Daughters Courageous (1939)

Daughters Courageous is a delightful romantic-comedy based on a 1935 Broadway play called "Fly Away Home". It tells the story of an estranged father who returns home to his ex-wife and daughters after 20 years, only to discover that they've moved on with their lives.

Claude Rains plays the father, who has been living an adventure-seeking life for the past 20 years. (On the 1935 stage, Thomas Mitchell played this character).

Fay Bainter plays the mother, who has moved on with her life and is now engaged to a more reserved man, played by Donald Crisp. (On the 1935 stage, Mary Wickes played the matriarch).

John Garfield is also great in this; I'll talk about him in a minute.

The daughters are played by Gale Page and the Lane Sisters (Priscilla, who is the star of the film, Rosemany, and Lola). Gale is an aspiring actress, and there's a fun scene where the entire family goes to see her perform on stage. Priscilla Lane's character is high-spirited and loves to slide down the banister, much to the dismay of housekeeper Penny played by May Robson (an Oscar nominee for Frank Capra's Lady for A Day) The other sisters enjoy frolicking on the beach, just a short walk from their seaside home

Interesting note: the 1935 play featured Montgomery Clift (his acting debut) as a brother to the sisters, but the brother character was written out of the movie version. Read more about the 1935 play here at the Andrea King website.

Claude Rains' prodigal father is an interesting character. Attention-starved, he pathetically turns up the radio volume to get people to look at him. And he doesn't even remember the names of all his grown daughters, who he hasn't seen since they were babies. However, when everyone else forgets Fay Bainter's birthday, Rains brings flowers and cake (I love that part).  The daughters initially conspire to kick him out of the house, but later change their minds as they get more acquainted with him.

When asked why he came back home, Rains - half jokingly - says that he missed Penny's cooking. But the real reason he's back is because he's lonely, and that becomes clear when he meets the John Garfield character, Gabriel Lopez, an out-of-work moocher who falls in love with Priscilla Lane's character. One night, Gabriel shows up to the house to serenade her with an accordion (I love that part, too), only to discover Rains home alone. After some witty banter, the two kindred spirits spend a couple of hours talking about traveling.

By the end of the film, Rains has to make a choice whether to stay involved with the family or leave.

And Priscilla Lane has to decide between two suitors - John Garfield or Jeffrey Lynn.

When the decisions have been made, you can't help wonder what becomes of everyone.

Bad boy John Garfield and Priscilla Lane fall in love in Daughters Courageous

A heart-warming film that is one of my all-time favorites, and my favorite movie starring John Garfield.  He brings a great deal of personality to the character, and makes you believe that he can sweep Priscilla Lane right off her feet even when he can't afford to buy her a bag of peanuts.

The rest of the movie is filled with many fine performances, too. Highly recommended. A+

Directed by Michael Curtiz. On DVD (Warner Archive Collection).

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This post is featured in Patti's blogathon devoted to the films of John Garfield
in celebration of Mr. Garfield's centennial year.