The Four Feathers

Rating:
Summary: Timeless!
Review: A unique anti-war film which satirizes the warrior class of nineteenth century England. Harry wants to know why defending natives in far-off Africa is more important than taking care of the estate that was neglected because of his family's preoccupation with the glory of war. He is not a coward, even though at times he seems to think that he is. He surreptitiously saves the lives of those of his friends who marked him as a coward, and is, indeed, a hero when it is necessary to be a hero. He differentiates between true heroics and the heroics worn only on the sleeve of much lesser men. This is a good movie for today's political climate . . . it has as much to say about the arrogance of mindless warfare today as of the mindless warfare of over 100 years ago.

Rating:
Summary: Colonial Wars and the British Redcoats
Review: Absolutely the BEST of the 3 movie made with the same title....shot on location using actual "fuzzy-wuzzy" tribesmen.....great story and cast....don't miss this one....a true classic!!

Rating:
Summary: A timeless classic!
Review: Alexander Korda's "The Four Feathers" (1939) is perhaps one of the greatest triumphs of British filmmaking -- a crowning achievement in Imperialistic propaganda and a nostalgic testimony to the societal traditions which once inhibited us as individuals. Simply put, "The Four Feathers" is a cinematic masterpiece in the vein of "The Drum" (1938), "Kim" (1950"), "The Jungle Book" (1942) and "Gunga Din" (1939). It also represents a rare instance in which a film is far superior to the original novel.

The original novel upon which the film is loosely based was penned by A.E.W. Mason and has an actual excuse for being somewhat flimsy: Following the bloody outbreak of World War I, Mason wrote the story as a mere identity cover while doing espionage work for the British government. He was able to scout northern Africa under this guise of an accomplished author gleaning material for the plot of the novel.

The plot of "Four Feathers" is simple yet engrossing: A young man, Harry Faversham (the dashing John Clements), is brought up by his distant father (Allan Jeayes) in a lonely household steeped in Imperial tradition which values courage and honor above happiness or life itself. His natural human instinct of self-preservation is accentuated into possible cowardice by the horrifying war stories told around the dinner table by old veterans. As he matures, Faversham falls deeply in love with Ethne Burroughs (the radiantly beautiful June Dupréz) and decides that he would rather spend his life in his own way than be trapped in the futile repetitiveness that is a soldier family. On the eve of his unit sailing for Africa, he resigns his commission and is branded a coward -- one of the worst labels in Victorian England -- by both his friends and his betrothed. To reclaim his honor and prove both to himself and others that he is not a coward, Faversham sails to darkest Africa.

In Africa, our dauntless hero is embroiled in unfolding military history as General/Lord Horatio Kitchner ventures into the blistering Sudan with 20,000 British personnel against the varied 50,000 warriors of the Khalifa (John Laurie). The film terrifically climaxes in the breathtaking Battle of Omdurman, a historical engagement which a young Winston S. Churchill witnessed and, in one of his most famous literary pieces, fittingly described as a "victory snatched from the jaws of peril!"

When I was very young, my parents would show me this particular film as an example of a forgotten way of life: of lavish ballrooms where uniformed officers and young ladies in ornate Victorian gowns danced the night away on the eve of war amidst whispered pledges of love and marriage. The film taught me that a true gentleman never insults another in public; a leader must be able to command his own self before he can command others; to honor your word even if it may kill you in the process and to be unafraid of whatever befalls you as long as you are true to yourself.

Film Rating: ***** (five) out of ***** (five) stars.
A mesmerizing period piece.

Rating:
Summary: A timeless classic!
Review: Alexander Korda's "The Four Feathers" (1939) is perhaps one of the greatest triumphs of British filmmaking -- a crowning achievement in Imperialistic propaganda and a nostalgic testimony to the societal traditions which once inhibited us as individuals. Simply put, "The Four Feathers" is a cinematic masterpiece in the vein of "The Drum" (1938), "Kim" (1950"), "The Jungle Book" (1942) and "Gunga Din" (1939). It also represents a rare instance in which a film is far superior to the original novel.

The original novel upon which the film is loosely based was penned by A.E.W. Mason and has an actual excuse for being somewhat flimsy: Following the bloody outbreak of World War I, Mason wrote the story as a mere identity cover while doing espionage work for the British government. He was able to scout northern Africa under this guise of an accomplished author gleaning material for the plot of the novel.

The plot of "Four Feathers" is simple yet engrossing: A young man, Harry Faversham (the dashing John Clements), is brought up by his distant father (Allan Jeayes) in a lonely household steeped in Imperial tradition which values courage and honor above happiness or life itself. His natural human instinct of self-preservation is accentuated into possible cowardice by the horrifying war stories told around the dinner table by old veterans. As he matures, Faversham falls deeply in love with Ethne Burroughs (the radiantly beautiful June Dupréz) and decides that he would rather spend his life in his own way than be trapped in the futile repetitiveness that is a soldier family. On the eve of his unit sailing for Africa, he resigns his commission and is branded a coward -- one of the worst labels in Victorian England -- by both his friends and his betrothed. To reclaim his honor and prove both to himself and others that he is not a coward, Faversham sails to darkest Africa.

In Africa, our dauntless hero is embroiled in unfolding military history as General/Lord Horatio Kitchner ventures into the blistering Sudan with 20,000 British personnel against the varied 50,000 warriors of the Khalifa (John Laurie). The film terrifically climaxes in the breathtaking Battle of Omdurman, a historical engagement which a young Winston S. Churchill witnessed and, in one of his most famous literary pieces, fittingly described as a "victory snatched from the jaws of peril!"

