Brought over from Sweden in 1939 by producer David O. Selznick, Ingrid Bergman's second American film, after the English-language remake of “Intermezzo,” was this briskly paced melodrama, reuniting her with “Intermezzo” director and occasional actor, Gregory Ratoff (aka “Max Fabian,” in “All About Eve”).

Clearly aimed at female audiences, “Adam Had Four Sons” is also an example of three generations of stars intermeshing at pivotal career junctures: former leading man Warner Baxter was just a picture away from his series of “Crime Doctor” B-films; pioneering scream queen Fay Wray subsequently appeared in a few B-pictures before moving to TV, and the odd feature role; Ingrid Bergman was a hop away from “Casablanca” immortality; Susan Hayward's career would blossom towards the end of the decade; and teenage June Lockhart, playing the youngest son's girlfriend, would go on to play immortal moms in TV's “Lassie,” and “Lost In Space.”

Columbia Tristar's DVD is made from a good print, and though there's a bit of discoloration around the reel changes, “Adam Had Four Sons” looks very nice, sporting good greys and a very sharp picture.

© 2004 Mark R. Hasan