Adam Had Four Sons (1941) User Reviews

lovely film, if on the short side

[blanche-2 · 7/10 · 15 April 2011]

There are some plot gaps in 1941's "Adam Had Four Sons," possibly because 25 minutes have been cut. As it is, it's an okay film thanks to the performances.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Ingrid Bergman plays Emilie, a young foreigner hired as a governess for the Adam Stoddard family's four boys. Everyone takes to her immediately, and she becomes one of the family. Unfortunately, tragedy strikes the family when the boys' mother Molly (Fay Wray) dies. Then there is a reversal in the stock market, and Adam Stoddard (Warner Baxter) loses his business. His aunt (Helen Westley) puts up the money to send the older boys to school, and Stoddard has no choice but to sell his house and move into an apartment with the youngest boy, Phillip. He has to send Emilie back home, but he promises that as soon as he can, he will send for her to return.

Years later, before World War I, Adam sends for Emilie, and she comes back. The three older boys, and eventually Philip, all fight in World War I. One of the boys, David, brings home the manipulative, trashy Hester (Susan Hayward) as his wife, and she lives in the house while he is away. Emilie has her number right away. Hester has an affair with the oldest son, Jack (Richard Denning), and, so Adam will not find out, Emilie claims that it was she that he saw in Jack's room.

Well, the big question any viewer will have is, why did Adam send for Emilie to return when his kids were grown and, in fact, about to go off and fight a war? And what the heck was Emilie doing all those years? This may be what is missing in the 25 minutes that were cut. My hunch is that Emilie continued to work as a governess, and probably even turned down a couple of offers of marriage, because she had fallen in love with Adam. When he sends for her, it's because he needs her to run his household. But I'm guessing because we see none of that.

Ingrid Bergman is beautiful and charming, and she has excellent scenes with Susan Hayward, who is a real spitfire. Richard Denning makes a strong impression as Jack, and Warner Baxter is very good as Adam, a gentle, optimistic man who loses his beloved wife. Fay Wray is the wife, and she, too, is quite beautiful but doesn't have a huge role.

This is an enjoyable movie if you fill in the story so it makes sense.

Excellent sophomore effort by Ingrid Bergman

[CountessM · 7/10 · 21 May 2004]

*** Possible Spoilers*** When Adam needs a new governess for his four sons, he and his wife hire a French governess to take care of them. The wife soon dies and over the years she becomes the mainstay of the home, in spite of a stock market crash, World War I and the straying wife of one of the boys. A good effort by all, including a young and manipulative Susan Hayward. Given the era, some of the content was surprising and the story was by no means a conventional epic. It had been some time since Warner Baxter was a big star, so this fine performance by him is a welcome reminder of his previous successes.

I dissent -- I thought this was a good, solid movie

[vincentlynch-moonoi · 7/10 · 30 August 2012]

Once again, I dissent from the majority. I thought this was a very good film, and it didn't really go where I was expecting it to go at the beginning of the film.

Warner Baxter portrays the wealthy businessman whose loving family finds hard times after his wife dies and the stock market crashes (not the 1929 crash). Their governess, who had recently come from Europe, strives to keep the family together, but the hard times results in the father and the boys moving into an apartment, and the governess (Ingrid Bergman) returning to Europe. Over time, the business climate improves and the father buys back his house, but now the boys are off to war...but not before one of the boys marries Susan Hayward. The problem is that Hayward is a conniving slut. Bergman attempts to cover up the indiscretion of one son with the other son's wife in order to keep the family together. In the end, Hayward is found out by all, is forced to leave the family, and all (except Hayward) live happily ever after -- particularly Bergman and Baxter. Some viewers will be bothered by the extreme age difference between Warner Baxter and Ingrid Bergman.

I'll be honest, this is the first film in which I really noticed Warner Baxter. He did a very fine job in this role, but I was startled at how closely he resembled an older Ronald Colman (without the accent, of course). Bergman is also very fine here, and it was a very positive role for her. It was impossible to like Susan Hayward in this role, not only because her character was the villain of the film, but frankly, I felt her acting was almost childish. Fay Wray was fine as the dying wife. Richard Denning turns is a good performance as one of the sons. The other actors did their parts well, though not exceptionally.

If there's a criticism here it's about Warner Baxter's character (not Baxter's acting). The father figure seems terribly naive at times, although perhaps he needs to be for the script.

Recommended as a very good film. In fact, I think I'll buy a copy for my DVD shelf.

