IMDb >
The Four Feathers (1939)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at Blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsThe Four Feathers (1939) More at IMDbPro »
Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
3 August 1939 (USA) moreTagline:
See...The Dreaded Dervishes! - Kipling's Famous FUZZY WUZZIES! morePlot:
A British army officer who resigns his commission on the eve of his unit's embarkation to a mission... more | add synopsisAwards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 nominations moreUser Comments:
Britain Beats Hollywood At Its Own Game more (49 total)Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| John Clements | ... | Harry Faversham | |
| Ralph Richardson | ... | Captain John Durrance | |
| C. Aubrey Smith | ... | General Burroughs | |
| June Duprez | ... | Ethne Burroughs | |
| Allan Jeayes | ... | General Faversham | |
| Jack Allen | ... | Lieutenant Willoughby | |
| Donald Gray | ... | Peter Burroughs | |
| Frederick Culley | ... | Dr Sutton | |
| Clive Baxter | ... | Young Harry Faversham | |
| Robert Rendel | ... | Colonel | |
| Archibald Batty | ... | Adjutant | |
| Derek Elphinstone | ... | Lieutenant Parker | |
| Hal Walters | ... | Joe | |
| Norman Pierce | ... | Sergeant Brown | |
| Henry Oscar | ... | Dr . Harraz |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
129 min | 115 min (TCM print) | West Germany:107 minCountry:
UKLanguage:
EnglishColor:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 moreSound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)Certification:
West Germany:12 | Finland:K-16 | New Zealand:R13 | UK:A | USA:Approved (MPAA rating: certificate #02457) | UK:U (video rating)Fun Stuff
Goofs:
Continuity: Position of Durrance's hat relative to a nearby rock changes several times. moreQuotes:
Harry Faversham: I *am* a coward, Doctor. If I'd been anything but a soldier I might have lived my whole life and concealed it. But to be a soldier *and* a coward is to be an impostor, a menace to the men whose lives are in your hands. moreFAQ
Why is this film not available in the original 130 minute release length, always cut down to 115 minutes?more
more (49 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Four Feathers (1939) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| The Four Feathers | The Four Feathers | Lawrence of Arabia | Capitaine Conan | King of the Khyber Rifles |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Adventure section | IMDb UK section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |

It's ridiculous that movies like THE FULL MONTY and 28 DAYS LATER that have a British producer , director and screenwriter that were filmed entirely in Britain with an entirely British cast are not classed " British " simply because they were made by American studios . Somewhat ironic then that one of greatest British - And I mean truly British -films owes so much to the Korda brothers who came to this country from Hungary while the man responsible for the breath taking colour cinematography was from France
But I'm not going to be internationalist about THE FOUR FEATHERS because this is a movie that makes you proud to be British , something that is sadly no longer allowed to happen these days . Perhaps the most stirring thing I can say about this movie is the way it wipes the floor with the contemporary competition that was coming out of Hollywood at the time . While the American studio were making similar monochrome movies with Errol Flynn and David Niven as the leads Ralph Richardson's performance alone is a reason to watch this movie and even if it wasn't there's still the story itself featuring themes like courage , honour , romance and redemption . You want battle scenes ? There's several in this movie as well choreographed as any thing seen in cinema at this time but perhaps the most what sets this British movie apart from other movies that were being produced across the pond is that it's a bit more gritty and sadistic than what Hollywood was producing . In one scene a British officer is flogged like a dog and he screams in pain as the camera pans on to the Mufti's face , a face lit up in sadistic glee , then the scene cross fades into a crowded dungeon where the prisoners are kept , a dark hell hole where the audience can actually taste the pain , fear and misery from the unfortunate prisoners . Even in those days Hollywood would pull their punches while a film like THE FOUR FEATHERSwould not
Sadly THE FOUR FEATHERS was released in 1939 which meant it qualified for the legendary Oscar ceremony the following year when GONE WITH THE WIND swept the board . A great pity because this very British movie deserved a hat full of awards . Sadly too Britain no longer has a film industry of its own and is reliant upon American finance , but perhaps the saddest thing is even if we did have a film industry no one in the business would want to film such an exciting historical epic in case they were labeled reactionary or racist