"Adam Had Four Sons" was a turn of the 20th Century drama centering around Adam Stoddard (Warner Baxter) and his family.
Stoddard is an affluent financier living in Connecticut in a large mansion with his wife Molly (Fay Wray) and his four sons: Jack (Billy Ray), David (Steven Muller), Chris (Wallace Chadwell) and Phillip (Bobby Walberg). As the rich and famous were wanton to do, Adam hires a young Parisian girl Emilie Gallatin (Ingrid Bergman) as the family's governess to help raise the boys and help out the sickly Molly as well. The boys immediately become enchanted by the young governess.
In 1907 tragedy strikes. Molly passes away and Adam's business becomes a victim of a stock market plunge. Adam reluctantly is forced to sell his house and send Emilie back to France. With the onset of WWI, the stock market recovers and Adam regains his wealth. Incredibly he re-acquires his home and redecorates it. He sends for Emilie and she happily returns having been carrying the torch for Adam all these years.
The four boys have grown to become Richard Denning (Jack), Johnny Downs (David), Robert Shaw (Chris) and Charles Lind (Phillip) and have joined the armed forces. David comes home with a new bride, Hester (Susan Hayward) who turns out to be a predatory female who goes after Jack while Davis is away overseas. Wiley old Cousin Philippa (Helen Westly) is wise to Hester and warns Emilie to keep an eye on her.
While in Jack's room, the silouettes of he and Hester are visible from Adam's room and he becomes concerned. Emilie sneaks into Jack's room from another entrance and hurries the unfaithful Hester from the room and takes the blame when Adam knocks on the door. Jack begins to have a guilty conscience. David returning home , learns of his wife's indiscretion and flees almost killing himself in the process. Emilie tries to keep the peace. Finally she confronts Hester and......................................................................................................
It's a well known fact that 27 minutes was cut from the director's cut of the film. It may explain Emilie's life in gay Pareee was in that footage, who knows? Or maybe the gap between 1907 and 1914 was explored in more detail. Anyhow the 81 minute version is an almost complete story with plenty of drama and fine acting by all of the principals.
Bergman was just establishing herself in American films and looks absolutely gorgeous. Baxter was starting to show his age but contributed a fine performance as Adam. Susan Hayward steals the film as the evil Hester who preys upon the brothers. Richard Denning also stands out as the adult Jack and watch for a young June Lockhart as Chris' girlfriend Vance. Fay Wray's part is all too brief. Perhaps some of her footage was left on the cutting room floor.
Stoddard is an affluent financier living in Connecticut in a large mansion with his wife Molly (Fay Wray) and his four sons: Jack (Billy Ray), David (Steven Muller), Chris (Wallace Chadwell) and Phillip (Bobby Walberg). As the rich and famous were wanton to do, Adam hires a young Parisian girl Emilie Gallatin (Ingrid Bergman) as the family's governess to help raise the boys and help out the sickly Molly as well. The boys immediately become enchanted by the young governess.
In 1907 tragedy strikes. Molly passes away and Adam's business becomes a victim of a stock market plunge. Adam reluctantly is forced to sell his house and send Emilie back to France. With the onset of WWI, the stock market recovers and Adam regains his wealth. Incredibly he re-acquires his home and redecorates it. He sends for Emilie and she happily returns having been carrying the torch for Adam all these years.
The four boys have grown to become Richard Denning (Jack), Johnny Downs (David), Robert Shaw (Chris) and Charles Lind (Phillip) and have joined the armed forces. David comes home with a new bride, Hester (Susan Hayward) who turns out to be a predatory female who goes after Jack while Davis is away overseas. Wiley old Cousin Philippa (Helen Westly) is wise to Hester and warns Emilie to keep an eye on her.
While in Jack's room, the silouettes of he and Hester are visible from Adam's room and he becomes concerned. Emilie sneaks into Jack's room from another entrance and hurries the unfaithful Hester from the room and takes the blame when Adam knocks on the door. Jack begins to have a guilty conscience. David returning home , learns of his wife's indiscretion and flees almost killing himself in the process. Emilie tries to keep the peace. Finally she confronts Hester and......................................................................................................
It's a well known fact that 27 minutes was cut from the director's cut of the film. It may explain Emilie's life in gay Pareee was in that footage, who knows? Or maybe the gap between 1907 and 1914 was explored in more detail. Anyhow the 81 minute version is an almost complete story with plenty of drama and fine acting by all of the principals.
Bergman was just establishing herself in American films and looks absolutely gorgeous. Baxter was starting to show his age but contributed a fine performance as Adam. Susan Hayward steals the film as the evil Hester who preys upon the brothers. Richard Denning also stands out as the adult Jack and watch for a young June Lockhart as Chris' girlfriend Vance. Fay Wray's part is all too brief. Perhaps some of her footage was left on the cutting room floor.