# Mother-son stories **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 28, 2006, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-son-stories/346429 "2006-02-28T06:50:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DaveRaver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daveraver/32/1078_2.png) [@DaveRaver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveRaver)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2006, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-son-stories/346429/21 "2006-03-01T03:53:11Z")
The TV series “Jack & Bobby” (2004-05) dealt in depth with mother-son relationships. ---
**Author:** ![ninevah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/46a35a/32.png) [@ninevah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ninevah)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2006, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-son-stories/346429/22 "2006-03-01T04:10:03Z")
There’s the classic Australian tv comedy series, [Mother and Son](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_And_Son) , which ran from 1984 until 1994. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2006, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-son-stories/346429/23 "2006-03-01T05:34:08Z")
Claudius’s relationship with his mother, Antonia, and the relationship of both his father Germanicus and Uncle Tiberius to their mother, Livia, are major components of _I, Claudius_. (The Antonia:Claudius relationship is majorly chopped in the miniseries.) The Bible has several mother:son stories. Sarah:Isaac v. Hagar:Ishmael, Rebekah:Jacob, Mary:Jesus are the first three to come to mind. _Titus Andronicus_ revolves much around the relationship of a mother and her three sons, as does (in a different way) _The Lion in Winter_. The Lady Jessica’s relationship with Paul in DUNE is fairly well developed. ---
**Author:** ![zoogirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b9bd4f/32.png) [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2006, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-son-stories/346429/24 "2006-03-01T06:38:33Z")
_Bambi_ “Mother…!” ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2006, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-son-stories/346429/25 "2006-03-01T15:43:33Z")
> [@ninevah](#): > > There’s the classic Australian tv comedy series, [Mother and Son](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_And_Son) , which ran from 1984 until 1994. Thanks for mentioning this, **ninevah**. I had never heard of it. It’s a shame it’s not on video (according to IMDb). ---
**Author:** ![ninevah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/46a35a/32.png) [@ninevah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ninevah)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2006, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-son-stories/346429/26 "2006-03-01T22:00:38Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > Thanks for mentioning this, **ninevah**. I had never heard of it. It’s a shame it’s not on video (according to IMDb). Well, it’s available on DVD from [The ABC Shop](http://shop.abc.net.au/browse/product.asp?productid=726780) . If your dvd players can play multi regional, then you should be able to view it, even though it says Oz Region 4 anyway. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2006, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-son-stories/346429/27 "2006-03-01T22:10:50Z")
There’s that movie about Forrest Gump. People call it _Forrest Gump_. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2006, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-son-stories/346429/28 "2006-03-01T22:24:17Z")
not a movie, but there’s always _Time Enough for Love._ ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-son-stories/346429/29 "2006-03-02T10:04:20Z")
**Dumbo** The Woody Allen one in **New York Stories** **Gloria** and **Spider-Man** , if you’re not too literal about it being his actual mother ---
**Author:** ![Mississippienne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mississippienne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mississippienne)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-son-stories/346429/30 "2006-03-02T12:03:52Z")
You know what cheeses me off? That in movies where the strong-jawed hero is seeking revenge against the dastardly villain, it’s always because the bad guy offed the hero’s father. Never his _mother_, always the _father_. The only exception I can think of is _Conan the Barbarian_, where his mother is killed at the beginning. The whole trope is summed up by Inigo Montoya’s words, “You killed my father. Prepare to die.” Even the heroines are always avenging their fathers, or carrying out daddy’s last wishes, or what have you. What, mom’s not important enough??? ---
**Author:** ![ninevah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/46a35a/32.png) [@ninevah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ninevah)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2006, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-son-stories/346429/31 "2006-03-02T20:56:28Z")
> [@Mississippienne](#): > > You know what cheeses me off? That in movies where the strong-jawed hero is seeking revenge against the dastardly villain, it’s always because the bad guy offed the hero’s father. Never his _mother_, always the _father_. The only exception I can think of is _Conan the Barbarian_, where his mother is killed at the beginning. The whole trope is summed up by Inigo Montoya’s words, “You killed my father. Prepare to die.” Even the heroines are always avenging their fathers, or carrying out daddy’s last wishes, or what have you. What, mom’s not important enough??? Err, what about Anakin Skywalker’s reaction to his mother’s death?? ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2006, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-son-stories/346429/32 "2006-03-04T10:01:56Z")
> [@ninevah](#): > > Err, what about Anakin Skywalker’s reaction to his mother’s death?? Not to mention **Four Brothers**. Also **Prince of Tides** , sort of. ---
**Author:** ![Tracy\_Lord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2006, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-son-stories/346429/33 "2006-03-05T06:19:47Z")
Can’t forget Lucille and Buster Bluth, of course. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-son-stories/346429/34 "2006-03-09T00:28:02Z")
**Brewster McCloud,** the very odd birdman movie. It’s not the core of the story, but **Harold and Maude** has some powerful stuff between Harold and his mom. ---
**Author:** ![MisterThyristor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecccb3/32.png) [@MisterThyristor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MisterThyristor)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-son-stories/346429/35 "2006-03-09T00:46:29Z")
> [@Mississippienne](#): > > You know what cheeses me off? That in movies where the strong-jawed hero is seeking revenge against the dastardly villain, it’s always because the bad guy offed the hero’s father. Never his _mother_, always the _father_. The only exception I can think of is _Conan the Barbarian_, where his mother is killed at the beginning. The whole trope is summed up by Inigo Montoya’s words, “You killed my father. Prepare to die.” Even the heroines are always avenging their fathers, or carrying out daddy’s last wishes, or what have you. What, mom’s not important enough??? “Top of the world, Ma!” ---
**Author:** ![MisterThyristor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecccb3/32.png) [@MisterThyristor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MisterThyristor)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-son-stories/346429/36 "2006-03-09T00:59:19Z")
(That was Jimmy Cagney in _White Heat_ for you young’uns who might not get it). ---
**Author:** ![Baine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Baine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baine)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-son-stories/346429/37 "2006-03-09T03:02:52Z")
> [@Mississippienne](#): > > You know what cheeses me off? That in movies where the strong-jawed hero is seeking revenge against the dastardly villain, it’s always because the bad guy offed the hero’s father. Never his _mother_, always the _father_. The only exception I can think of is _Conan the Barbarian_, where his mother is killed at the beginning. The whole trope is summed up by Inigo Montoya’s words, “You killed my father. Prepare to die.” Even the heroines are always avenging their fathers, or carrying out daddy’s last wishes, or what have you. What, mom’s not important enough??? I think in this kind of romantic worldview having your father killed brings shame to your family name, while having your mother killed is just a terrible tragedy. If the six finger man had killed Inigo Montoya’s mother instead, I think Inigo would have spared him the speech and just smashed his head in. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-son-stories/346429/38 "2006-03-09T04:38:42Z")
In additon to _Psycho_, Hitchcock had some interesting mother-son relationships in \*North By Northwest \* and _Notorious_. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-son-stories/346429/39 "2006-03-09T20:52:22Z")
> [@Baine](#): > > I think in this kind of romantic worldview having your father killed brings shame to your family name, while having your mother killed is just a terrible tragedy. If the six finger man had killed Inigo Montoya’s mother instead, I think Inigo would have spared him the speech and just smashed his head in. What, you never saw **Sons Of Katie Elder?** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-son-stories/346429.md?page=1)