Warner Baxter plays Adam, and he has four sons: Richard Denning, Johnny Downs, Robert Shaw, and Charles Lind. He's in charge of a grand estate, but when his wife dies and his fortune is wiped out, he has to scramble to be able to afford his lifestyle again. Ingrid Bergman plays the governess who helps him pick up the pieces of his struggling family. When the boys grow up, some marry and some enlist in WWI-what will happen to the family dynamic?If you like movies about governesses sent in to take care of a brood of children, you'll probably like this one. It's got all the elements: struggles with the children, eventual acceptance and bonding, a little romance with the father, and family tensions when the children grow up. Ingrid is always very good when playing someone strong, so if you're a fan, you won't be disappointed in her performance in Adam Had Four Sons. Even though the title features Warner Baxter's name, it's Ingrid who's the star of the show. She may be only the governess, but she's the glue that keeps everyone together. And keep on the lookout for a young Susan Hayward in one of her first major roles. She's beautiful and cunning, and it's amazing that she wasn't forever typecast as a villain after a movie like this!

Fay Wray (yes, her, the blonde from the 1933 "King Kong," still the only KK worth watching) plays the materfamilias in this family romance/melodrama. Unfortunately, she dies off from one of those romantic-era illnesses early on, leaving the family involved to the not-so-tender mercies of the scheming Susan Hayworth, who faces off against the virtuous Ingrid Bergman as the new family governess (in what was only Bergman's second U.S. film role). Hayworth is good as the greedy girl who turns the head of one of the sons of the title, and marries him, while carrying on an affair with one of his brothers. Worthwhile film but a bit predictable and corny.

"Adam Had Four Sons" (1941) is a perfect movie for folks who enjoy watching stars performing early in their careers. In this film, there are four such performances to draw the viewer's attention. The story here concerns the quaint Connecticut household headed by Warner Baxter and Fay Wray in 1907, and the French governess (Ingrid Bergman, in her second American film) who is brought in to care for their four young boys. Years later, trouble brews when one of the boys brings home a new wife, Susan Hayward, "the Brooklyn Bombshell," in one of her earliest screen roles. Hayward wastes no time in becoming drunken, bitchy and flirtatious, especially with the hunky eldest brother, Richard Denning, in one of HIS earlier roles. Need I even mention that a Grade A confrontation looms between the protective governess and the interloping bad girl? This is actually a very warm little movie, with nice performances by all; an involving, over-the-years type of story; and handsome production values. The three lead actresses look as beautiful as one could wish for, especially Hayward. Honestly...has there EVER been an actress with such a combination of drop-dead good looks and sheer acting ability? Not for me, anyway. But in this picture, our sympathies are completely with Bergman, and she is just radiant and lovely in her sweet role. The contrast between the two is quite striking here; what a shame that these wonderful actresses never worked together again. Anyway, I really did enjoy this movie and do recommend it to all IMDb viewers. Oh, I almost forgot. A 16-year-old June Lockhart also appears in this film; yet another early performance to relish!

I only watched this film because Ingrid Bergman was in it. And because I Knew that Bergman wasn't fond of it, and that general opinion was so so, I expected it to not be up to much but I ended up being pleasantly surprised by how good a film it is. The performances are all good especially Bergman (of Course), Baxter and Heyward and the film cruises along at quick pace with no scenes dragging. If I have a problem with the film it's that it's a bit short at an 80 mins but apparently it was originally 108 mins, if this is true then it's shocking that over 25 mins were cut out. I'd like to know if it's possible to put the footage back in or if it has been destroyed. If it isn't destroyed then in the video age it should be released on video in it's original length. 9/10