{"id":72298,"date":"2021-05-30T21:36:06","date_gmt":"2021-05-31T04:36:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=72298"},"modified":"2021-09-04T19:02:47","modified_gmt":"2021-09-05T02:02:47","slug":"four-feathers-the-1939","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=72298","title":{"rendered":"Four Feathers, The (1939)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;There&#8217;s no place in England for a coward.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Poster-198x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"198\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-72299\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Poster-198x300.png 198w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Poster-677x1024.png 677w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Poster-85x128.png 85w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Poster-179x270.png 179w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Poster.png 735w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 198px) 100vw, 198px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen young British officer Harry Faversham (John Clements) resigns his post shortly before his regiment is due to deploy to Sudan, he alienates his three close officer-friends (Ralph Richardson, Jack Allen, and Donald Gray) and his fiancee (June Duprez), whose blustery veteran-father (C. Aubrey Smith) is especially disappointed &#8212; but when Faversham receives four white feathers in the mail signaling his cowardice, he quickly decides to go undercover as a mute Arab in the Middle East to save his friends from harm and regain his honor.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Africa<\/li>\n<li>Deserts<\/li>\n<li>June Duprez Films<\/li>\n<li>Mistaken or Hidden Identities<\/li>\n<li>Ralph Richardson Films<\/li>\n<li>Soldiers<\/li>\n<li>Zoltan Korda Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nThe Hungarian-born Korda brothers &#8212; including director Zoltan, producer Alexander, and art director Vincent &#8212; were the creative force behind this fourth cinematic adaptation of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Four_Feathers\">A.E.W. Mason&#8217;s 1902 novel<\/a> about courage, cowardice, redemption, and British colonial might in Africa. It&#8217;s notable as one of the biggest budget Technicolor films made in cinema&#8217;s glory year of 1939, and remains an impressive adventure flick in terms of on-location shooting in Sudan, plenty of locals as extras, and fidelity to historical detail. Unfortunately, the storyline itself leaves much to be desired. We&#8217;re shown young Faversham (Clive Baxter) being shamed for preferring poetry to war: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Young-Faversham.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Young-Faversham.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"992\" height=\"720\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-72310\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Young-Faversham.png 992w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Young-Faversham-300x218.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Young-Faversham-128x93.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Young-Faversham-768x557.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Young-Faversham-372x270.png 372w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 992px) 100vw, 992px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and then soundly rejected by all those closest to him when he makes the brave choice to break with tradition &#8212; as he explains here to Duprez:  <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Resign.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Resign.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"992\" height=\"720\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-72318\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Resign.png 992w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Resign-300x218.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Resign-128x93.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Resign-768x557.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Resign-372x270.png 372w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 992px) 100vw, 992px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>We&#8217;ve discussed it so often &#8212; the futility of this idiotic Egyptian adventure; the madness of it all; the ghastly waste of time that we can never have again&#8230; I believe in our happiness. I believe in the work to be done here to save an estate that&#8217;s near to ruin. To save all those people who&#8217;ve been neglected by my family because they preferred glory in India, glory in China, glory in Africa.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Unfortunately, this perspective is glossed over completely once he receives three white feathers of shame and Duprez rejects his logic as well (he eventually adds another feather for her): <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Feather.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Feather.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"992\" height=\"720\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-72311\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Feather.png 992w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Feather-300x218.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Feather-128x93.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Feather-768x557.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Feather-372x270.png 372w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 992px) 100vw, 992px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>So much for wanting to stay local and non-interventionist. I know it&#8217;s petty to view a movie like this from strictly a 21st century anti-colonialist perspective, but this lost (potential) narrative thread is frustrating. At any rate, audiences at the time must have been simply thrilled to see so much action taking place in &#8220;exotic&#8221; places, with plenty of action and fighting &#8212; and Faversham&#8217;s dedication to saving his three friends is truly impressive. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Scar.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Scar.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"992\" height=\"720\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-72314\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Scar.png 992w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Scar-300x218.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Scar-128x93.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Scar-768x557.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Scar-372x270.png 372w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 992px) 100vw, 992px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Water.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Water.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"992\" height=\"720\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-72316\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Water.png 992w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Water-300x218.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Water-128x93.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Water-768x557.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Water-372x270.png 372w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 992px) 100vw, 992px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Secret.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Secret.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"992\" height=\"720\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-72315\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Secret.png 992w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Secret-300x218.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Secret-128x93.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Secret-768x557.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Secret-372x270.png 372w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 992px) 100vw, 992px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Richardson turns in a fine performance as a rival for Duprez&#8217;s affections who becomes blinded due to heat stroke. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Blind.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Blind.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"992\" height=\"720\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-72321\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Blind.png 992w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Blind-300x218.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Blind-128x93.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Blind-768x557.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Blind-372x270.png 372w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 992px) 100vw, 992px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fine location shooting and period detail<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Location.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Location.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"992\" height=\"720\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-72302\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Location.png 992w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Location-300x218.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Location-128x93.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Location-768x557.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Location-372x270.png 372w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 992px) 100vw, 992px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Beautiful Technicolor cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Cinematography6.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Cinematography6.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"992\" height=\"720\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-72307\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Cinematography6.png 992w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Cinematography6-300x218.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Cinematography6-128x93.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Cinematography6-768x557.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Cinematography6-372x270.png 372w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 992px) 100vw, 992px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Cinematography2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Cinematography2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"992\" height=\"720\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-72304\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Cinematography2.png 992w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Cinematography2-300x218.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Cinematography2-128x93.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Cinematography2-768x557.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Cinematography2-372x270.png 372w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 992px) 100vw, 992px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Cinematography3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Cinematography3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"992\" height=\"720\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-72305\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Cinematography3.png 992w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Cinematography3-300x218.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Cinematography3-128x93.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Cinematography3-768x557.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Four-Feathers-Cinematography3-372x270.png 372w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 992px) 100vw, 992px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo; you can skip this one unless you&#8217;re curious. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0031334\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.qnetwork.com\/review\/2650\">Q Network Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/75510\/the-four-feathers#articles-reviews\">TCM Articles<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s1546four.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/the-four-feathers\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s no place in England for a coward.&#8221; Synopsis: When young British officer Harry Faversham (John Clements) resigns his post shortly before his regiment is due to deploy to Sudan, he alienates his three close officer-friends (Ralph Richardson, Jack Allen, and Donald Gray) and his fiancee (June Duprez), whose blustery veteran-father (C. Aubrey Smith) is especially disappointed &#8212; but when Faversham receives four white feathers in the mail signaling his cowardice, he quickly decides to go undercover as a mute&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=72298\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-72298","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72298","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=72298"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72298\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":75766,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72298\/revisions\/75766"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=72298"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=72298"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=72298"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}