In the late 1930s, Britain's cinema industry began to thrive, largely thanks to the efforts of Alexander Korda, a Hungarian immigrant and an experienced filmmaker. Korda never missed an opportunity to express his enthusiasm for his new country, and this was reflected in his cinematic works. His epics celebrated the glorious past and still-present British Empire, while also embodying concerns about the future and the need for Britons to maintain their martial spirit and virtues, which might be crucial in the next global conflict that seemed increasingly likely. This sentiment is clearly evident in Korda's 1939 release, The Four Feathers, which is considered one of his finest and most celebrated works.
The Four Feathers was based on the 1902 eponymous novel by A.E.W. Mason, a prolific author of popular fiction. Two of Mason's other novels, Fire Over England and The Drum, had already served as the basis for Korda's high-budget productions. The novel was one of Mason's most popular works and had been adapted for the screen three times during the silent era. The 1939 film, directed by Korda's brother Zoltan, was not only the first sound adaptation but also the first in colour, with Korda correctly assuming that the three-strip Technicolor technology, though expensive and demanding, was the only suitable choice for a film of such ambition.
The original novel had its plot set in the 1880s during the Mahdist War, shortly after the fall of Khartoum and the death of General Gordon. The script, written by R.C. Sherriff, Lajos Bíró, and Arthur Wimperis, used this historical event as a thematic backdrop for the prologue, where the audience is introduced to Harry Faversham (played by Clive Baxter), the son of General Faversham (played by Allan Jeayes) and a young scion of a distinguished English family with a long tradition of military service. Reluctant to face the prospect of being killed in unpleasant ways, Harry nevertheless fulfils his duty and enrols in a military school. Ten years later, as an adult (played by John Clements), he serves as a lieutenant but, following his father's death, decides to resign his commission just as his regiment is about to join Herbert Kitchener's campaign to reconquer Sudan and avenge Gordon's death. This decision deeply offends three of his friends – Captain John Durrance (played by Ralph Richardson), Lieutenant Thomas Willoughby (played by Donald Gray), and Lieutenant Peter Burroughs (played by Jack Allen) – who send him three white feathers, the traditional symbol of cowardice. Peter's sister, Ethne (played by Jane Duprez), also breaks her engagement to Harry. Troubled by his choice, Harry embarks on a desperate scheme to redeem himself by travelling to Egypt, altering his appearance to pass as a native, and going behind Mahdist lines in Sudan to gather intelligence, ultimately allowing him to meet his friends again and use his ingenuity to save their lives.
With films like The Four Feathers, Korda aimed to demonstrate that he could match Hollywood at its own game. The large budget is evident on screen through painstakingly recreated period costumes and props, effective colour cinematography by Georges Périnal, and a musical score by Miklós Rózsa, who would soon become one of the most celebrated composers of film music. The greatest attraction in the film, however, comes from the scenes shot on location in Sudan, many of them with the cooperation of the British Army. The result is a number of exciting combat scenes involving a large number of extras, including a reconstruction of the famous Battle of Omdurman, which is effectively interwoven into the action-packed finale.
In terms of its themes, The Four Feathers can be interpreted as a reflection of contemporary political debates in Britain and other Western countries. In the late 1930s, the British public was still deeply affected by the unimaginable carnage of the Great War and, like the protagonist, had little enthusiasm for conflict, thus supporting policies of appeasement. Korda, consciously or unconsciously, tried to make his countrymen change their minds, which they ultimately did in September 1939.
The acting in the film is solid, but it could have been better. John Clements, who plays the protagonist, bears a striking resemblance to Alec Guinness, making his performance appear a little too stiff. He is easily overshadowed by Ralph Richardson, who, despite being a bit too old for his role as a young officer, delivers a powerful performance as a character who suffers from blindness and madness.
The Four Feathers became a huge commercial success, and its value was confirmed through subsequent decades when its scenes were recycled for two more adaptations – the 1955 film Storm Over the Nile and the 1978 television film directed by Don Sharp. In 2002, a new version, more in line with "politically correct" anti-imperialist sentiments, was made with Heath Ledger in the starring role, but it failed to dethrone the 1939 version as the best adaptation of Mason's novel.
RATING: 8/10 (+++)
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