Adam hatte vier Söhne (1941)

Adam hatte vier Söhne: Directed by Gregory Ratoff. With Ingrid Bergman, Warner Baxter, Susan Hayward, Fay Wray. A governess becomes the center of a wealthy family after her employer’s wife dies.

“Somewhat stolid drama is immeasurably boosted by a terrific performance by Susan Hayward on her way up. This was really the first role that allowed her any kind of showcase and she takes full advantage as the grasping cat thatu0026#39;s up to no good. From here on she started a steady if not meteoric rise to the very top but even at this early stage she demonstrates the fiery star quality that took her there.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis second American outing for Ingrid Bergman is obviously designed as a star vehicle for her but except when pitted against Susanu0026#39;s shrew she is only required to show pallid goodness, not the best star making material. She only had to work her way through one more indifferent picture, Rage in Heaven, before hitting her stride as the cheap Ivy in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and of course following that up with the luminous Ilsa in Casablanca and on to immortality.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAs far as the rest of the film goes itu0026#39;s standard hokum with Warner Baxter stiff as the head of the household and the sons all lacking in personality. Fay Wray isnu0026#39;t given anything to do in her tiny amount of screen time but June Lockhart is all sweet faced and dewy youthfulness, at least making her nothing part stand out by her vivacity.”