Themes: Workplace Romance, Down on Their Luck, Fathers and Sons
Main Cast: Ingrid Bergman, Warner Baxter, Susan Hayward, Fay Wray, Richard Denning, June Lockhart
Release Year: 1941
Country: US
Run Time: 80 minutes
MPAA Rating: NR
Plot
Ingrid Bergman stars in Adam Had Four Sons, her second American film appearance. Based on a novel by Charles Bonner, the story begins in the early twentieth century, when French governess Emilie Gallatin (Bergman) is hired to care for the four growing sons of wealthy Adam Stoddard (Warner Baxter). The sudden death of Stoddard's wife Molly (Fay Wray) and the loss of his fortune compels Emilie to reluctantly give up her position and head home. Ten years later, Stoddard, having recovered financially, again sends for Emilie, even though his sons have all grown and are about to march off to WW1. Secretly in love with Stoddard, Emilie nonetheless keeps her place, until the libertine behavior of Stoddard's scheming sister-in-law Hester (Susan Hayward) forces Emilie to take drastic action. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Adam Had Four Sons is a pleasant, mildly diverting film, the predictability of which keeps it from being as effective as it might have been. Michael Blankfort and William Hurlbut's screenplay has an effective premise, but the characters and situations are not really fleshed out. The four sons of the title, in particular, are given no real character and are almost interchangeable, and the death of a major character and an economic crisis that forces a major change in the household doesn't have real impact. The audience is essentially told that these events were terrible, but the characters really don't change very much as a result of them. In addition, the film ends rather abruptly; one feels that the real story -- what happens to the family after Hester leaves -- is just starting. Adam does benefit from a certain warm glow, due primarily to its cast; Gregory Ratoff's direction is, for the most part, only competent and no more, but he must have also been partially responsible for this effectively homey aspect of the film. Emilie is not an especially challenging role, but Ingrid Bergman plays her with commitment and adds some depth and genuine feeling to the character. Warner Baxter is fine as Adam, Fay Wray is appealing as the mother, and Richard Denning and the other actors who portray the sons are all more than acceptable. But the standout is a young Susan Hayward, adding some much needed spice to the picture. Hester's a bit much as a character, but Hayward makes her an enjoyable little villainess. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Johnny Downs - Older David; Charles Lind - Older Phillip; Billy Ray - Younger Jack; Steven Muller - Younger David; Wallace Chadwell - Younger Chris; Bobby Walberg - Younger Phillip; Helen Westley - Cousin Phillipa; Pietro Sosso - Otto; Gilbert Emery - Dr. Lane; Renie Riano - Photographer; Clarence Muse - Sam; Robert "Buddy" Shaw - Older Chris
Credit
Rudolph Sternad - Art Director, Gregory Ratoff - Director, Francis D. Lyon - Editor, W. Franke Harling - Composer (Music Score), J. Peverell Marley - Cinematographer, Robert Sherwood - Producer, Michael Blankfort - Screenwriter, William Hurlbut - Screenwriter, Charles Bonner - Book Author
Warner Baxter portrays the wealthy, easy-going patriarch of a family that falls on hard times after the death of his wife and a stock market crash that wipes out his wealth. Recently arrived governess Emilie (played by Bergman) works to keep the family together. But with the loss of Adam Stoddards fortune the boys are off to a boarding school financed by a wealthy cousin, and Emile must return to France until Adam (played by Baxter) can afford to repurchase the family estate and recall Emilie to look after it. Reversing his fortunes takes several years. The three older boys are in the service for World War One; Then, just as everything is getting back to the former status...
One son returns with his new wife, Hester, (played by Hayward), who turns out be a conniving woman who wants to rule the roost. She schemes to rid the home of Emilie, while she seduces another son, Jack, when her husband is 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.
Ultimately, all is discovered, and Hester receives her comeuppance. Emilie and Adam become engaged and all ends happily.
