Four Sons

"Big as the Heart of Humanity!"

Feb 13 1928 Passed 1h 40m
Drama, War

A family saga in which three of a Bavarian widow's sons go to war for Germany and the fourth goes to America, Germany's eventual opponent. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in partnership with L'Imaginne Ritrovato and Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation in 1999.

Plot

In Burgendorf, Bavaria, Mother Bernle has four sons. Franz is in the army, Johann works at the forge, Andreas tends the sheep. Joseph is riding a hay wagon with a pretty girl when some of the hay falls off, landing on the fearsome Maj. Von Stomm. Joseph gets a slap from the major... The jovial postman has brought a letter from America. Joseph has the offer of a job in the States. But getting there is so expensive... It's Mother Bernle's birthday and most of the town gathers for the dancing. Mother gives Joseph the money she has secreted away. He leaves for the USA... It is "Der Tag", The Day when war is declared. Franz and Johann are excited about their new uniforms. But America is still neutral. Joseph runs the German-American Delicatessen with his new wife Annabelle. The reports of the first German battles with the Russians are good. So why does the postman carry a black-edged letter for Mother Bernle? When America does enter the war, Joseph enlists and meets his friend, the iceman from the deli... Times are very bad in Burgendorf. Von Stomm accuses Mother Bernle: she is the "mother of a traitor"...

Written by

Philip Klein, I.A.R. Wylie, Herman Bing

Directed by

John Ford

Production Countries

United States of America

Production Companies

Fox Film Corporation

Languages

No Language

Awards

1 win

Scores
# of Votes
972
Average Rating
7.2 out of 10
Metascore
NA
Popularity
NA