What Is I Want You About?
The premise of I Want You in 283 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the quiet solitude of an Eastern U.S. town during the early summer of 1950, the peace of post-war life is abruptly disturbed by the outbreak of the Korean conflict. Martin Greer, a World War II veteran who has settled into a stable career as an engineer at his family’s firm, finds his hard-won tranquility threatened by history’s sudden echo. Having already faced the horrors of combat, he hopes to focus on his wife, Nancy Greer, and their two young children, but the shifting geopolitical landscape soon makes avoidance impossible as the draft board begins to call upon the town’s young men.
As the reality of the new war sets in, the community’s fabric begins to fray. George Kress Jr. and Jack Greer find themselves on the precipice of adulthood, their plans and romances—particularly Jack’s relationship with Carrie Turner—thrown into uncertainty by the looming specter of service. The atmosphere grows dense with tension as families confront the difference between personal obligation and patriotic duty. For Martin, the pressure mounts when those around him, including a former commander, look to him for leadership, while others seek his help in navigating the complexities of the Selective Service System.
Nancy watches her husband’s internal struggle with growing dread, acutely aware of the cost of his past service and the potential price of his future choices. The film captures the intimate tension of a household standing on the edge of change, where the phrase “I Want You” becomes a haunting refrain that challenges every resident’s resolve. It is a character-driven exploration of how a small town grapples with the weight of words, where decisions made in living rooms carry consequences that ripple far beyond the town limits.
What Happens in I Want You?
The complete story of I Want You, from the first scene to the last, in 482 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 9 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
In the early summer of 1950, Martin Greer, Dana Andrews, works as an engineer for the small construction firm Greer and Sons, alongside his father. A four-year Army combat engineer from World War II, he and his wife Nancy Greer, Dorothy McGuire, are raising two young children while the draft looms over the town.
When George Kress Jr., Martin Milner, asks Martin to write a letter to the Selective Service System claiming his son is indispensable to their company and thus exempt from the draft, Martin agonizes over the request and ultimately refuses. The consequence is immediate: George Jr. joins the Army at the outset of the Korean War, altering the family’s balance and testing loyalties.
Meanwhile, Jack Greer, Farley Granger, is in love with Carrie Turner, Peggy Dow, the daughter of a local judge who sits on the draft board. Despite a prior deferred status due to a knee problem, Jack is drafted, setting the stage for tension between duty and affection. The judge’s stance adds another layer of pressure to a community already reeling from the draft and war.
Jack’s mother, mourning a son lost in the last war, pleads with Martin to intervene once again by penning an “indispensable” letter for Jack. Martin considers it, but in the end he does not, and Nancy quietly voices her criticism of Jack’s hesitation to serve. The decision reverberates when Jack is drafted and later performs his duties, including a brief moment when he and George Jr. cross paths before George heads overseas to Korea.
Tragedy and uncertainty shadow George Jr.’s fate, as he is listed as missing in action, a fate that remains unrevealed in the narrative, leaving Thomas Greer, Robert Keith the family patriarch, to cope with bitterness and blame cast upon Martin. The strain of unresolved loss edges the family dynamics and colors each choice they face.
Harvey Landrum, Jim Backus, Martin’s commander from World War II, reenlists and seeks out Martin again, highlighting a shortage of engineers who know how to build the kind of airstrips the Army needs. Martin’s decision to join him—after initially declining—comes despite Nancy’s objections, underscoring the recurring question of personal duty versus family duty during a time of national crisis.
As the war stretches on, Jack and Carrie marry during a furlough before he too ships out, sealing a new chapter for the Greer family amid ongoing uncertainty. The film traces how every choice—whether to resist, comply, or commit—carries weight far beyond the individual, weaving together themes of duty, sacrifice, and the enduring question of what a family must endure when a nation calls its young men to fight.
Throughout, the performances of the core cast—Mildred Dunnock as Sarah Greer and Ray Collins as Judge Kenneth Turner—ground a story that feels both intimate and timely, offering a careful, character-driven look at how a small town grapples with war, obligation, and love under pressure.
I Want You Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Martin's life in early summer 1950” to “Martin agrees to reenlist”. 12 events name a place, across 11 locations.
- 1
Martin's life in early summer 1950
In the early summer of 1950, Martin Greer works as an engineer for Greer and Sons, partner with his father and balancing family life with a demanding job. He is a World War II veteran who served four years as an Army combat engineer, and he cherishes his wife Nancy and their two young children. The looming shadow of the Korean War frames his daily choices and responsibilities.
