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The Four Feathers
The Four Feathers“An army officer resigns his post as his
  regiment is put under orders to join
  Kitchener’s Anglo-Egyptian army in the
  Sudan towards the end of the 19th
  Century and, having been presented
  with four white feathers for cowardice
  by his friends and his fiancée, he places
  himself in the utmost danger in a
  savage land while trying to find and
  protect his fellow soldiers in The Four
  Feathers...”

THE FOUR FEATHERS, A MUCH-LOVED and much-filmed classic tale of cowardice and bravery, is set against the brutal war in the Sudan late in the 19th Century where cruel Dervishes killed and enslaved thousands of defenceless natives.

Following the Dervishes attack on Khartoum in 1885, the small garrison fell under siege and its heroic commander General Gordon was murdered. Back in England, the young and sensitive Henry Faversham (Clive Baxter) celebrates his 15th birthday with his retired army General father (Allan Jeayes) and his friends, who recount horrifying Crimean war stories that leave a lasting impression on the boy.

“A magnificent
and hugely-stirring film,
Alexander Korda’s
The Four Feathers
is a tense and riveting
tale of one man’s
courageous fight for
honour as he faces the
unthinkable in a
volatile and dangerous
land...”
A decade later Henry (John Clements: Gandhi; Ships With Wings) has grown into a handsome young man who is engaged to Ethne Burroughs (June Duprez), the daughter of his father's friend and also a retired General (C Aubrey Smith).

Coming from a distinguished military family, Henry has fulfilled his father's wishes and has enlisted along with his own friends Captain John Durrance (Ralph Richardson: Doctor Zhivago; Time Bandits), Lt Willoughby (Jack Allen) and Ethne's brother Peter (Donald Gray); joining the Royal North Surrey Regiment.

However, he has never believed he is cut out for the army and once his father dies he has no reason to remain. As his unit is under orders to join Kitchener's Anglo-Egyptian army to take back the Sudan, Henry resigns his commission and thereby earns himself the contempt of Ethne's father and three feathers denoting cowardice from each of his closest friends.

Confused and unsure of what to think, Ethne is forced by Henry to take and to reluctantly hand over to him a white feather from her ostrich fan. But the matter is not to end there.

Acknowledging the disgrace he has brought to his family, Henry contacts his father's old friend Dr Sutton (Frederick Culley) and tells him that he has something he must do; but if he doesn't hear from him within the next twelve months he must assume that he has died…

This Oscar-nominated adaptation of A E W Masons's iconic novel is arguably one of the most spectacular of the early Technicolor films, with epic battle scenes and a tightly-constructed script by Oscar-nominated R C Sherrif (Goodbye, Mr Chips).

Bold and with a talented cast, the movie reflects perfectly-planned military precision; Alexander Korda's adaptation of The Four Feathers features evocative locations and a thrilling storyline enhanced up by a pounding score by Miklós Rózsa and sterling performances from John Clements and Ralph Richardson.

A magnificent and hugely-stirring film, Alexander Korda's The Four Feathers is a tense and riveting tale of one man's courageous fight for honour as he faces the unthinkable in a volatile and dangerous land. A must for any film collection.

The Four Feathers also features: Clive Baxter as Young Henry Faversham; Robert Rendel as Colonel; Derek Elphinstone as Lt Parker; Henry Oscar as Dr Harraz; John Laurie as The Khalifa; and Amid Taftazani as Karaga Pasha.

Music is by Miklós Rózsa; Photography by Georges Perinal, and in the Sudan by Osmond Borradaile; Screenplay by R C Sherriff; Additional Dialogue by Lajos Biro and Arthur Wimperis; Technical and Military Advisers are: Captain Donald Anderson and Lt Col Stirling DSOMC; Produced by Alexander Korda; Directed by Zoltan Korda.

* The Four Feathers, featured here with a High Definition transfer made from original film elements in its as-exhibited 1939 theatrical aspect ratio, is released in the UK on Blu-ray for the first time courtesy of Network Distributing's The British Film Collection on 1 September 2014. Running Time: 115 Minutes | Catalogue Number: 7957062 | RRP: Ł14.99.

Special Features: Original Theatrical Trailer | A Day At Denham Newsreel Film | Archive 1973 Interview with Ralph Richardson | Image Gallery | Instant Play Facility.

"A magnificent and hugely-stirring film, Alexander Korda's The Four Feathers is a tense and riveting tale of one man's courageous fight for honour as he faces the unthinkable in a volatile and dangerous land" — Maggie Woods