Some Early Performances To Relish

[ferbs54 · 1 July 2005]

"Adam Had Four Sons" (1941) is a perfect movie for folks who enjoy watching stars performing early in their careers. In this film, there are four such performances to draw the viewer's attention. The story here concerns the quaint Connecticut household headed by Warner Baxter and Fay Wray in 1907, and the French governess (Ingrid Bergman, in her second American film) who is brought in to care for their four young boys. Years later, trouble brews when one of the boys brings home a new wife, Susan Hayward, "the Brooklyn Bombshell," in one of her earliest screen roles. Hayward wastes no time in becoming drunken, bitchy and flirtatious, especially with the hunky eldest brother, Richard Denning, in one of HIS earlier roles. Need I even mention that a Grade A confrontation looms between the protective governess and the interloping bad girl? This is actually a very warm little movie, with nice performances by all; an involving, over-the-years type of story; and handsome production values. The three lead actresses look as beautiful as one could wish for, especially Hayward. Honestly...has there EVER been an actress with such a combination of drop-dead good looks and sheer acting ability? Not for me, anyway. But in this picture, our sympathies are completely with Bergman, and she is just radiant and lovely in her sweet role. The contrast between the two is quite striking here; what a shame that these wonderful actresses never worked together again. Anyway, I really did enjoy this movie and do recommend it to all IMDb viewers. Oh, I almost forgot. A 16-year-old June Lockhart also appears in this film; yet another early performance to relish!

Ingrid plays a strong governess

[HotToastyRag · 6/10 · 23 July 2018]

Warner Baxter plays Adam, and he has four sons: Richard Denning, Johnny Downs, Robert Shaw, and Charles Lind. He's in charge of a grand estate, but when his wife dies and his fortune is wiped out, he has to scramble to be able to afford his lifestyle again. Ingrid Bergman plays the governess who helps him pick up the pieces of his struggling family. When the boys grow up, some marry and some enlist in WWI-what will happen to the family dynamic?

If you like movies about governesses sent in to take care of a brood of children, you'll probably like this one. It's got all the elements: struggles with the children, eventual acceptance and bonding, a little romance with the father, and family tensions when the children grow up. Ingrid is always very good when playing someone strong, so if you're a fan, you won't be disappointed in her performance in Adam Had Four Sons. Even though the title features Warner Baxter's name, it's Ingrid who's the star of the show. She may be only the governess, but she's the glue that keeps everyone together. And keep on the lookout for a young Susan Hayward in one of her first major roles. She's beautiful and cunning, and it's amazing that she wasn't forever typecast as a villain after a movie like this!

More Than a Governess

[lugonian · 7/10 · 24 September 2017]

ADAM HAD FOUR SONS (Columbia, 1941), directed by Gregory Ratoff, could easily be mistaken for a Biblical story about Adam and Eve and their offsprings, starting with Cain and Abel, but it isn't. Taken from the novel "Legacy" by Charles Bonner, it's a turn of the century tale about a family man with a wife and four sons living in Connecticut, and how a French governess becomes part of their lives.

The story begins in 1905 with the Stoddard family, consisting of Adam (Warner Baxter), Molly (Fay Wray), and their four sons, Jack (Billy Day), David (Steven Muller), Charles (Wallace Chadwell) and Philip (Bobby Walberg) posing for their family portrait. Later the Stoddards head for the train station to greet their new French governess, Emilie Gallatin (Ingrid Bergman). Surprised to find her so young, she immediately makes a good impression with the family. During a family Thanksgiving, Molly becomes ill and later dies. Adam, finding it hard to go on without his wife, sells his house, sends his boys, except for the youngest, away to school, but most of all, his hardest decision in sending Emilie back to her homeland. Years pass. With the Stoddard company a success, Adam purchases his former home and remodels it, but most of all, sends for Emilie to return to her former household position. It is now 1918 and the boys, David (Johnny Downs), Jack (Richard Denning), Philip (Charles Lind) and Charles (Robert Shaw) have grown to fine young men. The surprise comes when David returns home with Hester (Susan Hayward), his bride. Hester remains in the Stoddard home while David goes off to war. While the men like Hester, both Emilie and the visiting Cousin Phillipa (Helen Westley) take an immediate dislike to her, for reasons of their own. Their hunches are proved correct when the family becomes more divided than together because of Hester, and it's now up to Emilie to do something about it before it is too late. June Lockhart (Vance), the girl next door who likes Philip; Pietro Sosso (Otto); Gilbert Emery (Doctor Lane); Renie Riano (Miss Bonson); Clarence Muse and William B. Davidson also complete the cast.

