My One and Only Review

Messages: Parents start out behaving badly, but they eventually learn to prioritize their children and get their act together (some do, anyway). Some teens appear derisive of their parents, especially their mother, but they end up appreciating her attempts to better herself and her family.

Role models: Ann is undoubtedly selfish, but she has tons of spirit. Besides, as one of her son points out, she tries to be a good mother, even if she doesn't always succeed. Ditto for her husband, who’s pretty much absent from his children’s lives. The siblings have a great relationship; though they’re very different in disposition and personality, they stick up and watch out for one another.

Violence: A man lunges after a woman, who protects herself and her son by brandishing a fireplace poker. A mother slaps her son. A man pulls a knife on a woman, and her son defends them both by firing a gun.

Sex: A woman is mistakenly arrested for prostitution; a wife catches her husband in bed with another woman (no nudity, though he does walk around in his boxers while he and his spouse bicker). A teenage girl bares her breasts to a boy her age (but they're not shown); he responds in a fairly gentlemanly fashion.

Language: Swearing includes several uses of "s--t," plus “bitch,” "goddamn," "hell," "damn," and one use of “f--k.”

Consumerism: Not an issue

Drinking, drugs and smoking: Some social drinking and smoking, accurate for the 1950s setting.