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The Four Feathers (1939)

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40 comments in total

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29 out of 29 people found the following comment useful :-
Rousing Adventure Epic, 26 January 2000

Author: Ron Oliver (revilorest@juno.com) from Forest Ranch, CA

A young English army officer resigns his commission just as war in Africa breaks out. His 3 best friends, officers all, and his fiancée each give him a white feather - the sign of the coward. Shunned & ostracized, he undertakes a mission to clear his honour & prove his courage.

This is a wonderful British adventure film, equally on a par with anything Hollywood was to produce in that golden year of 1939. Shot in color, with spare-no-expense filming in the Sudan, THE FOUR FEATHERS is a paean to the glory days of Victoria's Empire & the men who fought to build it.

Sir John Clements is excellent as the young hero. Although virtually unknown to American audiences his entire career, Sir John was a very fine actor with a warmly distinctive voice which he uses here to advantage. Sir Ralph Richardson appears, terrific as always, as one of the friends; so does John Laurie, very good as the troublesome Khalifa. Sir C. Aubrey Smith, magnificent as a curmudgeonly old general, provides the final hurdle Sir John must jump to regain his reputation.

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25 out of 25 people found the following comment useful :-
A timeless classic!, 25 December 2004
Author: flask

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Alexander Korda's "The Four Feathers" (1939) is perhaps one of the greatest triumphs of British film-making -- a crowning achievement in Imperialistic propaganda and a nostalgic testimony to the societal traditions which once inhibited us as individuals. Simply put, "The Four Feathers" is a cinematic masterpiece in the vein of "The Drum" (1938), "Kim" (1950"), "The Jungle Book" (1942) and "Gunga Din" (1939). It also represents a rare instance in which a film is far superior to the original novel.

The original novel upon which the film is loosely based was penned by A.E.W. Mason and has an actual excuse for being somewhat flimsy: Following the bloody outbreak of World War I, Mason wrote the story as a mere identity cover while doing espionage work for the British government. He was able to scout northern Africa under this guise of an accomplished author gleaning material for the plot of the novel.

The plot of "Four Feathers" is simple yet engrossing: A young man, Harry Faversham (the dashing John Clements), is brought up by his distant father (Allan Jeayes) in a lonely household steeped in Imperial tradition which values courage and honor above happiness or life itself. His natural human instinct of self-preservation is accentuated into possible cowardice by the horrifying war stories told around the dinner table by old veterans. As he matures, Faversham falls deeply in love with Ethne Burroughs (the radiantly beautiful June Dupréz) and decides that he would rather spend his life in his own way than be trapped in the futile repetitiveness that is a soldier family. On the eve of his unit sailing for Africa, he resigns his commission and is branded a coward -- one of the worst labels in Victorian England -- by both his friends and his betrothed. To reclaim his honor and prove both to himself and others that he is not a coward, Faversham sails to darkest Africa.

In Africa, our dauntless hero is embroiled in unfolding military history as General/Lord Horatio Kitchner ventures into the blistering Sudan with 20,000 British personnel against the varied 50,000 warriors of the Khalifa (John Laurie). The film terrifically climaxes in the breathtaking Battle of Omdurman, a historical engagement which a young Winston S. Churchill witnessed and, in one of his most famous literary pieces, fittingly described as a "victory snatched from the jaws of peril!"

When I was very young, my parents would show me this particular film as an example of a forgotten way of life: of lavish ballrooms where uniformed officers and young ladies in ornate Victorian gowns danced the night away on the eve of war amidst whispered pledges of love and marriage. The film taught me that a true gentleman never insults another in public; a leader must be able to command his own self before he can command others; to honor your word even if it may kill you in the process and to be unafraid of whatever befalls you as long as you are true to yourself.

Film Rating: ***** (five) out of ***** (five) stars. A mesmerizing period piece.

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23 out of 24 people found the following comment useful :-
What's Good Is Still Good, 26 December 2004

Author: tonstant viewer

No, this isn't how we regard military service or Empire anymore, and I hope it's not how we regard other peoples and races, but there are things about this picture that still getcha.

The film celebrates friendship and mutual obligation. It celebrates courage and determination. It celebrates a beautiful young couple and the love that conquers all, and celebrates the fact that the movies never let the funny-looking guy get the girl. It celebrates C. Aubrey Smith's eyebrows, and that's reason enough to watch any film.

The real heroes are Ralph Richardson, for acting at least 100% in every scene, never coasting or losing concentration for a minute, and the euphoniously named Osmond Borrodaile, whose second unit cinematography in faraway locations with monstrous cameras under difficult conditions enlivened many a movie.