A good story that, by today's standards, is completely underrated and forgotten through the passage of time. Maybe the title or fact that having the audience accept the Swedish born Ingrid Bergman playing a French governess instead of a Swedish one might have something to do with it. For her second movie role in America, Bergman was popular enough to award feature billing over such veteran performers as Warner Baxter and Fay Wray. While Bergman doesn't really age through the passage of time, at least Baxter gets his limited share of gray hair around his temples. Of the members of the cast, the one who gathers the most attention is the young and youthful Susan Hayward. Having been in movies for a short time, her role as Hester allows her to improve her ability as an actress, and make the most of it around such a capable cast before becoming a major actress herself by the end of the decade to the next. Another added bonus to this production is having the characters dress according to time frame rather than wearing 1941 costumes and headdresses for an early 1900s setting. One surprise is to how small Fay Wray's (star of the legendary 1933 classic KING KONG) role was for this production.

A fine family film where the attention falling mostly Hayward's character, ADAM HAD FOUR SONS at least did get its share of revivals over the years through home video distributions as early as 1984, (much later on DVD), followed by rare cable broadcasts as Turner Network Television (TNT) in 1992, and Turner Classic Movies where the film has been showing occasionally since August 29, 2006. For anyone who's never seen nor heard of this movie, should give it a try. (***)

Susan perks this up

[jjnxn-1 · 7/10 · 6 March 2013]

Somewhat stolid drama is immeasurably boosted by a terrific performance by Susan Hayward on her way up. This was really the first role that allowed her any kind of showcase and she takes full advantage as the grasping cat that's up to no good. From here on she started a steady if not meteoric rise to the very top but even at this early stage she demonstrates the fiery star quality that took her there.

This second American outing for Ingrid Bergman is obviously designed as a star vehicle for her but except when pitted against Susan's shrew she is only required to show pallid goodness, not the best star making material. She only had to work her way through one more indifferent picture, Rage in Heaven, before hitting her stride as the cheap Ivy in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and of course following that up with the luminous Ilsa in Casablanca and on to immortality.

As far as the rest of the film goes it's standard hokum with Warner Baxter stiff as the head of the household and the sons all lacking in personality. Fay Wray isn't given anything to do in her tiny amount of screen time but June Lockhart is all sweet faced and dewy youthfulness, at least making her nothing part stand out by her vivacity.

Dated wartime melodrama for film history buffs.

[DAHLRUSSELL · 7/10 · 5 February 2007]

In this, Ingrid Bergman's second American film, she once again plays the nubile love interest of a much older man (as she did with Leslie Howard in INTERMEZZO, which was a remake of her Swedish film by the same name). This is a period film, made in the 1940s, it is set back before WWI, so it has that "old world" feel about it, and her accent is used to great advantage, as she plays a nanny from "the old country." In the 1940s many many films had a rosy remembrance of the 1890s and early 1900s, just as today we have sweetened remembrances of the 70s, like " Almsost Famous" – a film that turns a band-following sleeze into some mythological dream girl/woman of easy sex and maternal sweetness. (Ah yes, the early 2000s, they will be saying in the future, where once again, the only purpose of a girl in a film is to be a willing vessel for a man.) But I digress… which your mind might do during this film, because it is a pretty bland and predictable story, despite the catty game playing of a young Susan Hayward. It's also a little ikky by today's standards, when we realize that we are supposed to be rooting for Ingrid to pair up with a man who looks at least 30 years older than she is. But we must remember what financial stability meant in a post depression era world.

Susan Hayward has a very interesting role here. It became a prototype for her later roles, sexually and personally aggressive, and morally bankrupt. It is also interesting because you can see her acting never really changed or progressed. She had everything here in this powerhouse performance that she had as an older actress. Lots of strength and pizazz, not much nuance. (Watch VALLEY OF THE DOLLS, and she is interchangeable – just older, with a better script.) Consequently, this film gives us a stark contrast between Hayward & Bergman, heightened by this contrast in acting style. Susan Hayward hits you over the head while you're on the doorstep. Ingrid quietly lets you come inside. This makes their scenes like fire and ice, and wisely, the filmmakers let the story build to a confrontation between them. That is the best part of this film – at heart a woman's story.

