DAUGHTERS COURAGEOUS (Warner Brothers, 1939), directed by Michael Curtiz, with title inspired by the box-office success to CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1937), is one that often gets confused with the studio's earlier hit of FOUR DAUGHTERS (1938), even to a point of classifying it as its sequel. FOUR DAUGHTERS did have a sequel, in fact, two, titled FOUR WIVES (1939) and FOUR MOTHERS (1941), Capitalizing on the success of FOUR DAUGHTERS by using the same major leading players and its director, DAUGHTERS COURAGEOUS is an original screenplay that happens to be a rehash of FOUR DAUGHTERS, if nothing else. Though there are comparisons regarding its characters in both films, the format in general plays more like a tear-jerker from the silent movie era. Yet its direction and how it's performed feels quite modern and agreeable making both FOUR DAUGHTERS and DAUGHTERS COURAGEOUS to be of equal status, if not, a notch better than the original.
The story opens with plot development involving the Masters family: Nan (Fay Bainter) who has raised four daughters to adulthood: Buff (Priscilla Lane) Tinka (Rosemary Lane), Linda (Lola Lane) and Cora (Gale Page), after her husband, James, had abandoned them twenty years ago to drift around the world. Buff is loved by playwright, Johnny Heming (Jeffrey Lynn); Tinka goes for football player, Eddie Moore (Dick Foran) while Linda loves George (Frank McHugh). Cora is a serious-minded girl wanting to become an inspiring actress by taking a small role in Johnny's upcoming play for the Colony Players. The Masters household also consists of Penny (May Robson), their housekeeper who helped raise the four daughters since birth. Now beautiful young ladies, the four daughters learn their mother intends to remarry, to a respected businessman, Sam Sloane (Donald Crisp). Sam looks forward to his new family and becoming the head of the house. Aside from Buff taking an interest in Gabriel Lopez (John Garfield), a fisherman whom her mother disapproves, their lives are interrupted by the arrival of the girls' father, James (Claude Rains). His one ambition is to win back their love and respect lost to him now that his four daughters are all strangers to him. Featuring Berton Churchill (Judge Henry Hornsby); George Humbert, castly Hobart Cavanaugh, Eddie Acuff and Tom Dugan in smaller roles.
Regardless of star billing going to the up and coming John Garfield, the story centers more on Fay Bainter, Claude Rains and their "Four Daughters," as they are castly billed. Rains as usual is excellent. He and Garfield outshine the material as does the rest of the cast. Although a drama, the movie features amusements, such as its opening set on the beach where a lifeguard is saved from drowning. The one that stands out for me is how Rains attempts to win the sympathy from his daughters individually by shivering while sleeping on the living room couch near an open window blowing wind his way. Fay Bainter, on loan from MGM, having two earlier 1938 Warners successes as JEZEBEL and WHITE BANNERS to her name, along with Donald Crisp, are two performers added to the assortment of the FOUR DAUGHTERS cast consisting of Rains, The Lane Sisters, Page, Garfield, Lynn, Robson, McHugh, Foran and Robson. Though no sequel was made for DAUGHTERS COURAGEOUS using a title like WIVES COURAGEOUS for example, this sole venture stands on its own through its fine blend of humor with sentiment for much of its 107 minutes.
Available on DVD, DAUGHTERS COURAGEOUS often plays on Turner Classic Movies cable channel for fans of the FOUR DAUGHTERS franchise and beyond. (***1/2)