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22 out of 24 people found the following comment useful :-
Absolutely superb!, 28 January 2004
Author: Al Guzman (zorro40@msn.com) from Las Vegas, NV

In my 71 years I still hold "The Four Feathers" as my all time favorite movie. The acting is outstanding and the photography is beautifully done. You'll never see anything like this again if you live to be 200. It's too bad that this was released in 1939 when so many block busters were released by Hollywood.

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20 out of 21 people found the following comment useful :-
Never disgrace the regiment, 30 January 2004
Author: mail-671 from United Kingdom

This is one of the best from the now happily recovered & preserved great Korda collection(for some years blocked by much litigation)when the huge Denham Studios were on a roll,having arisen from the embers of an earlier fire. Under the sheer dedication of the hungarian Kordas, they simply couldn't fail until in the middle of what must be their most popular hit, The Thief of Baghdad,they were forced to move to the US by the outbreak of WW2. Each brother has left much to posterity. Alex, the entrepreneur was subsequently knighted for his contribution to British films. In a fascinating but poignant BBC documentary of the 70s,on the great studio's rise & fall, Elizabeth Bergner {another European import) referred to him as "a prankster". This vividly technicolored remake is splendid adventure, its Sudan locations compare well with those of Lawrence of Arabia and as in "Thief" the object of my attention had to be the beautiful, husky young June Duprez.

As in Stanley Baker's "ZULU" these giant black warriors are fearsomely portrayed with the scenes inside the primitive prison where the "dumb" spy Harry Faversham eventually finds himself are quite grim. And as another reviewer has commented, crusty Sir Aubrey as ever is the perfect & amusing retired tactician at the start & finish. A glare from under those bushy eyebrows was always enough! Great entertainment.

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18 out of 21 people found the following comment useful :-
One of the Best, 6 July 2003

Author: (jimtmann@aol.com) from Champaign, IL

I've been around for awhile and have seen lots of movies, and I think the 1939 version of The Four Feathers is one of the best action movies ever! The photography, interior shots especially, often looks like oil painting. Sir Ralph Richardson, with his "good old Weatherby" line is unforgettable. A great motion picture rendition of a great story.

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15 out of 17 people found the following comment useful :-
Lives in my memory as a true classic of the British Empire, 6 September 2002

Author: srschulz from London, ON

I cannot recall when I first saw this movie, certainly more than 30 years ago, but it is one that I've never forgotten and watch again whenever I can. Of the actors, only Ralph Richardson and C. Aubrey Smith are familiar. However, the ensemble play of the lesser known actors is certainly outstanding. I can still remember the determination of young Faversham desperately trying to regain his honor and his girl. After all these years I don't remember the finer details, but the film as a whole, as well as the book on which it is based are classics, and I'm certain Miklos Rozsa's lush strains added much to the overall effect. It's a film well worth seeing for those who enjoy derring-do and historical drama. I've never seen any of the other versions to see if I enjoyed them even half as much.

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13 out of 14 people found the following comment useful :-
Britain Beats Hollywood At Its Own Game, 28 July 2005

Author: Theo Robertson from Isle Of Bute , Scotland

It's ridiculous that movies like THE FULL MONTY and 28 DAYS LATER that have a British producer , director and screenwriter that were filmed entirely in Britain with an entirely British cast are not classed " British " simply because they were made by American studios . Somewhat ironic then that one of greatest British - And I mean truly British -films owes so much to the Korda brothers who came to this country from Hungary while the man responsible for the breath taking colour cinematography was from France

But I'm not going to be internationalist about THE FOUR FEATHERS because this is a movie that makes you proud to be British , something that is sadly no longer allowed to happen these days . Perhaps the most stirring thing I can say about this movie is the way it wipes the floor with the contemporary competition that was coming out of Hollywood at the time . While the American studio were making similar monochrome movies with Errol Flynn and David Niven as the leads Ralph Richardson's performance alone is a reason to watch this movie and even if it wasn't there's still the story itself featuring themes like courage , honour , romance and redemption . You want battle scenes ? There's several in this movie as well choreographed as any thing seen in cinema at this time but perhaps the most what sets this British movie apart from other movies that were being produced across the pond is that it's a bit more gritty and sadistic than what Hollywood was producing . In one scene a British officer is flogged like a dog and he screams in pain as the camera pans on to the Mufti's face , a face lit up in sadistic glee , then the scene cross fades into a crowded dungeon where the prisoners are kept , a dark hell hole where the audience can actually taste the pain , fear and misery from the unfortunate prisoners . Even in those days Hollywood would pull their punches while a film like THE FOUR FEATHERSwould not

