The Four Feathers

Tagline : They made him a hero by branding him a coward... the story of a man who conquered fear.

Runtime : 129 mins

Genre : Adventure Drama War History

Vote Rating : 7/10


Reviews for this movie are available below.

Plot : A disgraced officer risks his life to help his childhood friends in battle.

Cast Members

Disclaimer - This is a news site. All the information listed here is to be found on the web elsewhere. We do not host, upload or link to any video, films, media file, live streams etc. Kodiapps is not responsible for the accuracy, compliance, copyright, legality, decency, or any other aspect of the content streamed to/from your device. We are not connected to or in any other way affiliated with Kodi, Team Kodi, or the XBMC Foundation. We provide no support for third party add-ons installed on your devices, as they do not belong to us. It is your responsibility to ensure that you comply with all your regional legalities and personal access rights regarding any streams to be found on the web. If in doubt, do not use.
DMCA Policy
- Privacy Policy
Kodiapps app v7.0 - Available for Android. You can now add latest scene releases to your collection with Add to Trakt. More features and updates coming to this app real soon.
Tip : Add https://kodiapps.com/rss to your RSS Ticker in System/Appearance/Skin settings to get the very latest Movie & TV Show release info delivered direct to your Kodi Home Screen. Builders are free to use it for their builds too.
You can get all the very release news and updates direct from our Telegram group.
Our Twitter and Facebook pages are no longer supported.

Reviews

I have been a coward – and I wasn’t happy. The best cinematic treatment of A.E.W. Mason’s novel is here, a rousing and moving tale of a military man who is branded as a coward by those closest to him. Receiving four feathers as a sign of cowardice, Howard Faversham is inspired to go redeem himself in the eyes of his peers during the Mahdist War 1895. Zoltan Korda throws everything but the “Kitchener” sink at the production. 1939 was a stellar year for cinema, arguably the greatest ever. Action/Adventure film fans were treated royally this year, with the likes of "Beau Geste", "Gunga Din" and "The Four Feathers" to whet the appetites. The latter is a top line production, a Technicolor spectacle of derring-do and manly codes such as bravery and honour. Some these days may balk at the imperialist fervour that hums along the way, and some characterisations are very much of the time, but with such film making expertise on show (the final battle sequences are high quality), from direction, acting, costuming, photography and musical score, this is classical cinema in its purist form. 9/10

**A little forgotten gem that, perhaps, deserved to be revisited by the public.** This film is one of several adaptations of a novel set during the Anglo-Egyptian conquest of Sudan. It's quite good and must have been a "super production" for the time it was made. Very well directed by Zoltan Korda, in a luxurious and meticulous production that spared no effort or expense, it is, perhaps, one of the best film adaptations of the title novel. And yet, it is unjustly forgotten! For those who don't know or don't remember, the interior of the African continent was only colonized after the Berlin Conference, in 1885. Fourteen countries participated in it, including the USA and European countries without any colonies, such as Sweden. Among the several issues addressed (the end of slave trade, freedom of navigation on some rivers and the trade liberalization in some coastal areas), the legal bases for the occupation of the African interior were discussed: of course, for the Europeans at that time, the rights of the native tribes had no value, they were just savages. Outrageous today, but understandable in light of that time. As a result, the main European empires rushed to send expeditions with a view to exploring and demarcating their territories in Africa. The United Kingdom wanted the possession of a considerable strip of land, between Cairo and Cape Town, which is why it was decided to control Egypt, then a semi-independent kingdom under the authority of the Sultan of Istanbul, which had conquered the Sudan decades earlier. After helping the Egyptian king, Tewfik Pasha, to survive an uprising, the British took factual control of the kingdom. However, in 1881, the Egyptians lost control of Sudan to an Islamic revolutionary movement led by a self-appointed prophet, the Mahdi. The uprising withstood several military expeditions, leading to the death of the popular General Charles Gordon. The film begins with these events and historical context. It is when the relief expedition to Sudan is being prepared that the protagonist, Harry Faversham, asks to be discharged from service in the regiment where he is an officer. He never wanted to be a soldier, he was forced by his father and he was finally released from that obligation with his death. However, his comrades in arms and his bride did not understand that, and Faversham found himself in possession of four white feathers, a symbolic insignia given to men considered cowards for not serving their country in the ranks. John Clements is very good in the lead role, giving his character a dose of nobility and generosity combined with the youth and courage he comes to discover. Ralph Richardson, Jack Allen and Donald Gray were impeccable in the roles of British officers who demarcate themselves from the protagonist's attitude. June Duprez has little to do here, but what she does is done very well. On a technical level, we have to highlight Korda's direction, who had the close collaboration of his brothers on this project. The cinematography is simply magnificent and the colors, in their brightness and intensity, are a feast for the eyes. The director's meticulousness and exactness greatly benefited the historical accuracy, which was one of his concerns and the ultimate reason why he decided to film a lot of fight scenes in Sudan, very close to the places where the fighting actually took place. In fact, when documenting myself to write this review, I even read that the director took the opportunity to meet people who lived through the events, who participated in the combats and even gave military period training to the extras, where we can find also some real soldiers of the British Army. Sets, costumes, props and weaponry were details thought out in detail to recreate faithfully what would have been possible to find if we were there. Of course, there are flaws, but they are irrelevant. Before finishing, a word of praise for the soundtrack, signed by Miklos Rosza.

