I Accuse My Parents
| I Accuse My Parents | |
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One-sheet for "I Accuse My Parents"
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| Directed by | Sam Newfield |
| Produced by | Max Alexander |
| Screenplay by |
Harry L. Fraser Marjorie Dudley |
| Story by | Arthur Caesar |
| Starring | Robert Lowell Mary Beth Hughes George Meeker John Miljan Vivienne Osborne |
| Music by | Lee Zahler |
| Cinematography | Robert E. Cline |
| Edited by | Charles Henkel, Jr. |
| Distributed by | Producers Releasing Corporation |
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Release date
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Running time
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68 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
I Accuse My Parents is a 1944 American exploitation film dealing with juvenile delinquency. Produced by PRC, the film was used to teach morals, specifically that parents should take an interest in their children's lives, as well as the consequences (both emotionally and psychologically) of child neglect. It premiered on November 4, 1944 and was released generally on October 27, 1945.
Mild-mannered teen James "Jimmy" Wilson (Robert Lowell) appears before a judge on charges of manslaughter. When asked to speak in his own defense, he pauses and reflects to say, "I accuse my parents" for not giving him the home life he should have had.
The film flashes back to a day in high school when Jim was given an award for an essay describing the ideal home he supposedly has. Eager to tell his parents, he goes home to a house full of empty alcohol bottles and parents distracted by arguing with each other. Jimmy is embarrassed when his mother (Vivienne Osbourne) shows up drunk to the graduation planning committee. Later, his father (John Miljan) gives him money instead of celebrating his birthday with him.
Jim gets a job selling shoes after school and meets torch singer Kitty Reed (Mary Beth Hughes). He delivers a pair of shoes to her house and then meets her later at the nightclub where she works. The two begin dating, Jim unaware that Kitty is also the of gangster Charles Blake (George Meeker), who specializes in fencing stolen jewelry. Blake identifies Jimmy as sufficiently gullible and recruits him to deliver packages and messages after work and school. Jim gets paid highly for his errands, so he never questions what exactly he is delivering.
Charles forces Kitty to break up with Jimmy after he realizes that their relationship is becoming serious. Shortly afterward, Jim drives two of Charlie's henchmen to a late-night "errand," which turns out to be a robbery where a night watchman is shot. Realizing what he's gotten involved in, Jimmy turns to his father, who ignores him. Jimmy confronts Blake himself, but Blake threatens to kill him if he does not continue working for him. Later, after the police identify Jimmy as the driver of the getaway car, Blake sends his men to kill Jimmy, but the execution is interrupted by two passersby who happen upon the scene, causing the men to flee and leave behind a beaten Jimmy.
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