for richly textured interiors. But though Romy Schneider makes up for what she lacks in credibility as a possessive mother with what in the circumstances is an admirably controlled performance, and Dennis Waterman just manages to keep his part together, they can't really do much with a script which is just another variation on a hackneyed theme, this time with a twist in the tail and a televisual gesture towards courtroom suspense thrown in for good measure. The dialogue is inane throughout, ... there is a theme song which recurs with the unfailing regularity of a commercial break, and the camera intermittently indulges flights of fancy to represent interior torment." ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' wrote: "A potentially gripping psychodrama about an attractive young mother's neurotic, suggestively incestuous passion for her adolescent son is unevenly directed by John Newland and miscast with Romy Schneider as the mother. The result is a visually-creative dramatic mishmash with dull boxoffice prospects."

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, 0066113 1970 films British drama films Films based on British novels Films about incest 1970 drama films Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films Films directed by John Newland 1970s English-language films American drama films 1970s American films 1970s British films Films scored by Mike Vickers

Plot

Cast

Critical reception

See also

References

External links