kidboots Expressionist cinema hit Hollywood in a big way in the mid twenties. With the release of such European masterpieces as Fritz Langs' "Metropolis", Mauritz Stiller's "The Saga of Gosta Berling", Murnau's "The Last Laugh" and "Variety" and of course "The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari", Hollywood became very self conscious and, for a time turned to Europe for inspiration. No studio embraced this exciting new cinema more than Fox studios - William Fox signed F.W. Murnau and gave him a free reign to direct the film "Sunrise". Even John Ford, who was heavily influenced by D.W. Griffith, changed and slowed down his style in "Four Sons" to match Murnau. Sets of the small village in "Sunrise" were re-used for the New York sequences in "Four Sons". The script was also taken from a "stream of consciousness" screen treatment by an uncredited Herman Bing.This movie is slow and sentimental (but in a nice way), telling the story of Mother Bernle and her four sons - Frans (Ralph Bushman), a soldier, fun loving Joseph (James Hall), Johann (Charles Morton), a blacksmith and Andreas (George Meeker), a goat herd. The mood is instantly darkened when Major Von Stromm gets off the train - uniforms not buttoned correctly and stray animals are a source of irritation to him. Joseph, who is yearning to go to America, also falls foul of him for dropping hay from a wagon. That night there is a big birthday celebration for Mother Bernle - the last piece of happiness before the war comes.Joseph, with money his mother has given him goes to America but even though his letters are full of his new family and the store he now manages, he can never forget the indignity he suffered at the hands of Von Stromm and as soon as America enters the war he enlists. For once adding dialogue to a silent film gives "Four Sons" one of it's most powerful moments, when in the trenches, Joseph hears a soldier calling "Mutterchen" - "little Mother" and when he goes to his aid, finds it is his brother, Andreas, dying. After this the film slips into triteness - instead of finishing with the mother's reunion with Joseph, there is about 20 minutes of the mother's efforts to pass an English exam to migrate to America, her problems at Ellis Island (she is made to look like a naughty schoolgirl as she attempts and fails to recite the alphabet) and the "lost in the big city" scene, where a kindly policeman directs her to Joseph's home. I think the film would have been more heartfelt without the last part.Frans - Ralph Bushman - Francis X. Bushman's son, this was probably his most prestigious film and his name was usually found down the cast list. Johann - Charles Morton was a leading man of the late silents/ early talkies but by the mid 30s his career had fizzled out.Andreas - George Meeker - "Four Sons" was the first in a long career that stretched to the early days of TV. For me his most memorable role was as Sidney Fox's straitlaced fiancé in "Strictly Dishonorable" (1931).Joseph - James Hall, in 1928, had the film world at his feet (he was yet to star in "Hell's Angels"). He was a great bet for film stardom but booze got in the way. By the time he made "Millie" he looked bloated and old (he was only 31) and he made his last film in 1932.Highly Recommended.

wes-connors In Germany, at the dawn of World War I, widow Margaret Mann (as Frau Bernle) is blessed with "Four Sons" - 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 Mann's ability to count her blessings.The last years of the "silent film" era produced an avalanche of stunning motion pictures; in hindsight, you wonder if the "talkie" might have prevented the silent from advancing even beyond its late 1920s peak. "Four Sons" 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. Ford's best symbolic double whammy has two white birds flying to heaven, followed by postman Albert Gran hurling stoning the church's reflection. The restored print looks lovely, but lacks the original's innovative "synchronized sound effects" track, which will hopefully turn up somewhere.The film won the "Best Picture" of 1928 medal from "Photoplay" and placed #4 on the annual "Film Daily" honor roll.********* Four Sons (2/13/28) John Ford ~ Margaret Mann, James Hall, George Meeker, Charles Morton

Joel Archer John Ford is truly great filmmaker this is the pinnacle (well in my opinion) of silent film. Margaret Mann is a revelation her performance is so enthralling especially in some of the final scenes at the end of the picture.The story is a strong one but the direction and the way it is put together is truly sensational Ford himself is Irish and this film i feel may be close to his roots.I was amazed the film didn't have many title cards however it was so simple to follow and by the end of it you're moved by mann's performance. you feel and care for the characters the whole way through that's the mark of a great film.And for the film buffs watch the early scenes in the film you got to love the tracking shot the mark of master John Ford

FerdinandVonGalitzien In the typical German provincial town of Burgendorf lives a charming old woman, Dame Bernle, and her handsome and beloved four sons; they live a tranquil life among their classic Teutonic neighbours until one day war starts and Dame Bernle's beloved sons must join the army.This German count must confess that the films of Herr John Ford, the director of "Four Sons", have never been much to the liking of this aristocrat. His characters are stereotypes and he repeats the same themes again and again throughout his career. For these reasons it is not strange that this German count is not usually in the mood for Ford.This time "Four Sons" also includes stereotyped characters, Germans this time, not Irish… ( fortunately there is one true-life character in the whole film, a wicked, evil Maj. von Stomm with monocle included ) . People walk around in the bucolic provincial German town where everyone dresses like Germans, drink like Teutons and you have small girls with pigtails, martial geese splash in a pond nearby and everyone is happy. Absolute nonsense, natürlich! Germans are serious not merry people!.Such German incongruities are at least visually perfect thanks to superb sets and great cinematography, all elegantly filmed by Herr Ford whose use of the camera is especially astonishing during the war trenches scene.But the most interesting aspect, indeed the great revelation made while revisiting "Four Sons" for this German count was that this aristocrat noticed a strange and perverse undercurrent in the story. Each time that charming Mutterchen Bernle gives thanks to God, something terrible happens almost immediately afterwards. The first time that she does so, war starts; the second time she intones the mysterious incantation, three of her beloved sons die in the war. The third time that Mutterchen Bernle give thanks to God she is in New York, in order to be together with her only surviving son, and -remembering that "Four Sons" was produced during the silent year of 1928- well… logically Mutterchen Bernle was the cause of the Wall Street crash of 1929!!.And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count must avoid old German ladies who bring bad luck.Herr Graf Ferdinand Von Galitzien http://ferdinandvongalitzien.blogspot.com/