When I was very young, my parents would show me this particular film as an example of a forgotten way of life: of lavish ballrooms where uniformed officers and young ladies in ornate Victorian gowns danced the night away on the eve of war amidst whispered pledges of love and marriage. The film taught me that a true gentleman never insults another in public; a leader must be able to command his own self before he can command others; to honor your word even if it may kill you in the process and to be unafraid of whatever befalls you as long as you are true to yourself.

Film Rating: ***** (five) out of ***** (five) stars.
A mesmerizing period piece.

Rating:
Summary: four feathers on DVD
Review: Film Buffs look to your neighbors across the Pond. I ordered "A Matter of Life or Death in VHS/Pal and converted it to DVD.The Brits have it in DVD/PAL The locals (USA) dont seem to want to budge (people who could get this on DVD). I'd suggest the same with this wonderful movie. I wrote to Carlton Films/e-mail to check on titles. Film Buffs of the Classics of Korda - there is a wealth of film sitting on the shelf. To serve the many the few are forgotten. Thanks.

Rating:
Summary: four feathers on DVD
Review: Film Buffs look to your neighbors across the Pond. I ordered "A Matter of Life or Death in VHS/Pal and converted it to DVD.The Brits have it in DVD/PAL The locals (USA) dont seem to want to budge (people who could get this on DVD). I'd suggest the same with this wonderful movie. I wrote to Carlton Films/e-mail to check on titles. Film Buffs of the Classics of Korda - there is a wealth of film sitting on the shelf. To serve the many the few are forgotten. Thanks.

Rating:
Summary: How long must we wait?
Review: Ralph Richardson is wonderful, as is the rest of the cast, in this epic British war story, which recounts the "fall" and recapture of Khartoum, during the early unravelling of the British empire. The plot involves the misplaced honor of a young man born into military aristocracy, whose bullying father convinces him that he is a coward, when in fact, he is the bravest of all his peers. The plot is convoluted and melodramatic, but the film sizzles along in a good, old-fashioned action flick kinda way. Alexander Korda's direction is skillful, swift and sure -- the battles scenes are sweeping and suspenseful, and the color cinematography is magnificently shot and beautifully composed. Plus, a heroic score by Miklos Rozsa... what more could you want? Yeah, sure, the Arabs and their so-called "fuzzy wuzzy" African allies are thinly realized caricatures, but they also mangage to rout the Brits for a decade or two, so the anti-colonial minded among us can read between the lines, if they wish. A well-made, exciting action classic. Recommended!

Rating:
Summary: An old-fashioned action classic
Review: Ralph Richardson is wonderful, as is the rest of the cast, in this epic British war story, which recounts the "fall" and recapture of Khartoum, during the early unravelling of the British empire. The plot involves the misplaced honor of a young man born into military aristocracy, whose bullying father convinces him that he is a coward, when in fact, he is the bravest of all his peers. The plot is convoluted and melodramatic, but the film sizzles along in a good, old-fashioned action flick kinda way. Alexander Korda's direction is skillful, swift and sure -- the battles scenes are sweeping and suspenseful, and the color cinematography is magnificently shot and beautifully composed. Plus, a heroic score by Miklos Rozsa... what more could you want? Yeah, sure, the Arabs and their so-called "fuzzy wuzzy" African allies are thinly realized caricatures, but they also mangage to rout the Brits for a decade or two, so the anti-colonial minded among us can read between the lines, if they wish. A well-made, exciting action classic. Recommended!

Rating:
Summary: IF THE 2002 DULL VERSION IS ON DVD, WHY THIS VERSION IS NOT?
Review: THE FOUR FEATHERS has been translated to the big screen in a lot of opportunities, but without a doubt the 1939 version directed by Zoltan Korda is by far the best. Its spectacular cinematography surely was a big influence for David Lean when he created his masterpiece LAWRENCE OF ARABIA. Naturally, THE FOUR FEATHERS deserves an adaptation on the best home video format: the DVD.

THE FOUR FEATHERS is the story about the human fears, and the ability to gain courage to defeat those fears and fulfill goals. Also, the movie shows situations when the love and the loyalty help to defeat our fears and insecurities.

This movie has an excellent photography that captures spectacular landscapes and very realistic battles. The performances are good, too. Without a doubt, Zoltan Korda did a great job with this film.

Recommendable for all the novel fans or the fans of the even more spectacular movie LAWRENCE OF ARABIA.

Rating:
Summary: RULE BRITANNIA
Review: There are films that are classics since the day they are released. This film is one of those. Zoltan Korda shows his elegance and skills presenting us a typical adventure.

Based on the novel by A. W. E Mason, it is the story of young Harry Faversahn born and raised to follow the military life like all his ancestors. Pity that his father is an obssesed of the glories of the Empire, and that his friends bored the child telling stories about battles, slaughters and Baklava (the scene with C. Aubrey Smith explaining the battle with a pineaple and some walnuts is one of the best in the story of cinema).

But Harry is a good boy so he joins the army, trains all day and even has time to conquer beautiful Ethne. With that Harry decides to leave the army, but good things do not last forever, so in the evening of his engagement party his regiment is call to arms. To Egypt to fight against the wicked Egyptian rebels. But Harry refuses and so his former best friends send him three feathers, a sophisticated way to call him a coward. But the fourth, ah! the fourth one is the most terrible of all because is Ethne who gives it to him.

So our hero is an outcast, nodoby loves him, nodoby cares for him. And Harry proving that after all he is a Favershan embarks to Egypt to save his comrades. Disguised as a mute native he saves them all. Crosses the dessert, saves Durrance (who is in love with Ethne too), saves Willoughby and Burroughs from a dreadful prision and evidently gives back each of the four feathers.

The locations and the scenes are espectacular. But also the dialogues. The cast is superb, and propbaly you will end watching the film while humming Rule Britannia.

No adaptation done after has ever reached its level so do not waste your time with others. This is the version.