The sisterly affection is almost insufferable in FOUR DAUGHTERS, so wishy-washy is the script that has them treating each other with such tender care. One sister (PRISCILLA LANE) even runs off with the wrong man in an effort to spare her sister's feelings about the man she truly loves. This noble act eventually goes unrewarded, since the man she runs off with (JOHN GARFIELD) decides to end his life--which then makes it possible for Priscilla Lane to end up with the handsome suitor she originally loved--JEFFREY LYNN.
If this all sounds like sentimental tripe, it is--but at least Michael Curtiz gets three fine performances from the cast. JOHN GARFIELD made the biggest impression on critics at the time of release, since nobody had seen an actor of his ilk before, contemptuously tossing off lines in a manner that would later suit Marlon Brando or James Dean. He became an overnight star with his Oscar-nominated supporting role.
PRISCILLA LANE, as the youngest sister who makes the noble sacrifice, is refreshingly natural and extremely sensitive as the only Lane sister who is really given a part that she can grab hold of. The other sisters, ROSEMARY and LOLA LANE, have roles that are so underwritten that they're unplayable. JEFFREY LYNN is fine as the handsome and carefree young man that all of the sisters are attracted to.
Unfortunately, CLAUDE RAINS seems miscast as the girls' father, giving the role none of the distinctive Rains traits that always made his supporting roles so memorable. He just fades into the background, as do GALE PAGE, DICK FORAN, MAY ROBSON, FRANK McHUGH and others among the Warner contract players, while Garfield and Lane hold the spotlight.
A musical version called YOUNG AT HEART starring DORIS DAY and FRANK SINATRA used pretty much the same script, word for word, with the addition of WarnerColor and music. Not bad at all and Sinatra was just as good as Garfield in the role of the sullen songwriter who saw himself as victimized by fate. The musical version changed the ending, the only big difference.
If this all sounds like sentimental tripe, it is--but at least Michael Curtiz gets three fine performances from the cast. JOHN GARFIELD made the biggest impression on critics at the time of release, since nobody had seen an actor of his ilk before, contemptuously tossing off lines in a manner that would later suit Marlon Brando or James Dean. He became an overnight star with his Oscar-nominated supporting role.
PRISCILLA LANE, as the youngest sister who makes the noble sacrifice, is refreshingly natural and extremely sensitive as the only Lane sister who is really given a part that she can grab hold of. The other sisters, ROSEMARY and LOLA LANE, have roles that are so underwritten that they're unplayable. JEFFREY LYNN is fine as the handsome and carefree young man that all of the sisters are attracted to.
Unfortunately, CLAUDE RAINS seems miscast as the girls' father, giving the role none of the distinctive Rains traits that always made his supporting roles so memorable. He just fades into the background, as do GALE PAGE, DICK FORAN, MAY ROBSON, FRANK McHUGH and others among the Warner contract players, while Garfield and Lane hold the spotlight.
A musical version called YOUNG AT HEART starring DORIS DAY and FRANK SINATRA used pretty much the same script, word for word, with the addition of WarnerColor and music. Not bad at all and Sinatra was just as good as Garfield in the role of the sullen songwriter who saw himself as victimized by fate. The musical version changed the ending, the only big difference.