Being that this is essentially a woman's story, it is oddly overrun with little boys and men, older men and little boys who need to be looked after and catered to, young men in uniform who parade in like colorful birds – who need to be looked after and catered to. Ah yes, the war years.

One real irony here is that Susan Hayward's character is introduced in uniform. It is not commented on at all, but instead of this conferring respect on her, we know immediately that this shorthand means she is hard, aggressive and probably sexually promiscuous. Definitely NOT what those boys were fighting for; they may have wanted Susan in the field, but they wanted Ingrid to come home to. Amusing in retrospect, and also a frustrating reminder that women who give their lives in service to their country are still regarded with an odd mixture of intangible suspicions.

Somewhere in this mix is Fay Wray (I didn't recognize her)… She played the sainted, oddly healthy looking mother of the boys who dies. In the titles she is identified only by her first name, and the mother is never called by the first name within the film, it is "mother" or "Mrs.". I can only assume that audiences at this time would have known her on sight, so they couldn't conceive that one day people would be trying to figure out which one she was. Wray did a lot of work on the stage, and actually kept pace with the times, acting-wise she grew, and her work fits nicely with the more subtle work of Bergman. It is her features and profile that pinpoint her as a beauty of the silents and early talkies. Very similar build and look to Gloria Swanson.

Solid, studio bound production from this period, with some unexplainable gaps of logic in the story and large gaps of time left unmentioned. This period of films was a little suffocating even for those who like it, so you can probably skip it unless you really want to see the early work of Bergman and Hayward.

My Great Uncle wrote the book.

[mulhernmary · 10/10 · 30 October 2019]

This is about about my family. My Grandfather is one of the four sons. This is not about Teddy Roosevelt or any other family. My mom considerd the Nanny as her Grandmother. This movie has some fiction in it too. But this is about the Bonner family.

I Wonder What wound Up on the Cutting Room Floor?

[bsmith5552 · 7/10 · 15 September 2018]

"Adam Had Four Sons" was a turn of the 20th Century drama centering around Adam Stoddard (Warner Baxter) and his family.

Stoddard is an affluent financier living in Connecticut in a large mansion with his wife Molly (Fay Wray) and his four sons: Jack (Billy Ray), David (Steven Muller), Chris (Wallace Chadwell) and Phillip (Bobby Walberg). As the rich and famous were wanton to do, Adam hires a young Parisian girl Emilie Gallatin (Ingrid Bergman) as the family's governess to help raise the boys and help out the sickly Molly as well. The boys immediately become enchanted by the young governess.

In 1907 tragedy strikes. Molly passes away and Adam's business becomes a victim of a stock market plunge. Adam reluctantly is forced to sell his house and send Emilie back to France. With the onset of WWI, the stock market recovers and Adam regains his wealth. Incredibly he re-acquires his home and redecorates it. He sends for Emilie and she happily returns having been carrying the torch for Adam all these years.

The four boys have grown to become Richard Denning (Jack), Johnny Downs (David), Robert Shaw (Chris) and Charles Lind (Phillip) and have joined the armed forces. David comes home with a new bride, Hester (Susan Hayward) who turns out to be a predatory female who goes after Jack while Davis is away overseas. Wiley old Cousin Philippa (Helen Westly) is wise to Hester and warns Emilie to keep an eye on her.

While in Jack's room, the silouettes of he and Hester are visible from Adam's room and he becomes concerned. Emilie sneaks into Jack's room from another entrance and hurries the unfaithful Hester from the room and takes the blame when Adam knocks on the door. Jack begins to have a guilty conscience. David returning home , learns of his wife's indiscretion and flees almost killing himself in the process. Emilie tries to keep the peace. Finally she confronts Hester and......................................................................................................

It's a well known fact that 27 minutes was cut from the director's cut of the film. It may explain Emilie's life in gay Pareee was in that footage, who knows? Or maybe the gap between 1907 and 1914 was explored in more detail. Anyhow the 81 minute version is an almost complete story with plenty of drama and fine acting by all of the principals.

Bergman was just establishing herself in American films and looks absolutely gorgeous. Baxter was starting to show his age but contributed a fine performance as Adam. Susan Hayward steals the film as the evil Hester who preys upon the brothers. Richard Denning also stands out as the adult Jack and watch for a young June Lockhart as Chris' girlfriend Vance. Fay Wray's part is all too brief. Perhaps some of her footage was left on the cutting room floor.

