Sons of Steel
Cast & Crew
Charles Lamont
Charles Starrett
Polly Ann Young
William Bakewell
Walter Walker
Holmes Herbert
Film Details
Technical Specs
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com//img/global/logo-AFI.png)
Synopsis
Upon graduating from college, Phillip Mason, the adopted son of Tom Mason, a steel mill machinist, and Ronald Chadbourne, the son of a steel magnate, return to their home town. When Phillip, who dreams of using his college degree to make money in business, is unable to find white-collar employment, he reluctantly accepts an offer from John Chadbourne, the mill's co-owner, to work as an assistant machinist in the Chadbourne mill. Unknown to Phillip and Ronald, John, a widower, is Phillip's natural father. Soon after Phillip grudgingly starts his job, Ronald opts to earn his living and asks his father Curtis for a job. To avoid having to work himself, the lazy Curtis gives his son, who dreams of working as a machinist, a sales job. When the inexperienced Ronald loses a valuable automobile contract, however, Rose Mason, his secretary and Phillip's fiancée, suggests that he join forces with Phillip, who has been sketching car designs in his spare time. While Ronald discusses his plans with Phillip in the shop, the motor on Phillip's machine falls off and injures another worker. Although Phillip angrily contends that the accident was the result of aging machinery, John blames Phillip and fires him. Two weeks later, Phillip is approached by two steel workers who ask him to speak on behalf of the mill employees, who are threatening to strike if work conditions fail to improve at the struggling factory. While an inflamed Phillip rallies a crowd of discontented workers, Ronald asks his uncle to buy Phillip's car design as a way of solving the mill's financial crisis. When John learns that the mob's leader is his own son, however, he refuses to consider Ronald's suggestion. Later, Rose convinces Phillip to talk to John directly about his design. Tom also wants to speak with John, but at the mill's front gate, a guard, mistaking him for a labor agitator, hits him on the head and fractures his skull. Confronted about the attack on Tom, John finally confesses to Phillip the truth about their relationship. Phillip, stunned but happy, accepts his father, then calms the mob with promises of reform. Later, Ronald shifts to the engineering department, while Phillip takes his place in the business department.
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Director
Charles Lamont
Cast
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/CharlesStarrett.jpg?imwidth=188&height=141)
Charles Starrett
Polly Ann Young
William Bakewell
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/WalterWalker.201017.jpg?imwidth=188&height=141)
Walter Walker
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/HolmesHerbert.jpg?imwidth=188&height=141)
Holmes Herbert
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/RichardCarlyle.29096.jpg?imwidth=188&height=141)
Richard Carlyle
Florence Roberts
Aileen Pringle
Adolf Milar
Edgar Norton
Barbara Bedford
Tom Ricketts
Frank La Rue
Al Thompson
Harry Semels
Jack Shutta
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/LloydIngraham.92131.jpg?imwidth=188&height=141)
Lloyd Ingraham
Edward Le Saint
Crew
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com//img/global/logo-AFI.png)
Film Details
Technical Specs
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com//img/global/logo-AFI.png)
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The working title of this film was My Son Is Yours.
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