Sam's Son (1984)

Best movie of this year hands down!

Good concept, poorly executed.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

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.

I really enjoyed this movie! It's a movie, that gets you motivated on your own goals or the way you look at things in life. A positive movie, about making your dream come true.This movie has a great and powerful story and it's really interesting to see how Gene's character developed through the movie. The actors and actresses did a great job at portraying their characters! I especially enjoyed Eli Wallach's performance.It was great to see the relationship between Gene and his father. Both had their troubles and hurt, but somehow in the end both became winners. Both made their dream come true.Of course Michael's performance was awesome! :) If you want to see a GOOD movie with a strong message, then this is definitely a must see!

"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...)