Sadly THE FOUR FEATHERS was released in 1939 which meant it qualified for the legendary Oscar ceremony the following year when GONE WITH THE WIND swept the board . A great pity because this very British movie deserved a hat full of awards . Sadly too Britain no longer has a film industry of its own and is reliant upon American finance , but perhaps the saddest thing is even if we did have a film industry no one in the business would want to film such an exciting historical epic in case they were labeled reactionary or racist

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10 out of 10 people found the following comment useful :-
John Bull's army displays 19th century stiff-upperlipmanship, 11 July 2003

Author: Tony Cox (tonyc@merseymail.com) from Liverpool England

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS*** It's believed that the 19th century British Army fought as many wars, battles, confrontations, skirmishes, call them what you will; as there were years covering Queen Victoria's reign. And that was sixty years, all told.

The ordinary poor British subject joined the army to receive, what was known, as the Queen's shilling, to risk his life somewhere in the colonies to preserve and protect the Queen's Empire. But with young Harry Faversham, played by John Clements; his situation was different. Born into privilege and a military family, he would be "expected" to join the army and gain a commission because it was the family tradition and his duty to do so. The prospect to Harry was indeed, unpleasant.

About six minutes into the film we see the fearful 15-year old Harry Faversham seated at the opposite end of the long dining table from his glowering father, himself a retired general. And who wants his hapless son to be licked into shape to serve Queen and Empire. The Crimean War has broken out all over again amongst the dinner guests during coffee and brandy, with the formidable C. Aubrey Smith as General Burroughs booming, "War was war in those days!", has he reminisced to old comrades over past glories coupled with the grisly detail of soldiers dying bravely with mangled body wounds. Harry sits quietly, enduring the unpleasant subject; watching as General Burroughs displays the layout of the battle lines, with a handful of walnuts, a pineapple, and a drop of red wine symbolising, "the thin red line", of the British Army at Balaclava.

Ten years on and Harry Faversham is serving with the North Surrey Regiment, and displays no enthusiasm when the regiment is called to go on active duty to serve with General Herbert Kitchener's army in the Sudan. Not like Durrance, Willoughby and the younger Burroughs, who can't wait to have a crack at the Khalifa's Dervish Army and those damned fuzzy-wuzzys. (No political correctness here!). And unbounded enthusiasm is displayed by Willoughby, joking about being captured by those fuzzy-wuzzy chaps and "Hung up by the toes. All the money falling out your pockets. Shocking state of affairs!"

Faversham resigns his commission and receives white feathers, the mark of a coward, from his former fellow officers. The disguise of Faversham as a mute Sengali native is clever and certainly believable. Being branded by fellow officers is not pleasant. But self loathing propels him to literally be held down and branded with a hot iron on the forehead to authenticate his Arab disguise. "You are a brave man", he is told. A faint smile shows on Faversham's face. It seems the veil of cowardice has been lifted from his tormented mind. He had crossed the threshold and regained his honour and self respect.

Ralph Richardson as John Durrance turns in a performance that one could only expect from him, as a man blinded by sunstroke. Blindly staggering about in a tent, his face striking the suspended hurricane lamp. Alone in a scorching wilderness with a supposed mute Arab for company and an attempt at suicide which seemed the only way out is Richardson at his very best.

June Duprez as Ethne, a lovely dark haired beauty is perfectly cast to display a fine example of upper crust Victorian gentility. She carries it off well.

A tension filled scene occurs at the dinner table when John Durrence is back in England. Recalling his rescue by a mute Arab. The atmosphere becomes tense when the white feather from Durrence to Faversham tumbles out of the envelope onto the plate before Ethne. All the dinner guests, except Durrance of course, look on stunned at the feather. For Ethne, it is heartbreak all over again. Her husband then, is still possibly alive......somewhere.

The last few minutes of the film are a delight. Faversham is back home with Willoughby, and the younger Burroughs, who are about to hear once again General Burroughs hold forth about the Charge at Balaclava. Harry Faversham decides to stick his neck out and courageously correct the general about his part in the battle. Harry wins the argument with the general then turns and hands the last white feather to Ethne.

The three Korda Brothers turned out a fine film from a grand nineteenth century story. In what any red-blooded British schoolboy would class as a, "Ripping good yarn!"

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9 out of 10 people found the following comment useful :-
Wholesome, Exciting, the Stuff of Heroes., 23 August 2001

Author: cdoe from Toronto Canada

If there is another motion picture which covers the range of emotions and sparks the imagination of every peace loving soul on the face of the earth, I don't know what it would be. The Four Feathers is truly an adventure to behold. The closing scene in which the final feather is returned is a classic.

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