It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

According to many sources, this film was originally intended to be a Movie of the week entry for NBC, but Michael Landon insisted to make this movie as a feature. Though it's a bit edgier compared to other material Landon done for a while, fans should really enjoy this semi-autobiography on his earlier years as a teenager.The film begins when famed movie director Gene Orman (Landon himself) returns to his New Jersey hometown to attend the premiere of his latest movie, SAM'S SON, but he orders his chauffeur to stop in front of his childhood home which triggers an emotional flashback to his earlier years as a shy high-school student named Eugene Orowitz in the early 1950s struggling with his identity. One day, he decides to join the school's track team as a javelin thrower. His coach, obviously very impressed with his work, asks him to start competing in future track meets and when Eugene watches SAMSON AND DELILAH in the movie theater his father, Sam (Eli Wallach) manages, he discovers that he'll be a better javelin thrower if he lets his hair grow. Of course, the strict and unsympathetic principal (James Karen) orders him to cut his hair or he will be barred from other track meet activities. He manages to convince Sam that he needs to let his hair grow, so with the help of Sam's brother, a famed doctor, they wrap his head with bandages so he can compete in the championship that will determine his future at USC in California. The film contains a surprise, but sad ending that I will not spoil for this review.Though Eli Wallach and his real-life wife Anne Jackson are both top- billed in the movie, this is really a showcase for Timothy Patrick Murphy, who pulls off playing a young Michael Landon. Despite the seemingly family-friendly content in the film, it does have some adult language scattered throughout and a somewhat shocking fight in a rowdy neighborhood bar. The film also has a welcome supporting role with Hallie Todd has Eugene's new girlfriend. Despite not having enough screen time, she does do a good job playing the loving, caring love interest of him. It does have a classic '50s rock and roll soundtrack blaring away in key moments of the movie such as one scene where Eugene clocks a bullying rival at the local drive- in restaurant.All in all, a very satisfying movie.

According to many sources, this film was originally intended to be a Movie of the week entry for NBC, but Michael Landon insisted to make this movie as a feature. Though it's a bit edgier compared to other material Landon done for a while, fans should really enjoy this semi-autobiography on his earlier years as a teenager.The film begins when famed movie director Gene Orman (Landon himself) returns to his New Jersey hometown to attend the premiere of his latest movie, SAM'S SON, but he orders his chauffeur to stop in front of his childhood home which triggers an emotional flashback to his earlier years as a shy high-school student named Eugene Orowitz in the early 1950s struggling with his identity. One day, he decides to join the school's track team as a javelin thrower. His coach, obviously very impressed with his work, asks him to start competing in future track meets and when Eugene watches SAMSON AND DELILAH in the movie theater his father, Sam (Eli Wallach) manages, he discovers that he'll be a better javelin thrower if he lets his hair grow. Of course, the strict and unsympathetic principal (James Karen) orders him to cut his hair or he will be barred from other track meet activities. He manages to convince Sam that he needs to let his hair grow, so with the help of Sam's brother, a famed doctor, they wrap his head with bandages so he can compete in the championship that will determine his future at USC in California. The film contains a surprise, but sad ending that I will not spoil for this review.Though Eli Wallach and his real-life wife Anne Jackson are both top- billed in the movie, this is really a showcase for Timothy Patrick Murphy, who pulls off playing a young Michael Landon. Despite the seemingly family-friendly content in the film, it does have some adult language scattered throughout and a somewhat shocking fight in a rowdy neighborhood bar. The film also has a welcome supporting role with Hallie Todd has Eugene's new girlfriend. Despite not having enough screen time, she does do a good job playing the loving, caring love interest of him. It does have a classic '50s rock and roll soundtrack blaring away in key moments of the movie such as one scene Eugene clocks a bullying rival at the local drive- in restaurant.All in all, a very satisfying movie.

"Rocky" this ain't. But as a semi-autobiographical tale of Michael Landon, it's well worth renting on a Friday nite and watching, with hot cocoa and popcorn, on the couch in front of a fire.And, unlike Rocky, it is (loosely) based on a real story.This was written for an earlier, more innocent time. A tale of rags-to-riches, with plenty of Inspiration and pathos to match.Michael Landon makes his appearance at the very end of the movie, and it is achieved in a manner that is both just and fitting. For once, the Good Guys win.The movie's title is a neat hint as to what is about to happen as the story plays out to its climax.I last saw this twenty years ago, and I enjoyed it then. And I remember it now. A good, memorable story. Well done.Refreshing in its lack of special effects, violence, foul language and sex that pervades today's movie scene... Heck! "Sam's Son" could make a wholesome change from the usual fare.So it's OK to bring in the wife and kids to enjoy this story with the hot cocoa and popcorn and pizza. It will do them no harm, and may inspire them to achieve. Bonus Points!Double Bonus points: Celine Dion does not sing the credits, or get anywhere near the movie. The Cater-waul has no place in the credits: only good music throughout.

"Sam's Son" is notable in the Michael Landon oeuvre as the only big-screen movie he made as a writer-director; it still seems TV-ish both in casting - Timothy Patrick Murphy from "Dallas," Jonna Lee from "Otherworld" - and scope (and in fact it was barely released to cinemas at the time), and it's not bad for what it is; a family drama focusing on the relationship between a father and son, with the son channeling his personal problems into athletics and eventually becoming a champion javelin tosser, played in bookends by the late Mr. Landon.Interestingly, in 1976 Michael Landon wrote and directed the TV movie "The Loneliest Runner," which is remarkably similar to this movie; both are about teenage boys with humiliating personal problems and extremely unfeeling mothers, both main characters have extremely supporting and caring fathers (in "The Loneliest Runner" the mother is so mean that she hangs out her son's wet sheets for all to see, all of which makes the moment when Brian Keith finally tells her to "shut up" even more satisfying... not that it's manipulative or anything, heaven forfend), both characters grow up to be successful athletes, and both are played in their adult years by guess which cast member of "Little House on the Prairie"? (Clue: Not Richard Bull.)I guess Michael Landon had more baggage in his real life than his famously schmaltzy TV shows let on. Isn't that always the way? (Of course, that won't come as a surprise to anyone who's seen the TV movie about his family...)