When:early summer 1950 Where:Home and Greer & Sons construction site
- 2
George Kress asks for an indispensable letter
George Kress asks Martin to write a letter to the Selective Service System claiming his son is indispensable to their business and should be exempt from the draft. Martin is reluctant, wary of bending rules for personal gain. The request casts a pall over their relationship as it foreshadows the conflict between loyalty to family and civic duty.
Where:Office / home
- 3
George Jr. joins the Army at the start of the Korean War
With the onset of the Korean War, George Jr. enlists in the Army, signaling a renewed family commitment to service. Martin's earlier refusal contrasts with the new generation stepping into uniform. The brothers are pulled into opposite sides of a changing national crisis.
When:1950 Where:Home / military recruitment
- 4
Jack drafted despite a knee deferral
Jack, who is in love with Carrie Turner, has a trick knee that earned him a prior deferral. Nevertheless, he is drafted into the Army. He suspects Carrie’s father, a local draft-board judge, may be influencing the system.
When:1950s Where:Local town / draft board
- 5
Mother's plea and Martin's moral dilemma
Martin's mother asks him to write an 'indispensable' letter to save Jack from service. He seriously considers it, weighing duty and family ties, but ultimately refuses. Nancy criticizes Jack for his reluctance to serve, underscoring the family’s divisions over patriotism and sacrifice.
Where:Home
- 6
Jack and Carrie marry during furlough
During a furlough, Jack and Carrie marry, sealing their commitment before Jack heads back to duty overseas. The ceremony marks a personal milestone amid the looming separation and war. The marriage adds emotional complexity to the family’s already fragile balance.
When:during furlough Where:Home / town church
- 7
Jack goes overseas
Shortly after the wedding, Jack departs for overseas duty, beginning his own wartime experience far from home. He faces the uncertainties of deployment, separation from Carrie, and the challenges of military life. The family watches and waits as his unit ships out.
When:1950s Where:Home to overseas
- 8
Jack briefly sees George Jr. before Korea
When the brothers are in the same theater, Jack sees George Jr. briefly before the latter heads to Korea. The chance encounter highlights their shared risk and the proximity of war to ordinary family life. The moment underscores the siblings’ intertwined fates during the conflict.
Where:Military bases / train stations
- 9
George Jr. goes to Korea and is listed as missing in action
George Jr. is sent to Korea and is listed as missing in action, with his precise fate not revealed in the story. The ambiguity compounds the family’s grief and fuels the tensions surrounding service, duty, and risk. His absence resonates with Martin and his brother Jack as the war rages on.
When:Korean War era Where:Korea
- 10
George Sr. blames Martin for George Jr.'s fate
George Sr., the father of George Jr., drinks heavily and blames Martin for his son’s uncertain fate. The accusation roils the household and strains Martin’s relationships within his own family. The scene captures the volatility and guilt that war can cast on veterans and their supporters.
Where:Home
- 11
Harvey Landrum reenlists and asks Martin to join
Harvey Landrum, Martin’s World War II commander, reenlists and asks Martin to join him as an engineer to build airstrips. Martin initially declines, even as his wife Nancy objects, citing the danger and disruption to family life. The proposal reopens old battlefield loyalties and professional responsibilities.
Where:Home / military planning
- 12
Martin agrees to reenlist
After weighing the costs and honoring his prior experience, Martin finally agrees to reenlist and join Harvey. The decision deepens the family’s sacrifice as another member heads into combat zones and uncertain futures. The film leaves the path of their lives shaped by duty, loyalty, and love.
Where:Home / base
Who Are the Main Characters in I Want You?
9 characters, among them Martin Greer (Dana Andrews), Nancy Greer (Dorothy McGuire) and George Kress Jr. (Martin Milner): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Martin Greer (Dana Andrews)
Played by Dana Andrews
An engineer for a family-run firm who served in World War II, Martin is practical and principled. He struggles with writing an 'indispensable' letter to help a relative avoid the draft, balancing loyalty to family with his own moral code. His decisions set the tone for the moral tensions that drive the story.
- 🎭 Drama
- 🛠️ Engineer
- 👨👩👦 Family man
- NG
Nancy Greer (Dorothy McGuire)
Played by Dorothy McGuire
Martin's wife, a stabilizing presence who supports her family while pushing back against decisions that could jeopardize their future. She wrestles with the strain of wartime expectations and the couple's responsibilities at home. Her perspective highlights the domestic side of national service.
- 💪 Supportive
- 👩👧👦 Family
- 🧭 Moral compass
- GK
George Kress Jr. (Martin Milner)
Played by Martin Milner
The younger generation eager to serve, George Jr. faces the pressures of duty and the reality of war. His absence or fate in action drives a core emotional thread for the family and community. His story reflects the personal cost of the draft for young men.
