Get 50% off hundreds of family movies when you preorder on fandangonow today. This film follows the exploits of harry faversham, who after deciding not to join his regiment in the sudan, is branded a coward with the traditional white feather. Masons 1902 novel the four feathers is a defining british adventure story about bravery, cowardice and honor. What it lacks in grandeur, this 1978 tv version of the four feathers makes up for in fidelity to a.
The four feathers is a 1929 american war film directed by merian c. The four feathers is a 1902 adventure novel by british writer a. The four feathers film by schoedsack 1929 britannica. A timid british army officer has quit and burns his last day summons to a war in egypt. The four feathers tells the story of harry faversham heath. The four feathers is a new rousing version of the classic novel by a. It blended footage shot in california of the actors with footage of exteriors shot on location in the sudan. By cannibalizing the superior 1939 production for epic shots and sequences, this modest adaptation draws attention to its meager production values, relying heavily on casting and chemistry to compensate.
Masons popular novel which has as historical background the leadup to the battle of omdurman in 1898 and kitcheners reconquest of the sudan. Masons novel the four feathers has proven to be an everpopular movie property, oftfilmed on both sides of the atlantic. The story opens at general fevershams residence at the annual dinner that he gives to the ones who are left of the crimea officers. Mason s novel done in 1929 was hollywoods last silent blockbuster before they went all sound. The four feathers is a 1939 british technicolor adventure film directed by zoltan korda, starring john clements, ralph richardson, june duprez, and c. It is widely considered to be the best of the many film adaptations of the book. Foolish, because the film is not revisionist at all, but a skilled update of the same imperialist swashbuckler.
Theres a tense silence except for the occasional flourish of hooves. Harry feversham is a soldier with a bright future until he resigns from his regiment. In december 1901, cornhill magazine announced the title as one of two new serial stories to be published in the forthcoming year. Masons book the four feathers has had numerous adaptations brought to the big screen since it was written over a 100 years ago. I dont know either of the first two silent versions filmed in 1915 and 1921. Four feathers drama 24 may 1915 usa the story opens at general fevershams residence at the annual dinner that he gives to the ones who are left of the crimea officers. The story, set in 1898, follows a british officer who resigns his post when he learns of his regiments plans to ship out to the sudan for the conflict with the mahdi. Mason that has inspired many films of the same title. The film not only extensively used footage of the action scenes from the 1939 film version stretched into cinemascope, but is a shotforshot, almost lineforline remake of the wikimili storm over the nile. Jun 23, 2017 the four feathers is a 1929 american war film directed by merian c. There were three versions in the silent era, beginning with an american version in 1915, followed by a british film in 1921.
Davenport, fuller mellish, ogden childe, howard estabrook. Storm over the nile wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Watch the four feathers now on your favorite device. Other articles where the four feathers is discussed. The four feathers tells the story of harry faversham heath ledger, a young british soldier, circa 1875, whose father is a general and who finds himself in the army without having much say in the matter.
It was also released by paramount pictures in a version with a movietone soundtrack with music and sound effects only. Chips 1939 to create an entertaining wartime adventure drama that received an academy award nomination for its color cinematography. This adaptation is the fifth film version of the four feathers, following two silent screen adaptations released in 1915 and 1928, zoltan kordas memorable 1939 version, and a 1977 madefortv movie. Oct 09, 2011 this technicolor spectacular, directed by zoltan korda, is considered the finest of the many adaptations of a. It is widely regarded as the best of the numerous film adaptations of the 1902 novel of the same name by a. Made five times before, this new version may not match the exquisite quality of the classic 1939 version by zoltan korda, but it more than makes up for it in its emotional impact. Mason the film is set in 1880s britain and the sudan during the mahdist revolt. This novels story has been adapted as films several times, with. Four play in the most spectacular of seven adaptations of a classic british empire ripping yarn, a disgraced lieutenant travels to the sudan in disguise to rescue. Four feathers, the internet movie firearms database. This view, however, is primarily based on the film adaptations of which. The film not only extensively used footage of the action scenes from the 1939 film version stretched into cinemascope, but is a shotforshot, almost lineforline remake of the. Masons popular novel which has as historical background the leadup to the battle of omdurman in 1898 and kitcheners reconquest of the sudan the sudan was an area which had been ruled by khalipha, a muslim leader since 1885, the year when general gordons army was defeated at khartoum. Then his fiancee joins in and gives him a fourth feather, at which point he decides.
