Four Wives (1939)

Three of the four musically inclined daughters of Adam Lemp, the Dean of the Briarwood Music Foundation, are settling into their lives as wives, but not all is well. Thea Lemp has long ... See full summary »

Director:

Michael Curtiz

Writers:

Julius J. Epstein (screen play), Philip G. Epstein (screen play),

Stars:

Priscilla Lane, Rosemary Lane, Lola Lane

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Priscilla Lane	...	Ann Lemp Borden
Rosemary Lane	...	Kay Lemp
Lola Lane	...	Thea Lemp Crowley
Gale Page	...	Emma Lemp Talbot
Claude Rains	...	Adam Lemp
Jeffrey Lynn	...	Felix Dietz
Eddie Albert	...	Dr. Clinton Forrest, Jr.
May Robson	...	Aunt Etta
Frank McHugh	...	Ben Crowley
Dick Foran	...	Ernest Talbot
Henry O'Neill	...	Dr. Clinton Forrest, Sr.
John Garfield	...	Mickey Borden (archive footage)
Vera Lewis	...	Mrs. Ridgefield
John Qualen	...	Frank
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Loia Cheaney	...	(scenes deleted)

Storyline

Three of the four musically inclined daughters of Adam Lemp, the Dean of the Briarwood Music Foundation, are settling into their lives as wives, but not all is well. Thea Lemp has long since married wealthy banker, Ben Crowley. Thea makes a unilateral decision which may disrupt their marriage. Emma Lemp married their neighbor, florist Ernest Talbot, after realizing that she truly did love him and not their border, composer/conductor Felix Deitz, after Ernest's actions at what was supposed to be Felix and Emma's youngest sister Ann Lemp's wedding. Emma receives some sad news which too may place a pall over her and Ernest's marriage. And Ann, after the suicide death of her husband Mickey Borden who she married as his possible salvation, and Felix are once again engaged, he who she always truly loved. But the memory of Mickey, who was an acquaintance of Felix's, may be a major roadblock on the road to happiness for Ann and Felix, especially as Mickey leaves something a little unexpected ...

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Plot Keywords:

sequel | widow | wedding | engagement | newborn baby | 

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Taglines:

The "Four Daughters" are now "Four Wives" It's a four belle picture! For these four wedding belles!

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 December 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

4 yperohoi syzygoi

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min 99 min (Turner library print)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Shown at some engagements with Warner Bros.' new Vitasound audio process. Often incorrectly called a stereophonic process, Vitasound actually combined a standard, variable width monophonic soundtrack with a second, variable width control track, located between the soundtrack and the sprocket holes, that increased loudness for certain scenes by switching on additional amplifiers and speakers.

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Goofs

Anne is already pregnant at Christmas time. The baby comes well after Father's Day (June), probably July or even later and there is no attempt to make her look pregnant - not even maternity-type clothes. She continues wearing skirts and tucked-in blouses, remaining thin through the entire picture. She's even wheeled into the Delivery Room with her stomach looking as flat as a board.

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Connections

Followed by Four Mothers (1941)

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Soundtracks

"Chopsticks"
(1877) (uncredited)
Music by Euphemia Allen
Played on piano by Emma and Ann

User Reviews

silly movie

a silly movie from the 30's that show how much we have changed. Today, no such movie would ever be produced, but then again one never watched a movie from that era for social understanding. the acting is .....well....bad, the plot, convoluted. Mothers having babies, adopting babies, getting bored with adopted babies and giving them again to someone else. But the gowns are gorgeous, so that is important. I have only seen the first two of the series, and am only familiar with one of the actors. this is classic Hollywood, happy stories with Oh so happy endings that bear little resemblance to reality. So if you are bored on a Sunday afternoon, and want to see something frothy and silly, this series is right up your ally. Just don't be surprised if you go into diabetic shock.I guess because they made three of these movies they must have been popular in the 30's. thank God we grew up.