I agree with the other reviews--this should have been much better.

[planktonrules · 4/10 · 23 July 2009]

You'd think that with Ingrid Bergman and Warner Baxter that this film would have been a lot better. Sadly, the film suffers from difficult to believe characters as well as a major plot problem that makes some of the characters seem brain-addled.

The film begins with Ingrid Bergman coming to work for the Stoddard family. Everything is so very peachy and swell--the family adores Bergman and things couldn't be more perfect. Well, that is until the mother (Fay Wray) dies, the stock market crashes in 1907 (wiping out the family's fortune) and Bergman is forced to go back home to France. This portion of the film is a bit sticky sweet, but not bad.

Later, after the family's fortunes have improved, Bergman returns. The four boys are now all grown and there isn't really a conceivable reason why they'd hire her once again as a governess. But, briefly, everything is swell once again. But, when WWI occurs, the four all go to war--gosh! In the midst of this, one of the sons (David) brings home his new wife (Susan Hayward). Miss Hayward's character is as black and white as the others, though while they are all good and swell, she's obviously a horny she-devil. To make things worse, she comes to live in the family home while David is at war.

Now here is where the movie gets really, really dumb--brain-achingly dumb. Hayward begins an affair with one of David's brothers but when the father sees a silhouette of the lovers, Bergman enters the room from another entrance and pretends that it was her, not Hayward with Jack! WHY?! Why would any sane person do this to save the butt of an obviously evil and conniving woman? This was exactly the sort of excuse Bergman needed to get rid of the gutter-snipe once and for all! This is just a case of lousy writing and made me mad...and most likely did the same to the audiences back in 1941.

The rest of the movie consists of failed opportunity after failed opportunity for Hayward's evilness to be exposed. This just flies against common sense and made the film a silly melodramatic mess. As expected, however, the truth eventually comes out and everyone is swell once again---happy to be one big loving wonderful family minus the slut, Hayward.

The film suffers because of poor writing. Hayward's affair made no sense--at least in how it was handled. And, having characters who are so gosh-darn good or evil (with nothing in between) sinks this movie to the level of a second-rate soap. The only thing that saves it at all is the acting---they tried as best they could with a turgid script. Suffice to say that the Columbia Pictures writers who did this film should have been slapped with a dead chicken!

Better then i thought it would be

[desol-2 · 9/10 · 15 October 2000]

I only watched this film because Ingrid Bergman was in it. And because I Knew that Bergman wasn't fond of it, and that general opinion was so so, I expected it to not be up to much but I ended up being pleasantly surprised by how good a film it is. The performances are all good especially Bergman (of Course), Baxter and Heyward and the film cruises along at quick pace with no scenes dragging. If I have a problem with the film it's that it's a bit short at an 80 mins but apparently it was originally 108 mins, if this is true then it's shocking that over 25 mins were cut out. I'd like to know if it's possible to put the footage back in or if it has been destroyed. If it isn't destroyed then in the video age it should be released on video in it's original length. 9/10

Adam's Legacy is Four Women

[August1991 · 6/10 · 9 July 2004]

The best this movie can offer is four women. They are Fay Wray, Ingrid Bergman, Susan Hayward and June Lockhart. The sons are dolts. Dad's a nice guy.

At first, I wondered whether this movie was the non-musical precursor of 'The Sound of Music'. But then, it meandered into strange territory where Ingrid Bergman and Susan Hayward eventually wind up in a hissy fit. (Other than that, Bergman is generally restrained in the movie, if not apparently lost at times.)

The ending is abrupt. Everything is thrown together in the last few minutes to try and tie things up. It reminded me of a nervous speaker who spends too much time on the introduction and then suddenly realizes there's no time left for the story and conclusion.

Old Fashioned Drama

[bkoganbing · 4/10 · 7 December 2005]

I just saw Adam Had Four Sons for the first time and the thing that struck me was that I believe that the model used was Theodore Roosevelt and his four sons. They were approximately the same ages as the four boys in this film. Warner Baxter in his portrayal of Adam Stoddard talked about the same values and family tradition that you would have heard from our 26th president without some of the more boisterous aspects of TR's character.

Like TR all of the Stoddard sons serve in World War I, in this case though the youngest only loses an eye instead of being killed.

