Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalHispanic Heritage MonthIMDb Stars to WatchSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

I Accuse My Parents

  • 1944
  • Approved
  • 1h 8m
IMDb RATING
2.6/10
3.1K
YOUR RATING
Edward Earle, Mary Beth Hughes, Robert Lowell, John Miljan, and Vivienne Osborne in I Accuse My Parents (1944)
CrimeDrama

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
    • Sam Newfield
  • Writers
    • Arthur Caesar
    • Harry L. Fraser
    • Marjorie Dudley
  • Stars
    • Mary Beth Hughes
    • Robert Lowell
    • John Miljan
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    2.6/10
    3.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Sam Newfield
    • Writers
      • Arthur Caesar
      • Harry L. Fraser
      • Marjorie Dudley
    • Stars
      • Mary Beth Hughes
      • Robert Lowell
      • John Miljan
    • 50User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos3

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top cast20

    Edit
    Mary Beth Hughes
    Mary Beth Hughes
    • Kitty Reed
    Robert Lowell
    • James Wilson
    John Miljan
    John Miljan
    • Dan Wilson
    Vivienne Osborne
    Vivienne Osborne
    • Mrs. Wilson
    George Meeker
    George Meeker
    • Charles Blake
    Edward Earle
    Edward Earle
    • Judge
    George Lloyd
    George Lloyd
    • Al Frazier
    Patricia Knox
    Patricia Knox
    • Vera Moore
    Florence Johnson
    • Shirley Clark
    Richard Bartell
    • Joe Holden
    Brooks Benedict
    Brooks Benedict
    • Pedestrian
    • (uncredited)
    Edward Biby
    Edward Biby
    • Nightclub Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Jack Chefe
    • Headwaiter
    • (uncredited)
    Pat Gleason
    • Blake's Henchman
    • (uncredited)
    Mauritz Hugo
    Mauritz Hugo
    • Blake's Henchman
    • (uncredited)
    Robert Locke Lorraine
    • Nightclub Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Frank McLure
    Frank McLure
    • Cocktail Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
    Harold Miller
    Harold Miller
    • Cocktail Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Sam Newfield
    • Writers
      • Arthur Caesar
      • Harry L. Fraser
      • Marjorie Dudley
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews50

    2.63.1K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    1quamp

    "Talk , or I'll show you more of this movie!"

    I accuse my parents is a film that definitely has not stood the test of time. Blaming one's parents for your criminal ways is a very out-of-date idea, and the whole premise is silly. There are people out there who have grown up in abusive homes and managed to make things work out fine for themselves.

    Don't watch this unless you're looking at the MST3K version. In the end credits they mention that this film was sent to our fighting forces in Europe. They probably used it as a torture device.
    2orangegal9

    Only worth watching with Joel and the bots

    Come on. Seriously. Who actually said that this movie would be a good idea? What idiot sat in a writing room and said "Hey! I know! A kid accuses his parents! For his lame crimes that he committed after gaining really weak mob ties!" And who said "Hey! I like it!" Yes, Jimmy is pitiful. And yes, he writes a dang fine essay (full of lies). But a angst-ridden teenager and a deceitful essay do not a good movie make. I cannot possibly imagine watching this movie without MST3K. It would be unbearable, especially the awkward singing numbers. I really enjoy the scene where Kitty and Jimmy meet for the first time when he is cleaning the window of the shoe store. That wonderful bit of classic cinematic romance goes on for about...10 minutes. What is going on there?? Why doesn't she just GO IN?? Come on, Kitty. Although she is not a bad actress (can't say as much for Jimmy), there is no chemistry at all between those two. It's like negative chemistry. My advice: stay far away from this movie if you don't see Joel and the bots in the corner. They make it a thousand times more enjoyable.
    2jcoons

    Livingston & Evans

    Early in their career, songwriters Jay Livingston & Ray Evans wrote the laughable "Are You Happy in Your Work?" (Do you never, ever shirk?). I suppose this makes the movie notable to trivia buffs, but the film and song are not really worth the effort. Thankfully Jay & Ray went on to write much better songs ("Buttons and Bows", "Silver Bells", "Que Sera, Sera", "Mona Lisa", etc.) for much better films.
    2planktonrules

    Sure, it's a bad film, but it's still highly entertaining.

    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.
    3gbeauch339

    MST did a great job with this film.

    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.

    Best Emmys Moments

    Best Emmys Moments
    Discover nominees and winners, red carpet looks, and more from the Emmys!

    More like this

    The Final Sacrifice
    2.2
    The Final Sacrifice
    Last of the Wild Horses
    2.4
    Last of the Wild Horses
    Mitchell
    2.8
    Mitchell
    Monster a Go-Go
    1.8
    Monster a Go-Go
    Daddy-O
    2.8
    Daddy-O
    Five the Hard Way
    1.8
    Five the Hard Way
    Swamp Women
    3.4
    Swamp Women
    The Girl in Lovers Lane
    3.2
    The Girl in Lovers Lane
    Space Mutiny
    2.1
    Space Mutiny
    Teenagers from Outer Space
    3.9
    Teenagers from Outer Space
    Operation Kid Brother
    3.6
    Operation Kid Brother
    Hobgoblins
    2.2
    Hobgoblins

    Related interests

    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The Producers Releasing Corporation (PRC) paid all costs to send this movie to troops fighting overseas in World War II.
    • Goofs
      At 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.

    • Connections
      Featured in Mystery Science Theater 3000: I Accuse My Parents (1993)
    • Soundtracks
      Are You Happy In Your Work?
      Music and Lyrics by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans

      Performed by Mary Beth Hughes

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ14

    • How long is I Accuse My Parents?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 4, 1944 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Accuse My Past
    • Filming locations
      • Grand National Studio - 7324 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Alexander-Stern Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 8m(68 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.