- 🎖️ Son
- 🪖 Military service
- 🧭 Youth
- JG
Jack Greer (Farley Granger)
Played by Farley Granger
Martin's younger brother, a spirited young man who loves Carrie and wrestles with a recent injury that had him deferred before. He becomes part of the wartime wave, choosing to enlist and test his own limits. His journey adds tension and energy to the family saga.
- 🎭 Rebel
- 🧭 Youth
- 💪 Brother
- CT
Carrie Turner (Peggy Dow)
Played by Peggy Dow
A college student and daughter of a local judge, Carrie sits at the crossroads of romance and social scrutiny. Her relationship with Jack anchors the personal stakes of the draft in a town where influence and authority matter. She embodies youth facing a world of grown-up consequences.
- 🎓 Student
- ❤️ Love
- 🗺️ Local politics
- JK
Judge Kenneth Turner (Ray Collins)
Played by Ray Collins
A local judge and member of the draft board, he represents the gatekeepers of civic duty. His decisions reflect the tension between fairness, authority, and community expectations. He provides a formal counterpoint to the personal struggles of the Greers.
- ⚖️ Authority
- 🗳️ Draft board
- 👨⚖️ Judge
- HL
Harvey Landrum (Jim Backus)
Played by Jim Backus
Martin's World War II commander who reenlists, highlighting the enduring pull of duty. He frames the appeal of engineering expertise in wartime and presses Martin to join the effort. His presence underscores the call to service that permeates the story.
- 🎖️ Military
- 🗺️ Returning veteran
- 🗣️ Leadership
- TG
Thomas Greer (Robert Keith)
Played by Robert Keith
Martin and Jack's father figure who embodies traditional expectations and the cost of losing loved ones in past wars. He struggles with grief and pressure, and his reactions illuminate the generational impact of conflict on families. His frustration occasionally erupts in ways that complicate family dynamics.
- 💔 Father
- 🥃 Struggles with loss
- 🧭 Family dynamics
- GK
George Kress Sr. (Walter Baldwin)
Played by Walter Baldwin
An elder member of the Kress family, his stance and values reflect a generation shaped by earlier conflicts and community loyalty. He observes the changing landscape of duty and opportunity with a mix of pride and concern. His presence anchors a broader sense of lineage and responsibility.
- 👨👩👦 Family patriarch
- 🕊️ Generational values
- 🧭 Community
Where and When Is I Want You Set?
I Want You is set in Small-town America and United States (Early summer 1950). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Early summer 1950
The narrative unfolds as the Korean War begins to press its shadow over everyday life. With the draft intensifying, families confront decisions about duty, loyalty, and financial survival. The period is marked by uncertainty, rapid changes, and the weight of potential loss behind every letter and furlough.
Where
Small-town America, United States
Set in a close-knit American town, the story centers on a family-owned construction firm and the people around them. The environment reflects postwar America where community ties, local pride, and the responsibilities of work intersect with national service obligations. The town acts as a microcosm for the broader social pressures of the era.
- 🏡 Small-town America
- 🇺🇸 United States
What Are the Themes of I Want You?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Duty vs Family, War's Toll and Integrity under Pressure.
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01
Duty vs Family
Martin faces pressure to influence exemptions for loved ones, challenging his sense of integrity. The film explores how personal loyalties can clash with national expectations and job responsibilities. It reveals the emotional stakes when choosing between kin and civic duty, and the far-reaching consequences of those choices.
-
02
War's Toll
The repercussions of enlistment and missing-in-action reports ripple through the household and community. Relationships fray under strain, and the fear of loss colors daily decisions. The story emphasizes that war’s impact extends beyond the battlefield into marriages, friendships, and reputation.
-
03
Integrity under Pressure
Characters grapple with fairness, privilege, and honesty in a system that prizes duty, sometimes at the expense of truth. Social pressures and the desire to protect loved ones tempt rationalizations and compromises. The film questions what it means to do the right thing when the cost of honesty is high.
What Kind of Film Is I Want You?
Melancholic in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Melancholic
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Mixed
A somber and reflective drama that captures the quiet tension and patriotic weight of a community grappling with personal sacrifice during a distant war.
- somber
- tense
- patriotic
- family-oriented
- reflective
- melancholic
- draft
- family conflict
- generational differences
- wartime sacrifice
Content notes: war themes, alcohol use.
Quiz
How well do you remember I Want You? Test yourself on the story.
