Daughters Courageous

Nancy Masters has a happy life with her four grown daughters; Buff, Tinka, Linda, and Cora. She is to marry gentleman Sam Sloane in a few weeks. Suddenly, her wandering first husband Jim Masters (Claude Rains) returns after twenty years absence. Nobody is happy with the man who abandoned the family. Buff (Priscilla Lane) falls for Gabriel Lopez (John Garfield) who has a lot in common with Jim.

I don't know anything about the Four Daughters series of films. Apparently, this is unrelated to those. So I'm ok. I like this group although it's hard to differentiate all the sisters. Maybe they could drop one to make it easier on me. This movie starts like a light silly comedy and then Claude Rains adds a dark cloud to the story. This clashing of tones makes it hard to reconcile with this forced family reunion. There are relationships happening at cross-purposes. If these are real ships, they would be crossing paths and crashing into each other. In the end, the resolution left me empty.

This is the first of the "Four Daughters" series that I've ever seen, or was even aware of. Judging by this film, it's a wonder that they don't have a better reputation than they do. This movie is very engaging and entertaining throughout. The story may be a little too by-the-numbers, but the likability of the three Lane sisters plus one helps to overcome that mild complaint easily. The dialog is as snappy as that of a contemporary sitcom and the direction is fresh and forward-looking for a film over sixty years old. Claude Rains shines in his role. This also marks the first time I've understood why John Garfield commands the devoted following he has. "Daughters Courageous" should be enjoyed by anyone who likes the older Hollywood films and will likely appeal to a significant percentage of younger viewers if they give it a chance.

This merely acceptable movie depicts the kind of moral and social values Hollywood was encouraging during the aftermath of the depression. The "Daughters" series had better production values and less clowning than the Andy Hardy ones. But Daughters Courageous manages to present the family values as terrible dull. As dull as the daughters' beaux. The picture itself is nothing. The four daughters are as interchangeable as the pieces of an Erector set. The only positive features are John Garfield and Claude Rains. Garfield caused the picture to be made, and repeated unashamedly his character of Four Daughters, with less redeeming features. His performance had the high standard to be expected of him. But the real star of the picture is Rains. His part is not very well written; the Epsteins and Michael Curtiz forgot to explain him and his motivations. But what an actor! He gives life to the picture, makes you love one of the most despicable characters in movie history, and you go all the way with him even if you know that he is poison to the whole life of his former wife and former(?) daughters. One cannot root for the sort of dull life Fay Bainter, Donald Crisp, the daughters and the daughters' beaux embodiy. But you cannot root either for the kind of social irresponsibility Rains and Garfield represent. But, anyhow, the picture is very entertaining and Priscilla Lane was adorable.

It is impossible to resist a cast as great as the one in 'Daughters Courageous', part of a film series that also was made up of 'Four Daughters', 'Four Wives' and 'Four Mothers'. Of which it is the second (unofficial) one. Claude Rains, Donald Crisp, Fay Bainter, May Robson and Priscilla Lane are reasons enough to see any film on their own, so seeing them together as part of the same cast further made me excited and likely make anybody excited.

'Daughters Courageous' could have been better than it was and it has its faults, but it was also very well played and enjoyable. The entertainment and charm factors high on the most part. Compared to the other 'Four...' films, 'Daughters Courageous' isn't as good as 'Four Daughters', which delivered on almost everything apart from more development for some characters needed and one rushed subplot. It is on the same level as the solid 'Wives', which had most of the same good things with a couple of improvements and a couple of disappointments. It is also though better than 'Mothers', which was a disappointment while still watchable.

Will start with what could have been done better. Again, only found Ann properly developed of the sisters (although they are all likeable still) and generally the character writing had a lot of rushed or out-of-the-blue decision-making that didn't make sense, or at least one doesn't buy.

John Garfield to me lost the spark that he had in 'Four Daughters', he made such a big impression in that film but here what made his performance in that work so well is missing here. He was bitter but also eloquent before, here he was just mean-spirited.

However, the cast do a great job here and extract as much as they can out of their flawed character writing. Lane is charming, while Rains manages to bring likeability and dignity to a problematic character (one where one questions his motives and constantly is feeling that things don't add up). Robson brings a smile to the face, while Bainter is touching as the film's most sympathetic character. Crisp shows a stuffy exterior but deep down he shows a good heart, a kind of role that played to Crisp's strengths.

Again, 'Daughters Courageous' is well made and photographed, never elaborate but never static-looking either. Curtiz's direction is distinguished and the music score is sumptuous but never too overwrought. The script is gently amusing and sincere and the story may have felt rushed and underdeveloped (as well as lacked originality) but it is very charming, human and a relaxing watch.

On the whole, quite good but not great. 7/10

I must disagree with the previous comment. This is not merely a rehash of "The Four Daughters"! While I enjoyed the former very much, I find the dialogue in "Daughters Courageous" much snappier and the characters more believable. From idyllic upstate New York, to an almost seamy California bordertown, there is a world of difference here! I suppose Garfield is an acquired taste, but I find him compelling as the Mexican layabout (maybe because I'm a layabout myself). In addition, this film gets more milage out of the luminous Priscilla Lane than the other films (she is clearly THE female star of this film). She and Garfield made a great pair, for further evidence see "Dust Be My Destiny".