Four Sons (1928)

Four Sons (1928). 1h 40m | Passed

“In Germany, at the dawn of World War I, widow Margaret Mann (as Frau Bernle) is blessed with u0026quot;Four Sonsu0026quot; – strapping soldier Francis X. Bushman Jr. (as Franz), dreamy rustic James Hall (as Joseph), handsome metalworker Charles Morton (as Johann), and fair-haired shepherd George Meeker (as Andreas). And, she makes the best honey-cakes in Bavaria. With one son serving the Fatherland, and two more about to join him on the battlefield, Ms. Mann arranges for adventurous Mr. Hall to emigrate to democratic America. There, he opens a delicatessen and marries sweet, beautiful June Collyer (as Annabelle). Eventually, the Great War results in multiple brother tragedies, testing old mother Mannu0026#39;s ability to count her blessings.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe last years of the u0026quot;silent filmu0026quot; era produced an avalanche of stunning motion pictures; in hindsight, you wonder if the u0026quot;talkieu0026quot; might have prevented the silent from advancing even beyond its late 1920s peak. u0026quot;Four Sonsu0026quot; is another artful example, with John Ford and his picturesque cameramen, George Schneiderman and Charles C. Clarke, directing under the influence of F.W. Murnau – the combination produced a winning film, full of memorable scenes and images. Fordu0026#39;s best symbolic double whammy has two white birds flying to heaven, followed by postman Albert Gran hurling stoning the churchu0026#39;s reflection. The restored print looks lovely, but lacks the originalu0026#39;s innovative u0026quot;synchronized sound effectsu0026quot; track, which will hopefully turn up somewhere.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe film won the u0026quot;Best Pictureu0026quot; of 1928 medal from u0026quot;Photoplayu0026quot; and placed #4 on the annual u0026quot;Film Dailyu0026quot; honor roll.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003e********* Four Sons (2/13/28) John Ford ~ Margaret Mann, James Hall, George Meeker, Charles Morton”