But what if a female minx gets into this all male household and disrupts things? That's Susan Hayward's job here. In one of her earliest prominent roles, Hayward is a flirtatious amoral girl who marries one son, has an affair with another, and starts making a play for the third. It's an early forerunner of the kind of a part that later brought her an Oscar in I Want to Live.

I suppose that with as powerful a model of decorum as Theodore Roosevelt was and Warner Baxter portrays, everyone is afraid to tell Father what's going on. The sons and also their governess Ingrid Bergman. Here's where the plot gets a little silly. Bergman is introduced to us as a governess hired by Baxter and wife Fay Wray for their kids. Wray dies and Baxter suffers some financial reversals in business. Bergman has to be let go. She goes back to France and years later comes back to the family when the kids are grown up.

I'm sorry, but I can't believe the kids need a governess now. Hayward is quite right when she confronts her that it wasn't the kids who brought her back. In the normal course of things, Bergman would have gotten on with her life.

One of the previous reviewers said that a quarter to a third of the film I have was edited out. Possibly that could be the reason for the many plot holes we have.

It's too bad that Ingrid and Susan could not have done another film together in the Fifties when Hayward was at her heights and Bergman had just made a comeback.

Susan Hayward is the main reason to see Adam Had Four Sons. And I'm willing to believe that a good deal of Ingrid was left on the cutting room floor.

Low-key drama with one high voltage performance...

[Doylenf · 6/10 · 15 July 2009]

INGRID BERGMAN plays a sensible, warm-hearted governess who has feelings for the head of the household, WARNER BAXTER. His four sons are shown first as boys, and then with the passage of time, as adults facing service in WWI.

SUSAN HAYWARD is the bored and flirtatious wife of the youngest son, who can't resist throwing herself at the others when the mood hits her. She does her standard Hayward bit as an amoral and feisty creature who drinks hard and plays around. By contrast, Bergman is sweet and refined, and not above saving a bad situation if it will spare any embarrassment for Baxter. Her nobility is a bit unbelievable in one key sequence where she keeps Hayward's behavior a secret from Baxter.

Of the sons, only RICHARD DENNING really stands out in his scenes with Hayward. Likewise, Bergman has her best moments in confrontational scenes with Hayward.

But despite some good ingredients for domestic drama, the film seems to have been hurt by some bad editing and comes across as bland rather than compelling.

Worth watching to catch Hayward in one of her first showy roles.

Hard to love a film where the lovely Fay Wray dies off so soon.

[mbrachman · 7/10 · 3 September 2015]

Fay Wray (yes, her, the blonde from the 1933 "King Kong," still the only KK worth watching) plays the materfamilias in this family romance/melodrama. Unfortunately, she dies off from one of those romantic-era illnesses early on, leaving the family involved to the not-so-tender mercies of the scheming Susan Hayworth, who faces off against the virtuous Ingrid Bergman as the new family governess (in what was only Bergman's second U.S. film role). Hayworth is good as the greedy girl who turns the head of one of the sons of the title, and marries him, while carrying on an affair with one of his brothers. Worthwhile film but a bit predictable and corny.

When a female joins a family only used to ladies, there will be trouble in what was truly paradise.

[mark.waltz · 7/10 · 11 December 2017]

There's a certain type of woman who becomes instantly territorial when she joins a family, and any other woman better watch their step, even if it's a longtime friend or employee. This family saga starts in the early 1900's when Ingrid Bergman arrives as the new nanny and makes an instant impression on Warner Baxter, Fay Way and the four young boys who are instantly crazy about her. She's loyal, loving and gains their trust quickly. But happiness is only fleeting, and soon the widowed Baxter finds himself alone and in financial difficulties. The years go by and when the first world war begins, one of the boys returns with a wife (Susan Hayward) who is charming on the surface but calculating and self serving, seducing another brother out of boredom and making it clear to Bergman that she finds her presence in the household questionable. A dying relative (Helen Westley) sees right through Hayward and warns Bergman about her. Keeping secrets but remaining loyal, Bergman becomes like a dormant volcano,  holding everything as she gets more and more disgusted with the amoral and destructive Hayward. She even takes steps to protect her simply to prevent the family from completely falling apart.

