The Four Feathers
by Alfred Edward Woodley Masonliterary work· published 1902
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The Four Feathers is a 1902 adventure novel by British writer A. E. W. Mason that has inspired many films of the same title. In December 1901, Cornhill Magazine announced the title as one of two new serial stories to be published in the forthcoming year. Against the background of the Mahdist War, young Feversham disgraces himself by quitting his regiment; others condemn his cowardice, symbolized by the four white feathers they give him. He belatedly redeems himself with acts of courage and wins back the heart of the woman he loves.
Adaptations (7)
The Four Feathers has been adapted 7 times, across film and television film, from 1915 to 2002.
Four Feathers1915 · film · 50 min · dir. J. Searle Dawley · IMDb ↗IMDb7.3A British army officer refuses to avenge the death of a general who was murdered years earlier. He is awarded three feathers by his officers. When his fiancée fails to defend his stance, he plucks a feather from her fan. He proves his courage by rescuing his comrades in dangerous and life-threatening situations. Later he returns each feather as proof of his redemption and courage.
The Four Feathers1921 · film · 115 min · dir. René Plaissetty · IMDb ↗IMDb6.0When a British army officer, Harry Faversham, resigns his commission on the eve of his regiment's departure for service in the Sudan he is sent four white feathers of cowardice by his comrades and fiancee. In an attempt to redeem himself, Faversham travels out to the Sudan where he saves the lives of his former comrades.
The Four Feathers1929 · film · 81 min · dir. Merian C. Cooper, Lothar Mendes, Ernest B. Schoedsack · IMDb ↗IMDb7.0An Englishman (Richard Arlen) fights in the Sudan after receiving white feathers of cowardice from his fiancee (Fay Wray) and friends.
Storm Over the Nile1955 · film · 107 min · dir. Zoltan Korda, Terence Young · IMDb ↗IMDb6.2In 1885, while his regiment is sent to the Sudan to battle the rebellious Dervish tribes, British Lieutenant Harry Faversham resigns his officer's commission in order to remain with his fiancée Mary Burroughs in England. His friends and fellow officers John Durrance, Peter Burroughs and Tom Willoughby brand him a coward and present him with the white feathers of cowardice. His fiancée, Mary, adds a fourth feather and breaks off their engagement. However, former Lieutenant Faversham decides to regain his honor by fighting in the Sudan incognito.
The Four Feathers1978 · television film · 100 min · dir. Don Sharp · IMDb ↗IMDb6.4The fifth filming of the adventure classic about a British soldier in the 1880s who fights to regain his honor after being given four white feathers, symbols of cowardice.
The Four Feathers2002 · film · 132 min · dir. Shekhar Kapur · IMDb ↗A young British officer resigns his post when he learns of his regiment's plan to ship out to the Sudan for the conflict with the Mahdi. His friends and fiancée send him four white feathers as symbols of what they view as his cowardice. To redeem his honor, he disguises himself as an Arab and secretly saves their lives.
