The Four Feathers (2002)

Director:

Shekhar Kapur

Writers (WGA):

A.E.W. Mason (novel)
Michael Schiffer (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

20 September 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | War

Tagline:

Freedom. Country. Honor. Passion. To save his best friend, one man must risk everything he loves.

Plot:

A British officer resigns his post just before battle and subsequently receives four white feathers from his friends and fiancee as symbols of what they believe to be his cowardice.

Plot Keywords:

Cowardice | British | Sudan | North Africa | Church Of England

Cast

Wes Bentley	...	Jack Durrance
Mohamed Bouich	...	Sudanese Storyteller
Campbell Brown	...	Dervish Ansar
Daniel Caltagirone	...	Gustave
James Cosmo	...	Col. Sutch
Andy Coumbe	...	Colonel Other Regiment
Angela Douglas	...	Aunt Mary
Karim Doukkali	...	Egyptian Orderly
Lucy Gordon	...	Isabelle
Megan Hall	...	Millie
James Hillier	...	Drunken Corporal
Nick Holder	...	British Lion
Djimon Hounsou	...	Abou Fatma
Kate Hudson	...	Ethne Eustace
Alex Jennings	...	Colonel Hamilton

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense battle sequences, disturbing images, violence and some sensuality.

Runtime:

131 min | Canada:125 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Portugal:M/12 (original rating) | Malaysia:U | Australia:M (TV rating) | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Brazil:12 | Canada:14A | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:R13 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:NC-16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #39145) (edited for re-rating) | USA:R (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Bledlow, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

The major fight scene is the Battle of Abu Klea, which took place on January 17, 1885. A British Desert Column of approximately 1,100 troops fought a Mahdist force of over 12,000 dervishes. The scene depicted in the film, however, is a fictional version of the actual battle.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The battle of Abu Klea was a British victory.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Title Card: By 1884 over a quarter of the earth's surface had been conquered by the British Army. There was no greater honor for a young man than to fight for Queen and Country. Those that refused the call to arms brought shame and humiliation on their friends and families...
Title Card: The Symbol of their disgrace was the white feather of cowardice...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Ils se marièrent et eurent beaucoup d'enfants (2004)

Sweeping new adaptation plenty of idealism ,heroism and overwhelming battles

This sixth rendition about known story by A.E.W. Mason concerns on British young officer named Harry Faversham(Heath Ledger). Resigning from Army , he's rejected by his father(Tim Pigott-Smith), branded as coward and sent four white feathers by his friends(Wes Bentley, Michael Sheen) and his engaged fiancée(Kate Hudson). Determined to save his honor he heads to Sudan against Derviches. There arrives the expedition of help commanded by General Wolsey and Kitchener for stifle the rebellious Sudan's tribes ruled by 'the Madhdi', the ¨expected one¨(events narrated in ¨Khartoum¨film-1966- with Charlton Heston and Laurence Olivier, directed by Basil Dearden).The Madhi along with Arab tribes had besieged Khartoum(1884) and vanquished General Gordon . Faversham disguised himself as native will save his friends from certain death and he will retrieve the lost honors. He's only helped by a valiant African-Muslim native(Dijimon Honsou).

This spectacular adventure detailing the epic feats of a brave hero, contains noisy action,idealism, romance, unlimited courage, breathtaking battles and impressive outdoors. Heath Ledger as stubborn officer is cool, Wes Bentley as his best friend is convincingly played and Kate Hudson as his girlfriend is enjoyable. Special mention to Dijimon Honsou as the corpulent helper. Sensational battle scenes made by hundred extras and by means of computer generator. Evocative cinematography reflecting the late 1800's and spectacular African landscapes by cameraman Robert Richardson. Appropriate and atmospheric musical score by James Horner. The motion picture is professionally directed by Shekhar Kapur. He's a costumer/epic expert, as he proved in ¨Bandit queen ¨and ¨Elizabeth I¨ and its sequel. Other adaptation about this famous story are : The classic rendition by Zoltan Korda(1939) with John Clemens and Jane Duprez ; 'Storm over the sand' (1955)by Terence Young with Anthony Steel and Laurence Harvey ; and for TV(1978)with Beau Bridges, Jane Seymour and Robert Powell.