The first three versions released in 1915, 1921, and 1929 were all silent b. Calling him a coward, his girl friend and 3 officer friends give him a white feather. After hearing his regiment is attacked, he set out on a journey of redemption. With janet beecher, david powell, lyster chambers, alberta gallatin. The films writer could have, and should have done the first 15minutes differently. This movie made 10 years later was a grand production done by the korda brothers in the uk with extended exotic shooting in sudan, looks and feels superior. Four feathers screenplay by michael schiffer revised by hossein amini based on the book by a. The four feathers, epic film of mahdist war, premieres in us. Mason novel follows a british officer who resigns his post right before his. After the dinner is finished they tell stories of what happened in the crimea, and harry listens. Set during the reign of queen victoria, it tells the story of a man accused of cowardice. Four feathers, the 2002 internet movie firearms database. I wanted so much that everything should be done by you alone without. Four feathers 1915 is a silent film adaptation of a.
Masons classic 1902 adventure novel about the british empires exploits in africa, and a crowning achievement of alexander kordas legendary production company, london films. This technicolor spectacular, directed by zoltan korda, is considered the finest of the many adaptations of a. The four feathers criterion collection, dvd, full frame, subtitled, mono sound, action adventure, 715515087711. Their next film, the four feathers 1929, with richard arlen, william powell, and fay wray, was their first entirely fictional film and one of hollywoods last bigbudget silent films. The four feathers, british actionadventure film, released in 1939, that was based on the 1902 novel of the same name by a. The four feathers was a great critical and commercial success and received an academy award nomination for best cinematography. Storm over the nile is a 1955 film adaptation of the novel the four feathers, directed by terence young and zoltan korda. The picture has the distinction of being one of the last major hollywood pictures of the silent era. Masons 1902 novel, the four feathers, including the following.
The four feathers is a film by zoltan korda and was released all the way. Though popular enough to spawn multiple film versionsthe korda boys made the fourthi had never heard of it prior to a remake with kate hudson and heath ledger a few years back which i never saw. The four feathers letterboxd social film discovery. In redemption, he shadows his friends in war to save their lives. Shortly after, as harry says there should be four feathers, he forcefully plucks a white feather from a fan ethne is holding. Prime video streaming online video available to watch on supported devices. Most notably seen used by jack durrance wes bentley when firing it at the charging mahdist warriors in which the rifles breech block fails and the gun blows up in his face. The sudan was an area which had been ruled by khalipha, a muslim leader since 1885, the year when general gordons army was defeated at. There are no classy, welldressed people in new york south of thirtyfourth street. British filming locations for the movie the four feathers 2002 including maps, screenshots, and other nearby film locations. After the dinner is finished they tell stories of what happened in the. Considered a coward by his fiancee and comrades in arms, a.
The plot follows the exploits of harry faversham howard estabrook, who after deciding not to join his regiment in the sudan. He is engaged to the comely ethne eustace kate hudson, and when his regiment is ordered to the sudan he cannot bear to part from her and resigns his commission. Staring simon ward, robert powell, jane seymour and beau bridges. At least seven film adaptations have been released but this 1939 version is the best remembered. Mason about cowardice and redemption among british soldiers fighting in the sudan in 1884. This adaptation is the fifth film version of the four feathers, following two silent screen adaptations released in 1915 and 1928, zoltan kordas memorable 1939 version, and. Set in 1884 sudan, this fifth film to be adapted from the a. Four feathers the 1939 directed by zoltan korda this a. At this dinner, harry feversham, the generals only son, a boy of fourteen, is a guest. Against the background of the mahdist war, young feversham disgraces himself by quitting the army, which others perceive as cowardice. Aubrey smith, june duprez the movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 55 min, and received a score of out of 100 on. The four feathers 1939 wikipedia, a enciclopedia livre. Harry is branded a coward, disowned by his family, his fiancee and his best friend.
The four feathers, epic film of mahdist war, premieres in. The four feathers is a 2002 film directed by shekhar kapur, starring heath ledger, the latest of several based on the 1902 novel of the same name by a. The four feathers ends on the same dubious note as black hawk down and other recent war movies, suggesting that loyalty in the trenches not the reason for fighting in the first place is. Harry faversham played by john clements, a young british army officer, is. The picture has the distinction of being one of the last major hollywood pictures of the silent. Branded a coward, an english officer john clements fights in sudan. Mason adventure novel four feathers, this 1915 adaptation is the most obscure. Released 1939, the four feathers stars john clements, ralph richardson, c. Through a veil of dust we see two lines of uniformed cavalry, stretched out across the parade ground. Sep 20, 2002 looking ahead to the toronto film festival, i foolishly wrote that i was looking forward to shekhar kapurs the four feathers because i was intrigued by the notion that a story of british colonialism has now been retold by an indian director. Masons novel done in 1929 was hollywoods last silent blockbuster before they went all sound. Zoltan kordas production back in 1939 was the most famous of the film versions until shekhar kapur reintroduced us to this wonderful story with his majestic film.