''Three Sons'' is a 1939 American

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

directed by

Jack Hively Jack Hively (September 5, 1910 – December 19, 1995) was an American film editor and film and television director whose career lasted from the 1930s through the 1980s. His father and his brother were also film editors. He began as a film editor ...

using a screenplay by John Twist, based on the novel, ''Sweepings'' by Lester Cohen. Produced and distributed by RKO Radio Pictures, and released on October 13, 1939, it is a remake of an earlier RKO film, ''

Sweepings ''Sweepings'' is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film directed by John Cromwell, written by Lester Cohen, and starring Lionel Barrymore, Eric Linden, William Gargan, Gloria Stuart and Alan Dinehart. It was released on April 14, 1933, by RKO Pictu ...

'' (1933). The film stars Edward Ellis,

William Gargan William Dennis Gargan (July 17, 1905February 16, 1979) was an American film, television and radio actor. He was the 5th recipient of the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 1967, and in 1941, was nominated for the Academy Award for Be ...

, J. Edward Bromberg and Robert Stanton (whose real name was Kirby Grant, which he would use for most of his career). Gargan, who plays the uncle in this film, had played one of the sons in the earlier film.

Plot

Daniel Pardway ( Edward Ellis) a department store owner is deeply saddened to learn that none of his grown sons are interested in taking over the business he has worked so hard to build. To coerce them, he even tries giving them shares of company stock. In the end, only the youngest son shows any interest at all.

Cast

* Edward Ellis as Daniel Pardway *

as Thane Pardway * Kent Taylor as Gene Pardway * J. Edward Bromberg as Abe Ullman *

Katharine Alexander Katharine Alexander (sometimes Katherine; September 22, 1897 – January 10, 1981) was an American actress on stage and screen. She appeared in 44 films between 1930 and 1951. Biography Alexander was born on September 22, 1897, in Fort Smith, ...

as Abigail Pardway * Virginia Vale as Phoebe Pardway * Robert Stanton as Bert Pardway (as Robert Stanton) * Dick Hogan as Freddie Pardway *

Grady Sutton Grady Harwell Sutton (April 5, 1906 – September 17, 1995) was an American film and television character actor from the 1920s to the 1970s. He appeared in more than 180 films. Early years Sutton was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the son ...

as Grimson *

Pamela Blake Pamela Blake (August 6, 1915 – October 6, 2009) was an American film actress who acted in almost 50 films. She is known primarily for her roles in Western films and serials. Early years Blake was born in Oakland, California as Adele Pea ...

as Mamie Donaldson (as Adele Pearce) *

Alexander D'Arcy Alexander D'Arcy (; born Alexandre Sarruf, ; 10 August 1908 – 20 April 1996) was an Egyptian-American actor with an international film repertoire. He often portrayed a suave gentleman or smooth rogue, and at one time was pinned as the natural ...

as Prince Nicky - Phoebe's Husband *

Barbara Pepper Barbara Pepper (born Marion Pepper; May 31, 1915 – July 18, 1969) was an American stage, television, radio, and film actress. She is best known as the first Doris Ziffel on the sitcom '' Green Acres''. Early life and career Marion Pepper ...

as Viola

References

External links

* * * 1939 films American drama films American black-and-white films Films scored by Roy Webb Films based on American novels 1939 drama films RKO Pictures films Remakes of American films Films directed by Jack Hively 1930s English-language films 1930s American films {{1930s-drama-film-stub