Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Absolutely Brilliant!

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Watchable character study in the O'Neill vein though lacking a deeper resonance.The screenplay offers some emotionally captivating moments, though the plot development is much too telegraphed throughout. The dramatic situations work in themselves, but they're slightly too easy, too fabricated. The marvellous acting rings true and elevates the whole scenario.What a shame, then, that the heavy-handed direction tends to over-emphasize the characters' inner turmoils by way of obtrusive scoring, freeze frames, camera movements and the likes.Still worth a look for the Douglas-Hackman sparring alone.6 out of 10 gruesome nursing homes

This outstanding movie about a strained father-son relationship has some of the finest character acting I have ever seen. Gene Hackman is the dutiful son trying to bridge the distance between himself and his father, performed superbly by Melvyn Douglas, who has become senile and stubborn. The two were never close. In one scene, they look at some old family photos and the son tells his father that for a few short moments, he felt closer to him than at any time in his life. The thaw is short-lived. When Hackman and his sister reunite for the funeral of their mother, the conflict reaches a climax. They know that their father cannot continue to live on his own. The sister, Estelle Parsons, who became estranged from the parent years earlier, faces the dilemma head on... the father must be told he needs someone to look after him, a service he can well afford. Hackman, however, wants to make it easier for the elderly man and offers to take his father to the the west coast, where he plans to marry and begin a new life. Douglas will have nothing to do with the plan. He wants to stay put while insisting that the son stay with him. The sister, knowing the dilemma cannot be resolved, advises the brother to go and make a new life for himself. The end of the movie is difficult but probably true for many others in the same dilemma. A decision is made, time moves on but the relationship can never be severed.

"I Never Sang for My Father" has to be one of the saddest films ever made. Relations between parents and grown up children are examined in this tight drama that rings true from beginning to end. We can relate to how the dynamics in a family change as parents get older and children are now involved in problems of their own with their families.This is basically about the special relationship between a father and a son. Tom Garrison, the father, is in his eighties. His son Gene has lost his wife and is now seeing a woman doctor in California. When Margaret, the mother, suffers a heart attack and dies, Tom and Gene come to a confrontation because the father wants to keep a grip on his son to help him during that adjustment period. Gene, who has always been a good son, has to make a decision that will put him at odds with his father.The idea of children taking care of their parents during their old age is questioned here. On the one hand, Tom, the father, is a self made man who struggled hard for all he achieved in life. Gene, the son, is in the eyes of the father, a failure, because of his passive nature. Tom has counted on relying on Gene for those late years and because of his intransigent nature, he is not willing to compromise in the solution the son has for him.The film version of Robert Anderson's play, and directed by Gilbert Cates, gathered a stellar cast to bring the family alive. Melvyn Douglas, in one of his best screen appearances, makes Tom Garrison come alive. Mr. Douglas' take on his character shows a man that while giving an appearance of being strong, underneath, shows his vulnerability. Gene Hackman, who plays the son, is a perfect match for Melvyn Douglas. Their scenes together show a raw energy between a domineering father and a son that has gone along to please him. Estelle Parsons is seen as Alice, the estranged daughter and Dorothy Stickney who plays Margaret, the mother.

This is the kind of movie that really makes you think about the people that you love. It also makes you think about the fact that time is inevitable, and thorough communication about the things we feel should hold the highest priority over anything else.Excellent script and the actors are brilliant. Everyone should see this movie!