IMDb RATING
2.6/10
3.1K
YOUR RATING
James "Jimmy" Wilson, a young man neglected by his parents, goes to work for a bunch of gangsters to impress his nightclub-singer girlfriend.James "Jimmy" Wilson, a young man neglected by his parents, goes to work for a bunch of gangsters to impress his nightclub-singer girlfriend.James "Jimmy" Wilson, a young man neglected by his parents, goes to work for a bunch of gangsters to impress his nightclub-singer girlfriend.
- Director
- Writers
- Stars
Brooks Benedict
- Pedestrian
- (uncredited)
Edward Biby
- Nightclub Patron
- (uncredited)
Jack Chefe
- Headwaiter
- (uncredited)
Pat Gleason
- Blake's Henchman
- (uncredited)
Mauritz Hugo
- Blake's Henchman
- (uncredited)
Robert Locke Lorraine
- Nightclub Patron
- (uncredited)
Frank McLure
- Cocktail Party Guest
- (uncredited)
Harold Miller
- Cocktail Party Guest
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
I'll be up front with you; I've never seen this movie in its original unadulterated form. I think if I had, I would found it a harmless (if slightly dull) melodramatic "message" film.
The truth is, I've only seen this movie as an MST3000 episode, and as such, it is one the funniest and most entertaining movies I've ever seen! Young Robert Lowell (the poet?) as Jimmy is endearingly dim-witted, and Mary Beth Hughes is charmingly wooden as his love interest. (I like her singing, by the way). But the clincher here is George Lloyd as Al, the kindly gravel-voiced father figure and church-going diner owner who tries to set our hero straight (good luck!). When Al's scenes come up, I rewind and watch over and over and over...
The truth is, I've only seen this movie as an MST3000 episode, and as such, it is one the funniest and most entertaining movies I've ever seen! Young Robert Lowell (the poet?) as Jimmy is endearingly dim-witted, and Mary Beth Hughes is charmingly wooden as his love interest. (I like her singing, by the way). But the clincher here is George Lloyd as Al, the kindly gravel-voiced father figure and church-going diner owner who tries to set our hero straight (good luck!). When Al's scenes come up, I rewind and watch over and over and over...
A wonderful film - if seen through the eyes of Mystery Science Theater. It is devoid of logic. The best scene is where Joe, our hero, on the run, goes into a diner, broke, and sits at the counter with a gun under his jacket. The old man behind the counter goes through a contrived, rambling speech and then offers the boy a free meal. In the process, he comments that he saw the gun and wouldn't Joe like him to take it. Naturally, he gives him work and a place to stay. One of the many unbelievable scenes in this movie. A must see.
The fact that "I Accuse My Parents" is a bad film shouldn't at all be surprising. After all, it's made by one of the cheapest of the so-called 'Poverty Row' studios of the 1940s==where entire scripts NEVER were bought for more than a few hundred dollars! Also, with an exploitation title like this, it sure sounds like a recipe for dreck.
The film begins with a trial. A young man is accused of manslaughter. In an insanely unrealistic moment, the judge asks the accused to come to the front of the room and talk about his life story. At first, it's all about how his childhood sucked because his parents were both self-involved jerks (hence the title), but so many of his actions seem to have little to do with his upbringing and more to do with that he's a total idiot! To earn some extra money, he goes to work as a courier for a mobster--and having absolutely no idea that he's doing anything illegal! Think about it--he gets paid huge amounts of money to do 'odd jobs' at all hours and he isn't suspicious! Anyway, but the end of his long story, the young man once again asserts that it's pretty much his parents' fault--at which point the judge summarily decides on his fate--with no deliberations, no additional testimony...nothing! And then, what follows, is the judge's message to the parents! Uggh...it's really pretty dumb. However, I must admit that despite being pure corn and bad script writing, it was, in an odd way, entertaining...yet still quite bad. For bad movie buffs, this sort of silly sermonizing and bad writing is exactly what they are looking for--and I can't recommend it enough for those who occasionally like a bad film. Dopey but easy to like.
The film begins with a trial. A young man is accused of manslaughter. In an insanely unrealistic moment, the judge asks the accused to come to the front of the room and talk about his life story. At first, it's all about how his childhood sucked because his parents were both self-involved jerks (hence the title), but so many of his actions seem to have little to do with his upbringing and more to do with that he's a total idiot! To earn some extra money, he goes to work as a courier for a mobster--and having absolutely no idea that he's doing anything illegal! Think about it--he gets paid huge amounts of money to do 'odd jobs' at all hours and he isn't suspicious! Anyway, but the end of his long story, the young man once again asserts that it's pretty much his parents' fault--at which point the judge summarily decides on his fate--with no deliberations, no additional testimony...nothing! And then, what follows, is the judge's message to the parents! Uggh...it's really pretty dumb. However, I must admit that despite being pure corn and bad script writing, it was, in an odd way, entertaining...yet still quite bad. For bad movie buffs, this sort of silly sermonizing and bad writing is exactly what they are looking for--and I can't recommend it enough for those who occasionally like a bad film. Dopey but easy to like.
Of all the Mystery Science Theater 3000 Episodes I have seen, and I haven't seen that many, this movie is probably the least terrible of them all. Sure it is slow, boring, outdated, and without any redeeming quality, but at least it has a coherent plot and resembles a professional film. It isn't as bad as some other MST3k stinkers like "Manos: The Hands of Fate," "Mitchell," "Eegah," or "Santa Claus Conquers The Martians." However, if it weren't for Joel and the bots, I don't think I would have made it through the entire movie; which is true for all the MST3k movies.
This isn't nearly as bad as typical MST fodder. Sure, the plot is melodramatic and ludicrous, but no more so than a lot of "troubled youth" movies of the time. Sure, the musical numbers are uninspired, but you have to give them credit for trying. A lot of times the "MST Effect" makes people assume any movie used on the show is terrible, but it isn't so. This one isn't great by any means, but it's reasonably competently made and has its charms. So lighten up, see?
Did you know
- TriviaThe Producers Releasing Corporation (PRC) paid all costs to send this movie to troops fighting overseas in World War II.
- GoofsAt the shoe store, Jimmy's boss tells the police Jimmy's address is 465 Lindhurst Drive. Exterior shots of Jimmy's house clearly show the house number 219.
- Quotes
Judge: Before we go any farther, I urge you once again to speak... if there is anything you could say in your own defense.
James Wilson: Maybe I shouldn't say this your honor but I accuse my parents.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Mystery Science Theater 3000: I Accuse My Parents (1993)
- SoundtracksAre You Happy In Your Work?
Music and Lyrics by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans
Performed by Mary Beth Hughes
- How long is I Accuse My Parents?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Accuse My Past
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime
- 1h 8m(68 min)
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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