A British officer (John Clements) is called up to serve in Kitchener's army that will set out to avenge the defeat of General Gordon in the Sudan. He is deeply in love with his fiancée (June Duprez), however, and so decides to prioritise his family over his career. Bad move, that - his girlfriend and three of his closest compatriots (Ralph Richardson, Jack Allen & Donald Gray) consider him a coward and present him with the token of a yellow-belly - a white feather - and his engagement to the daughter of a retired general (C. Aubrey Smith) is ended. He determines to follow, incognito, his colleagues into the desert and shadows each of them as they face - and he shares - the perils and hazards of their mission. Once again, the Korda's present us with an ensemble of strong performances and a wonderfully colourful and well-paced adventure story of determination and betrayal that is tinged with quite a bit of sadness, too. I'd say this is every bit as good as Merian C. Cooper's 1929 version. (PS: keep an eye out for John Laurie as "The Khalifa"!!!)

Similar Movies

Lawrence of Arabia

The story of British officer T.E. Lawrence's mission to aid the Arab tribes in their revolt against the Ottoman Empire during the First World War. Lawrence becomes a flamboyant, messianic figure in the cause of Arab unity but his psychological instability threatens to undermine his achievements.

Mission: Impossible III

Retired from active duty, and training recruits for the Impossible Mission Force, agent Ethan Hunt faces the toughest foe of his career: Owen Davian, an international broker of arms and information, who's as cunning as he is ruthless. Davian emerges to threaten Hunt and all that he holds dear – including the woman Hunt loves.

The General

During America’s Civil War, Union spies steal engineer Johnny Gray's beloved locomotive, 'The General'—with Johnnie's lady love aboard an attached boxcar—and he single-handedly must do all in his power to both get The General back and to rescue Annabelle.

Paths of Glory

A commanding officer defends three scapegoats on trial for a failed offensive that occurred within the French Army in 1916.

The Man Who Would Be King

A robust adventure about two British adventurers who take over primitive Kafiristan as "godlike" rulers, meeting a tragic end through their desire for a native girl. Based on a short story by Rudyard Kipling.

You Only Live Twice

A mysterious spacecraft captures Russian and American space capsules and brings the two superpowers to the brink of war. James Bond investigates the case in Japan and comes face to face with his archenemy Blofeld.

Pearl Harbor

The lifelong friendship between Rafe McCawley and Danny Walker is put to the ultimate test when the two ace fighter pilots become entangled in a love triangle with beautiful Naval nurse Evelyn Johnson. But the rivalry between the friends-turned-foes is immediately put on hold when they find themselves at the center of Japan's devastating attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

Top Gun

For Lieutenant Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell and his friend and co-pilot Nick 'Goose' Bradshaw, being accepted into an elite training school for fighter pilots is a dream come true. But a tragedy, as well as personal demons, will threaten Pete's dreams of becoming an ace pilot.

The Dirty Dozen

12 American military prisoners in World War II are ordered to infiltrate a well-guarded enemy château and kill the Nazi officers vacationing there. The soldiers, most of whom are facing death sentences for a variety of violent crimes, agree to the mission and the possible commuting of their sentences.

The Longest Month

Four hard-hitting stores, from the deadliest period in U.S. Army Aviation, since Vietnam. Actual footage from the events, and interviews from the Soldiers, who were there - bring these intense and touching stories of courage and sacrifice to life.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

After Port Royal is attacked and pillaged by a mysterious pirate crew, capturing the governor's daughter Elizabeth Swann in the process, William Turner asks free-willing pirate Jack Sparrow to help him locate the crew's ship—The Black Pearl—so that he can rescue the woman he loves.