With young megastar Ingrid Bergman at the pinnacle of her youth and success, she was joined by a superstar yet to come, Susan Hayward, as evil here as Bergman is noble. Even though her smiles, you can feel the wheels of Hayward's calculating brain turning, and the signs of an acting powerhouse being born. Where Bergman is subtle, Hayward is explosive, yet there is truth in both of their performances, which makes Hayward all the scarier. "My duty is to protect the family", Bergman declares, and you know it's only a matter of time before Hayward is exposed. The men here are fairly non-descript, stunned by their own stupidity in trusting a pretty, innocent looking face. Baxter is authoritative, but barely reacts when he believes that Bergman and one of the sons (Richard Denning) have been involved, even though as one of the sons points out to him, he's been in love with Bergman for a long time.

As the tragic wife, Fay Wray makes the most of her few scenes as she comes to totally confide in Bergman, treating her more like a sister than an employee. Her final scene is worthy of a box of Kleenex. But as the blood boils between Bergman and Hayward, you will be longing for a huge slap (or more) as Hayward's schemes come to light. She's a modern day Messalina, closer to the character Sheila White played in "I Claudius" than the version that Hayward played in "Demetrius and the Gladiators". I just wish that Baxter had been more strong and convincing, making him the one weak link in an otherwise enjoyable melodrama.

Only Susan Hayward movie i can tolerate

[rayresnyc · 7/10 · 6 December 2021]

I really dislike Haywards roles. Worth a see for the early performances of the reast of the cast. However this Hayward role goes a long way toward explaining why. She seems whacky to me. Oh wait...i liked "I married a witch" even more.

Classic drama with enjoyable performances from Bergman and Hayward.

[it_teach20 · 8/10 · 4 July 2000]

Ingrid Bergman is hired as a governess for the Stoddard's. Warner Baxter plays the father of this family. The film journey's through the death of the mother, stock market crash and the marriage of one of the sons to a free spirited wife. Susan Hayward is very entertaining as bad girl Hester. Enjoyable face off between Bergman and Hayward.

Ingrid Good, Susan Bad

[kenjha · 6/10 · 9 August 2011]

A rich family hires a governess to look after its four sons, and she stays with the family even after the sons are grown. The plot is simple but silly; it would have played better as a comedy. It's not clear why the sons need a governess after becoming young adults. This was Bergman's first American film, and she is fine as the French (not Swedish!) governess. Baxter as the father and Denning as one of the sons are also OK. Hayword, on the other hand, is a riot in an over-the-top performance as the wife of one of the sons who's not only a gold digger, but also a nymphomaniac. She greets her in-laws by kissing them on the mouth, as Ingrid looks on in horror.

A major disappointment

[mgconlan-1 · 4/10 · 30 August 2006]

By 1941 Columbia was a full-fledged major studio and could produce a movie with the same technical polish as MGM, Paramount or Warners. That's the best thing that could be said about "Adam Had Four Sons," a leaden soap opera with almost terminally bland performances by Ingrid Bergman (top-billed for the first time in an American film) and Warner Baxter. Bergman plays a Frenchwoman (this was the era in which Hollywood thought one foreign accent was as good as another) hired as governess to Baxter's four sons and staying on (with one interruption caused by the stock-market crash of 1907) until the boys are grown men serving in World War I. Just about everyone in the movie is so goody-good it's a relief when Susan Hayward as the villainess enters midway through — she's about the only watchable person in the movie even though she's clearly channeling Bette Davis and Vivien Leigh; it's also the first in her long succession of alcoholic roles — but the script remains saccharine and the ending is utterly preposterous. No wonder Bergman turned down the similarly plotted "The Valley of Decision" four years later.

A family and love story with deep undertones

[SimonJack · 9/10 · 9 July 2019]

"Adam Had Four Sons" is a wonderful drama and love story. But judging from most of the reviews to this date of my comments, it seems to me that most viewers didn't sense the depth of the story. I don't know if it is based on or is supposed to emulate Theodore Roosevelt and his family, as one or more reviewers have said. It is based on a novel by Charles Bonner, but I could find nothing online about him or his novel. The movie showed in France under a different title, "The Family Stoddard."

I make a distinction between romance and love in movies. The first is the most common and often involves comedy, gaiety, and the "feel good" emotions. It doesn't carry responsibility or commitment. Love is deeper, more serious, sacrificial and enduring. So, in this film, the relationship between Warner Baxter's Adam Stoddard and his wife, Molly (played by Fay Wray) clearly is one of love. Then, after she dies, and in later years after her return, Ingrid Berman's Emilie Gallatin falls in love with Adam; and he with her. Only, theirs is a distant, hands-off, respectful love that neither will voice. It's possible that the characters fear rejection, but more probable that they feel an unworthiness.

