Adam Had Four Sons

1941

Adam Had Four Sons

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58%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 236

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Movie Info

Ingrid Bergman stars in Adam Had Four Sons, her second American film appearance. Based on a novel by Charles Bonner, the story begins in the early twentieth century, when French governess Emilie Gallatin (Bergman) is hired to care for the four growing sons of wealthy Adam Stoddard (Warner Baxter). The sudden death of Stoddard's wife Molly (Fay Wray) and the loss of his fortune compels Emilie to reluctantly give up her position and head home. Ten years later, Stoddard, having recovered financially, again sends for Emilie, even though his sons have all grown and are about to march off to WW1. Secretly in love with Stoddard, Emilie nonetheless keeps her place, until the libertine behavior of Stoddard's scheming sister-in-law Hester (Susan Hayward) forces Emilie to take drastic action.

Rating:

NR
Genre:

Classics, Drama, Romance
Directed By:

Gregory Ratoff
Written By:

Michael Blankfort, William Hurlbut
In Theaters:

Mar 27, 1941 wide
On Disc/Streaming:

Jan 6, 2004
Runtime:

112 minutes
Studio:

Sony Pictures Entertainment

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Cast

Ingrid Bergman
as Emilie Gallatin

Warner Baxter
as Adam Stoddard

Susan Hayward
as Hester Stoddard

Fay Wray
as Molly Stoddard

Richard Denning
as Older Jack

Johnny Downs
as Older David

Robert "Buddy" Shaw
as Older Chris

Charles Lind
as Older Phillip

Billy Rayes
as Younger Jack

Steven Muller
as Younger David

Wallace Chadwell
as Younger Chris

Bobby Walberg
as Younger Phillip

Helen Westley
as Cousin Phillipa

June Lockhart
as Vance

Pietro Sosso
as Otto

Gilbert Emery
as Dr. Lane

Renie Riano
as Photographer

Clarence Muse
as Sam

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Critic Reviews for Adam Had Four Sons

All Critics (2) | DVD (2)

...the high sleaze quotient ensures that Adam Had Four Sons remains engrossing enough to warrant a recommendation.

Jan 11, 2004 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews

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Audience Reviews for Adam Had Four Sons

Apr 13, 2012

I have to admit that it's embarrassing how did I found this movie... I was checking movies I've seen from Bergman and on data base I found this one. Got it and too late realize that it wasn't the director Bergman's movie but Ingrid Bergman's... it was her second movie in America! It is typical romance movie of that time in which Warner Baxter portrays the wealthy, easy-going patriarch of a family that falls on hard times after the death of his wife and a stock market crash. Recently arrived governess Emilie (played by Bergman) works to keep the family together but the financial loss of Adam Stoddards (Baxter) fortune means that Emilie must return to France. Reversing his fortunes takes several years and after that Adam recalls Emilie to look after it... but there is a twist! One of the sons, David, returns with his new wife, Hester, (played by Susan Hayward), who turns out be a conniving woman who wants to rule the roost... Screenplay was engaging, but I have to say that cinematography was below the average. I liked the acting of all the stars in this movie, while directing could be done by any film student and no one will notice the difference! It's a good material for anyone interested in the film history...

Panta O Super Reviewer
Dec 09, 2007

not a great movie, Ingrid is a little pallid but Susan Hayward is great as a scheming homewrecker.

jay n Super Reviewer