Adam Had Four Sons
Adam Had Four Sons | |
---|---|
Directed by | Gregory Ratoff |
Screenplay by |
|
Based on | Legacy 1940 novel by Charles Bonner |
Produced by | Robert E. Sherwood |
Starring | |
Cinematography | J. Peverell Marley |
Edited by | Francis D. Lyon |
Music by |
|
Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 81 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $488,000 (est.) |
Adam Had Four Sons is a 1941 American romantic drama film directed by Gregory Ratoff and starring Ingrid Bergman, Warner Baxter, Susan Hayward, and Fay Wray,[1] with Richard Denning and June Lockhart in supporting roles.[2]
Plot
Adam Stoddard is a wealthy, easy-going family patriarch who falls on hard times after the death of his wife Molly and a stock market crash in 1907 that wipes out his wealth. Recently arrived governess Emilie works to keep the family together. But with the loss of Adam's fortune, the boys are sent off to boarding school, their schooling paid for by wealthy, aged Cousin Phillipa. Emilie must return to France until Adam can afford to repurchase the family estate and recall her to look after it. Reversing his fortunes takes Adam several years. By then, the three older boys are fighting in World War I.
Just as the family is getting back to its former way of life, one son, David, returns with his new wife, Hester, who turns out be a conniving, evil woman wanting to rule the roost. Cousin Phillipa figures out the false Hester, dying before she can tell Adam. Hester schemes to rid the home of Emilie, and seduces another son, Jack, while her husband is away at war. Emilie discovers the affair, but keeps quiet to preserve Adam's happiness and the brother's reputation, pretending to Adam that she was the one involved with Jack. Later, when David returns, Hester inadvertently exclaims "Oh, Jack" while David is caressing her. Realizing her infidelity, David leaves to commit suicide by flying a plane and crashing on a stormy night. Yet, he is hospitalized and survives. Ultimately, all is discovered, and Hester receives her comeuppance and is evicted from the home. Emilie and Adam become engaged, and all ends happily.
Cast
- Ingrid Bergman as Emilie Gallatin
- Warner Baxter as Adam Stoddard
- Susan Hayward as Hester
- Fay Wray as Molly Stoddard
- Helen Westley as Cousin Phillipa
- June Lockhart as Vance
- Pietro Sosso as Otto
- Gilbert Emery as Dr. Lane
- Renie Riano as Photographer
- Richard Denning as Jack
- Billy Ray as younger Jack
- Johnny Downs as David
- Steven Muller as younger David
- Robert Shaw as Chris
- Wallace Chadwell as younger Chris
- Charles Lind as Phillip
- Bobby Walberg as younger Phillip
References
- ^ "Adam Had Four Sons". FilmAffinity. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
- ^ "Adam Had Four Sons". American Film Institute. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
External links
- Adam Had Four Sons at IMDb
- Adam Had Four Sons at the TCM Movie Database
- Adam Had Four Sons at AllMovie
- Adam Had Four Sons at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
- 1941 films
- 1940s historical drama films
- 1940s historical romance films
- 1940s romantic drama films
- American black-and-white films
- American films
- American historical drama films
- American historical romance films
- American romantic drama films
- Columbia Pictures films
- English-language films
- Films directed by Gregory Ratoff
- Films based on American novels
- Films set in the 1900s
- Films set in the 1910s
- 1941 drama films
- Romantic drama film stubs