As I said, this is a love story - not a common Hollywood romance. This relationship finally comes to the fore when the sons coax Adam and Emilie separately, telling each of them how obvious it is that the other is in love with him/her.

But there's a great deal more to this film than that. It has some undertones of a morality play when Susan Hayward enters the picture as Hester Stoddard, the wife of David. Most other reviewers seem to latch onto Hayward's presence as putting life into the film. That she is a vixen and gold-digger, there's no doubt. But when Emilie discovers her infidelity, she then covers it up rather than see Adam hurt. Fortunately for all, this has a "happy" ending. Hester betrays herself, David survives his crazy flying suicide attempt, and Adam and Emilie become betrothed.

But, what if these last turns of events had not happened? If the truth about Hester had not come out, the love between Adam and Emilie would have ended with separation. What would Adam's house have turned into with an adulterous woman then in charge? And a son who didn't fess up to having betrayed a brother. One can only surmise what would have happened. But, for sure, it would not have been good for any of them. Why is this point important? Because an underlying tone of this movie is truth and honesty. Was Emilie really protecting or saving Adam from hurt and disgrace by covering up for Hester and Jack? Is wrong, harm, evil or sin ever made good by covering it up?

This movie is much more than drama and romance or melodrama. It's a story about family and love, sacrifice and caring, and yes - dishonesty, cheating, integrity and truth. Indeed, Adam's words toward the end, state his bedrock standard. He says, "The family has always lived by the truth. I wouldn't be hurt by it."

Besides Bergman, Baxter and Wray, this film has a first-rate cast, all of whom give superb performances.

Supersoap - Adam Had Four Sons

[arthur_tafero · 6/10 · 20 April 2023]

This film has more soap in it than a laundry house. Not that this is a bad thing in itself. But you must be warned; if you watch more than ten minutes of this film you will be sucked in faster than by passing a black hole.

The movie is stolen by Susan Hayward, who gives us a great preview of the rest of her career, which features sluts, psychotics and other undesirables for which she was so good at playing. Warner Baxter is the clueless father, and the rest of the cast is competent, except for Bergman, who is, of course, the best actress in the film. Actually, she is almost matched line by line by Hayward. Of course, this film is not related to modern society in any way, shape or form, but it is still interesting from a family perspective. Remember the black hole.

Holes in script spoil good performances

[DKosty123 · 4/10 · 2 September 2006]

Saw this film ran in the wee hours on TCM. Several problems with the film were apparent from what I saw. First, the adults did not age when the children did for 10 years. Several parts of the film had continuity problems & for some reason the actor who played the youngest son looked like the oldest when the 10 years passed.

The copy I saw was missing about 20 minutes or so, at least a huge gap with black screen appeared. It is too bad, because even though the script left something to be desired, Bergman & Russell both did fine in the film in their roles. It is a shame the large chunk is missing, but what is here is watchable.

I just wish it was all intact. The script makes little sense in that Bergman's character is sent away when the kids are small but then brought back to take care of them when they are adults? Some of the time lines don't make sense either. There is a stock market crash that resembles 1929 but the kids grow up to fight in World War 1. All the acting by the support folks in this film is fine. Just wonder what was in the 20 gap of film I could not see as it was missing.

Adam needs an Eve.

[ulicknormanowen · 7/10 · 17 December 2022]

A family chronicle , which may suggest an optimistic version of "the Sullivans "(1944) ,but except for the male principal, "Adam had four sons" focussed on the women ; the best scenes deal with the Bergman /Hayward duel ,which sharply contrasts with the perfect family so loyal,so virtuous and so cheerful before Hester appears :.the thanksgiving meal ,complete with plum pudding, shows, for the last time ,the whole tight-knit family ,just before tragedy strikes .

Whilst Fran welcomes one-eyed Phil (wounded in the war) without a moment's hesitation, Hester is evil to the core. With the French governess -who only says one word in her first language :"Monsieur"- it's hate at first sight ,probably because Emilie sees her scheming character ;one is told Hester 's alone in the world, and it may explain her attitude : she destroys a family ,a thing she has never had : losing your parents when you're young is the worst thing that can happen to a young boy/girl ,and I know what I'm talking about . Bergman runs the whole gammit , from abnegation to rebellion ; and Hayward is a convincing exterminating angel.

They don't do melodramas like this nowadays,but its pristine obsolete charm is irresistible .Bergman 's beauty shines when she alights from the train.