Four Mothers

Four Mothers

Year: 1941

Runtime: 86 mins

Language: English

Director: William Keighley

RomanceDrama

Four Daughters… Four Wives… and now Four married sisters face motherhood, financial, marital and family issues together.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Four Mothers yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Four Mothers (1941)

Trace every key event in Four Mothers (1941) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Hurricane devastates the development plans

A hurricane destroys the out-of-state development site financed by Ben Crowley, wiping out the family's investment. With the loss, Ben proposes localizing their efforts to develop their own property, but the town blocks financing after the disaster.

post-hurricane Hurricane-struck development site
2

Adam sells the family house to raise cash

Adam sells the house he raised his daughters in to raise cash. He is shocked to learn the buyer intends to raze the home to make way for an apartment building.

Family house
3

Buyer plans to raze the house for apartments

Adam discovers the buyer plans to tear down the home and replace it with an apartment building, threatening a family landmark. The revelation underscores the financial pressure pushing the family toward risky ventures.

Town
4

Felix travels to Chicago for an orchestra job

Felix journeys to Chicago to conduct an orchestra and help the family finances. His trip carries hope that distant opportunities may ease their burdens.

Chicago
5

Clint's pneumoconiosis risk surfaces

Clint's lab work at the town's smelting plant raises concerns about Pneumoconiosis. The health scare adds to the household's anxieties about work and safety.

Town smelting plant
6

Kay leaves for Chicago to seek radio work

Kay, the childless daughter, departs for Chicago in search of a radio job, hoping to improve her situation. Her move comes amid the strain of Clint's health and family tensions.

Chicago
7

Felix returns from Chicago

Felix returns home after Chicago with limited relief, confirming that big-city opportunities are not easily found. The trip underscores the gap between aspiration and reality.

Home town
8

Kay returns from Chicago

Kay also returns home after her Chicago attempt, resuming life with her husband Clint and the Lemp family. The city failed to deliver the relief they hoped for.

Home town
9

Adam moves into an apartment with his sister Etta

In response to tightening finances, Adam moves into an apartment with his sister Etta, adjusting to a smaller household. The change marks a new domestic arrangement for the family.

Apartment with sister Etta
10

Adam is invited to conduct at the Beethoven Festival in LA

Adam receives an invitation to conduct at the Beethoven Music Festival at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, offering a prestigious platform for the family. The invitation brings a glimmer of recognition amid the financial strain.

Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles
11

Family travels to Los Angeles for the festival

The Lemp family travels to Los Angeles to witness Adam's performance, sharing in his moment of pride. The trip strengthens family bonds as they support him on foreign soil.

Los Angeles
12

Lemp Acres opens and the old house moves

Back home, the opening of Lemp Acres unfolds as the townspeople finance moving the old house to the new property. The gesture restores a sense of community and continuity for the family.

Lemp Acres
13

Adam returns to a town that respects him again

Adam arrives to find the town has regained its respect for him, buoyed by the town's support in moving the old house. The renewed regard marks a hopeful turn for the family.

Town
14

Kay discovers she is pregnant during a family practice

During a final family music practice, Kay discovers she is pregnant, bringing a hopeful turn to the family’s arc. The moment links the family’s growth to a new generation.

Family home

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 12:15

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Familial Resilience Movies Like Four Mothers

Stories of families pulling together to overcome major financial hardship and loss.Explore movies like Four Mothers where families face financial ruin and must rely on their unity and community support to overcome hardship. If you enjoyed the hopeful, sturdy depiction of a family weathering a financial storm, you'll find similar heartfelt dramas here.

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These narratives typically begin with a stable family situation disrupted by an external financial threat. The plot follows the family as they grapple with the reality of their situation, make difficult decisions (like selling possessions or relocating), and ultimately find strength and a new beginning through their unwavering support for one another. The conflict is often societal or economic, with interpersonal strife secondary to the collective goal of survival.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on the family-as-a-unit navigating the very real-world anxiety of financial instability. They share a medium emotional weight, balancing the gravity of the situation with a fundamentally hopeful and problem-solving tone, resulting in a reassuring and resilient viewing experience.

Hopeful Ensemble Family Dramas Similar to Four Mothers

Character-driven stories about large, interconnected families supporting each other through life's challenges.Find movies similar to Four Mothers that feature a large family ensemble dealing with marital issues, parenthood, and personal dreams. These steady, hopeful dramas share a focus on interconnected lives and the strength found in familial unity, perfect for fans of classic family sagas.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves introducing a core family and then systematically exploring the lives of its members. Each character has their own arc—be it marital strain, financial worry, or a personal ambition—but these stories are resolved not in isolation, but through the support and influence of the family group. The pacing is steady, allowing time to develop each relationship, and culminates in a collective, positive resolution that reinforces the family's enduring connection.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared ensemble structure, steady pacing, and predominantly hopeful tone. They prioritize the dynamics of a family network over a single protagonist's journey, creating a specific, comforting vibe of belonging and mutual support that feels distinct from more intense or bleak family narratives.

Unlock the Full Story of Four Mothers

Don't stop at just watching — explore Four Mothers in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Four Mothers is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Four Mothers Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Four Mothers, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Four Mothers Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Four Mothers

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Four Mothers. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Four Mothers

Four Mothers Spoiler-Free Summary

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Four Mothers Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Four Mothers

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Four Mothers: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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