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Four Daughters

  • 1938
  • Approved
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
John Garfield, Lola Lane, Priscilla Lane, Rosemary Lane, Jeffrey Lynn, and Gale Page in Four Daughters (1938)
Adam Lemp, the Dean of the Briarwood Music Foundation, has passed on his love of music to his four early adult daughters - Thea, Emma, Kay and Ann - who live with him and his sister, the girls' Aunt Etta, in the long time family home. Of the four, Kay has the greatest promise as a musical performer, specifically as a singer. Theirs is a loving family, however much the girls exasperate their father with their love of popular music, since he loves only the classics, most specifically Beethoven. The girls support each other however they can, but each is an individual with her own distinct personality and wants, including the type of man each wants as a husband. Practical but deep in her heart romantic Emma has long been courted by their next door neighbor, unassuming florist Ernest Talbot, and clever Thea wants to be Mrs. Ben Crowley, he a wealthy up and coming banker with prospects. Only the youngest, the fun loving Ann, states that she doesn't want to get married. Their collective lives change with the entry into their lives of two men. The first is Adam's old friend's son, popular music composer and conductor Felix Deitz, who easily gets a job at the foundation using his natural and sincere charm which he applies to all equally. Many women misconstrue that charm for romantic interest. The second is Felix's acquaintance, musician Mickey Borden, who he hires to orchestrate his latest composition. Mickey has a chip on his shoulders about what life has dealt him, which he uses in turn as a reason for living a reckless life. The two men make each of the four daughters reexamine what she thinks she wants in life, or more precisely who she wants, which for all may be the same person.
Play trailer4:03
2 Videos
23 Photos
Holiday RomanceDramaMusicRomance

A musician is blessed with four musical prodigies, all girls, and cursed when a troubled young composer enters the lives of his daughters.A musician is blessed with four musical prodigies, all girls, and cursed when a troubled young composer enters the lives of his daughters.A musician is blessed with four musical prodigies, all girls, and cursed when a troubled young composer enters the lives of his daughters.

  • Director
    • Michael Curtiz
  • Writers
    • Julius J. Epstein
    • Lenore J. Coffee
    • Fannie Hurst
  • Stars
    • Claude Rains
    • John Garfield
    • Jeffrey Lynn
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    2.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Michael Curtiz
    • Writers
      • Julius J. Epstein
      • Lenore J. Coffee
      • Fannie Hurst
    • Stars
      • Claude Rains
      • John Garfield
      • Jeffrey Lynn
    • 39User reviews
    • 18Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 5 Oscars
      • 1 win & 7 nominations total

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 4:03
    Official Trailer
    Four Daughters Clip
    Clip 0:29
    Four Daughters Clip
    Four Daughters Clip
    Clip 0:29
    Four Daughters Clip

    Photos23

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    Top cast18

    Edit
    Claude Rains
    Claude Rains
    • Adam Lemp
    John Garfield
    John Garfield
    • Mickey Borden
    Jeffrey Lynn
    Jeffrey Lynn
    • Felix Deitz
    Frank McHugh
    Frank McHugh
    • Ben Crowley
    May Robson
    May Robson
    • Aunt Etta Lemp
    Gale Page
    Gale Page
    • Emma Lemp
    Dick Foran
    Dick Foran
    • Ernest Talbot
    Vera Lewis
    Vera Lewis
    • Mrs. Ridgefield
    Tom Dugan
    Tom Dugan
    • Jake
    Eddie Acuff
    Eddie Acuff
    • Sam
    Donald Kerr
    • Earl
    Priscilla Lane
    Priscilla Lane
    • Ann Lemp
    Rosemary Lane
    Rosemary Lane
    • Kay Lemp
    Lola Lane
    Lola Lane
    • Thea Lemp
    Joe Cunningham
    • Waiter
    • (uncredited)
    Lillian Lawrence
    • Mrs. Ridgefield's friend
    • (uncredited)
    Wilfred Lucas
    Wilfred Lucas
    • Doctor
    • (uncredited)
    Jerry Mandy
    • Man
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Michael Curtiz
    • Writers
      • Julius J. Epstein
      • Lenore J. Coffee
      • Fannie Hurst
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This movie was John Garfield's first film and earned him his first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He would receive one other Oscar nomination for Best Actor in "Body and Soul" (1947).
    • Quotes

      Mickey Borden: I wouldn't win first prize if I were the only entry in the contest.

      Ann Lemp: Mathematically speaking, I think you'd stand a fine chance.

      Mickey Borden: You think they'd let me win?

      Ann Lemp: Who?

      Mickey Borden: They.

      Ann Lemp: Who?

      Mickey Borden: The fates, the destinies, whoever they are that decide what we do or don't get.

      Ann Lemp: What do you mean?

      Mickey Borden: They've been at me now nearly a quarter of a century. No let-up. First they said, "Let him do without parents. He'll get along." Then they decided, "He doesn't need any education. That's for sissies." Then right at the beginning, they tossed a coin. "Heads he's poor, tails he's rich." So they tossed a coin... with two heads. Then, for a finale, they got together on talent. "Sure," they said, "let him have talent. Not enough to let him do anything on his own, anything good or great. Just enough to let him help other people. It's all he deserves." Well, you put all this together and you get Michael Bolgar.

    • Connections
      Featured in Hollywood: The Great Stars (1963)
    • Soundtracks
      Serenade
      (1823) (uncredited)
      Music by Franz Schubert
      Sung by Rosemary Lane

    User reviews39

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10

    Sure it's a soap opera--but a good one!

    Story about a widowed father (Claude Rains) bringing up his four daughters. Emma (Gale Page) is loved by big hunky Ernest (Dick Foran). Thea (Lola Lane) is romanced by an old but wealthy man. Kay (Rosemary Lane) wants to become a singer. Ann (Priscilla Lane) is a romantic. Drop dead handsome Felix Deitz (Jeffrey Lynn), a business associate of their father, comes to stay with them. All the sisters fall in love with him. Then tough cynical Mickey (John Garfield) enters the picture...

    Very entertaining movie was a big hit and nominated for five Academy Awards. It's beautifully directed by Michael Curitz, has a pretty good (if predictable) script and a VERY attractive cast (especially Lynn). Also this was John Garfield's first film and made him a star. This was so popular there were three or four sequels (which I never saw). This is an engrossing, entertaining, big budget soap opera--well worth seeing.
    • preppy-3
    • Mar 7, 2006
    • Permalink

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    FAQ16

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 9, 1938 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Because of a Man
    • Filming locations
      • Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production companies
      • First National Pictures
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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    John Garfield, Lola Lane, Priscilla Lane, Rosemary Lane, Jeffrey Lynn, and Gale Page in Four Daughters (1938)
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