Movie review - "The Four Feathers" (1939) ***1/2

For an action film this has a marvellous complex central dilemma - John Clements is from a military family; he is called off on duty to the Sudan but resigns his commission, claiming that his estates need looking after and it's a silly war - but in fact it's because he's a coward. Since this is an adventure movie, he goes off to war and proves his bravery through two effective set pieces - rescuing Ralph Richardson,who's been blinded in the sun fighting fuzzie-wuzzies, and saving two mates from a gaol.

I've often thought you could have made just a compelling drama out of Clements ducking war service because he genuinely thought the Sudan war was silly - being given four feathers,facing disgrace, etc on a matter of principle. The film (in the form of the doctor character) seems to say this would be noble thing - but it's not the real reason, its just plain cowardice, so having raised the issue they duck it. Which is a shame since the beginning of the movie is quite an effective critique of blind militarism - Clements' awful father, the lust for glory.

The film does not show these things in a glowing light - but cowardice is bad, so there's no doubt about that, so when Clements proves his bravery he serves the system and at the end of the film becomes part of the establishment again, even joking around with bloodthirsty C Aubrey Smith.

It's a shame they couldn't have done something like - and I know this is my PC-ness coming through - explored the notions of different sort of bravery, such as have another character who is a genuine conscientious objector, and Clements tries to make friends with him to cover his cowardice; or have Clements prove his bravery then come back and criticise the establishment. Those are things the Heath Ledger remake should have done - but that film couldn't deal with the concept of a white hero in Imperial times and introduced this black character who ran around saving Heath Ledger's life all the time. (I think they should have set that film during the Vietnam War).

Of the acting, two stand out - Richardson in what is the best role,really, and Aubrey Smith, who plays it like to the manor born, which he was. Clements doesn't really do justice to the potential of his role but he's OK; ditto June Duprez as the love interest. The two things that help this piece leap the years: the spectacle, with gorgeous colour photography and spectacular battle sequences (subsequently re-used in many other films), and the feeling of satisfaction that comes with Clements completing his mission of returning the white feathers.