dougdoepke The movie's timing is interesting. The release date is Feb., 1942 (IMDB), just two months after Pearl Harbor and America's entry into WWII. Clearly, the film's intent is to both inspire audiences and warn of foreign enemies. But the conspirators in the movie aren't identified (with one irrelevant exception). As a result, I'm surmising the screenplay was completed before Pearl Harbor, but war was nevertheless clearly imminent. Had production gone beyond PH, I think the enemy would have been clearly identified. Anyway, it's a rather interesting aspect of the movie's context.With its flag-waving title, no one expects anything deep or probing. Rather, the plot honors an idealized "average" American, Joe (Young), whose fortitude and ingenuity thwarts an (unidentified) enemy's attempt to steal a revolutionary bomb-sight. The narrative ties Joe's courage to that of the heroic Nathan Hale's famous "… but one life to give for my country." Thus, America can face confidently into the War knowing that average Americans retain the heroic stature of old.I like the first part showing Joe's work and home life. Surprisingly, events resist descending into treacle, mainly because of actor Young and a refusal to sentimentalize him—(He believes in God, but as a working man he sleeps in rather than going to church). At the same time, Hunt's idealized housewife is dutiful and supportive, the way a wife was expected to be. The second half, however, drifts into plot contrivance and pedestrian violence. Still, I like the way Joe tries to use happy time recollections to get him through the ordeal. Then too, the flashbacks fill in the earlier period of Joe's blissful courtship and marriage to Mary (note the Biblical first names), rounding out their background with patriotic rituals. (btw, as of 2017, she's still with us at age 100!).Not much of an analytic nature should be expected from this glimpse into wartime ideals. Nonetheless, the cast remains a winning one, along with smooth direction (except for the closing twist), and realistic locations. All in all, thanks be to TMC for digging up this obscure but revealing artifact.

twhiteson "Joe Smith, American" is a quaint WW2 propaganda piece with the steady Robert Young as the eponymous lead character.Joe Smith is an aircraft factory worker who is selected to work on the installation of a top secret bombsight. He's just a regular Joe alright with a drop-dead gorgeous wife, "Mary" (Marsha Hunt) and an "adorable" 9 yr old moppet of a son, "Johnny" (Darryl Hickman). While being driven to school, Johnny extols his father with his admiration for the Revolutionary War patriot, Nathan Hale, and continues to exhibit a steely determination to keep secret from his parents how he spent his allowance despite being punished for his refusal to reveal. Upon reaching the school, Joe is treated to the sight of Johnny and his classmates reciting the Pledge of Allegiance (in its original form prior to its inclusion of "under God") and singing "My Country tis of Thee." Joe's face beams with patriotic pride as he heads towards work.His son's determination not reveal his secret, the story of Nathan Hale, and the exhibits of patriotism at the school, all serve Joe in good stead to stay silent when he's kidnapped by dastardly spies who are determined to get the bombsight plans from Joe by either bribery, torture or threats of death. Of course, Joe endures and eventually is able to outwit his tormentors, but what do you expect from a WW2 propaganda piece- for the bad guys to actually get away with it?The best one can say about this film is that it's earnest. It truly wears its patriotic heart on its sleeve. Plus, Robert Young approached the role with his usual likable aplomb. Unfortunately, Marsha Hunt is given little to do except look pretty which she does very well. (Although how old was her character supposed to be when she got married and had a kid? 13? 14? Miss Hunt was just 23 or 24 when she made this movie.) However, Darryl Hickman was a truly annoying child actor. He's just so cloyingly cute that it makes one's teeth ache. Usually, I give kid actors some leeway, but Mr. Hickman gave a similar annoying performance in 1945's "Leave To Her Heaven" in which many in the audience were undoubtedly pleased when Gene Tierney's character didn't lift a finger to save his irritating character. So, how he acted here wasn't just a one-off performance.It was a different world. The unabashed patriotism and pride in being an American exhibited in this film is something that is NOT taught in our schools today. How many American school kids today can recite Nathan Hale's once famous final words?

TxMike It was 1942 and the USA had just entered WW II, courtesy of the Japanese who attacked Pearl Harbor. I wish I knew exactly when this movie actually was filmed, whether before or after that attack.Robert Young, whom many of us got to know really well on later TV series' like "Father Knows Best" and "Marcus Wellby, MD" is Joe Smith. What a generic name, likely chosen to be representative of any citizen in 1942. Joe goes to work in a defense-related job, and thereafter is kidnapped and grilled by men who wanted him to reveal secrets regarding the military plans.We see that they run him off the road at night, then take him to a place where they grill him, threaten him and his family, and beat him up. We can hear the "voice in his head" telling him to think of other things so it won't hurt so much. Also telling him that he swore he would not reveal any secrets.Marsha Hunt is his wife, Mary Hewett Smith. His son Johnny is played by young Darryl Hickman, brother of now more famous Dyawne Hickman of "Dobie Gillis" TV fame.An interesting movie from an interesting period in US history. It drives home the importance of keeping secrets.SPOILERS: After Joe fails to give away any secrets, he is taken away in a car, blindfolded. But he makes a mark on the door of the room he had been held in, and as the car travels listens for clues to where they are, tar strips in a road, a "carvival" sound, etc. When he gets a chance, he jumps out of the car and the crooks, not wanting to get hit on the highway, leave him, injured, on the side of the road. He eventually gets rescued, cops come to his aid, and they track down the crooks with his clues, reversing the order. The mark on the door proves he was there. It turns out one of the crooks was an "inside" man with law enforcement.

John Seal Refreshingly free of cant and surprisingly low on propaganda, Joe Smith American is one of the best 'B' features you'll ever see--it was so good, in fact, that it opened in 1942 atop the bill at movie theatres in New York City. Robert Young plays the titular character, an all American 'Joe' who won't spill his guts about a secret bomb sight to the bad guys--even after being tortured and threatened with death. The torture sequence is surely one of the most grueling things committed to celluloid from the period, and in addition to being spectacularly shot by Charles Lawton Jr. was masterfully lit by one of MGM's superbly trained and uncredited craftsmen. The cloth binding used to blind and gag Young, coupled with the narrative use of his inner voice, anticipates the bleak and distressing Johnny Got His Gun by thirty years. And while the film is certainly a tribute to American patriotism--witness the fascinating schoolyard rendition of My Country Tis of Thee, complete with an odd fascist style salute to the flag--it pointedly allows Young's character to sleep in on Sundays and miss church!