Four Sons (1928)

A family saga in which three of a Bavarian widow's sons go to war for Germany and the fourth goes to America, Germany's eventual opponent.

Director:

John Ford

Writers:

Philip Klein (adapted by), I.A.R. Wylie (story) (as Miss I.A.R. Wylie)

Stars:

James Hall, Margaret Mann, Charles Morton

1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Margaret Mann	...	Mother Bernle
James Hall	...	Joseph - Her Son
Charles Morton	...	Johann - Her Son
Francis X. Bushman Jr.	...	Franz - Her Son
George Meeker	...	Andreas - Her Son
June Collyer	...	Annabelle
Earle Foxe	...	Major von Stomm
Albert Gran	...	The Postman
Frank Reicher	...	The Schoolmaster
Archduke Leopold of Austria	...	A Captain
Ferdinand Schumann-Heink	...	A Staff Sergeant
Jack Pennick	...	The Iceman

Storyline

In Burgendorf, Bavaria, Mother Bernle has four sons. Franz is in the army, Johann works at the forge, Andreas tends the sheep. Joseph is riding a hay wagon with a pretty girl when some of the hay falls off, landing on the fearsome Maj. Von Stomm. Joseph gets a slap from the major... The jovial postman has brought a letter from America. Joseph has the offer of a job in the States. But getting there is so expensive... It's Mother Bernle's birthday and most of the town gathers for the dancing. Mother gives Joseph the money she has secreted away. He leaves for the USA... It is "Der Tag", The Day when war is declared. Franz and Johann are excited about their new uniforms. But America is still neutral. Joseph runs the German-American Delicatessen with his new wife Annabelle. The reports of the first German battles with the Russians are good. So why does the postman carry a black-edged letter for Mother Bernle? When America does enter the war, Joseph enlists and meets his friend, the iceman ...

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Plot Keywords:

germany | german american | birthday | widow | bavaria | 

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Taglines:

BIG AS THE HEART OF HUMANITY! (original print ad - all caps)

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

F.W. Murnau's city sets from Sunrise (1927) were re-used for the New York sequences.

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Goofs

In the scene where the mother is feeding the little girls in front of the house it is raining, even though the sun is shining bright, an obvious use of the studios rain machine.

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Quotes

Joseph - Her Son: [to his mother] Another letter from Fritz Kellner asking ne to come to America - It's a great country - America. Everyone is equal. If I only had the money.

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Connections

Referenced in Five Came Back: The Mission Begins (2017)

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Soundtracks

Over There
(1917) (uncredited)
Written by George M. Cohan
Played When America enters the war

User Reviews

Pinnacle of Silent Film-making

John Ford is truly great filmmaker this is the pinnacle (well in my opinion) of silent film. Margaret Mann is a revelation her performance is so enthralling especially in some of the final scenes at the end of the picture.

The story is a strong one but the direction and the way it is put together is truly sensational Ford himself is Irish and this film i feel may be close to his roots.

I was amazed the film didn't have many title cards however it was so simple to follow and by the end of it you're moved by mann's performance. you feel and care for the characters the whole way through that's the mark of a great film.

And for the film buffs watch the early scenes in the film you got to love the tracking shot the mark of master John Ford

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 February 1928 (USA)

Also Known As:

Four Sons

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Movietone) (musical score and sound effects) Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1