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:

She gave them up, one by one, and her heart and soul with them, on the altar of self-sacrifice. (Print Ad- Morning Bulletin, ((Rockhampton, Queensland)) 26 April 1929)

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 February 1928 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cuatro hijos

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

When the cruel Major gets off the train with his monocle, there is a close-up of a reaction shot of another man with a monocle wearing a helmet, yet that man was not in the previous master shot, a real editing faux pas which disorients the observer. Mistakes like this show that often in the Twenties, the director had no input into the editing process, even a master auteur like John Ford.

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Goofs

In the New York City sequences, which take place immediately after World War I (1919-1920), all of the women's fashions are strictly in the style of 1928, and all of the automobiles are of late 1920's design.

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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

Remade as Four Sons (1940)

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Soundtracks

Little Mother
(1928) (uncredited)
Music by Erno Rapee
Lyrics by Lew Pollack
Sung by Harold Van Duzee and the Roxy Male Quartette

User Reviews

Must see Classic

By chance I wound up watching this wonderfully beautifully crafted film on all counts this evening on Turner. The film work is masterfully done with John Ford's usual care and sensitivity to his audience. Mary Mann is outstanding as the mother of her ever faithful sons who go to war. Many will remember her right away as the sweet Grandma in The Little Rascals "Go fly a Kite" and proves what a powerful performer she was and it's a pity she was not given more opportunities.

James Hall who plays Joseph who goes to America to seek his fortune is a real find and I would like to know more about him. Handsome and quite charming and it's puzzling why he was not utilized in his career as well. A silent film that would be a nice introduction to anyone who has been hesitant about watching this lost art form. Worth the time and love to own this if it ever comes out in DVD.