White Banners (1938): cast, story & where to watch
1938 · Film · ★ 5.8
Released in 1938, White Banners is a drama film directed by Edmund Goulding, running about 92 minutes. “From a woman's love-scarred heart to the heart of all America...comes this startling secret of happiness!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. A homeless woman named Hannah drifts into the lives of the kindly Ward family, in a small Indiana town in 1919. Hannah makes herself useful as a cook and housekeeper and stays with the Wards... but her real interest is in meeting their neighbor, teenager Peter Trimble. It turns out that Peter is the son she bore out of wedlock and gave up for adoption, and now Hannah has returned to town to see what sort of young man her son has become.
Who’s in it. White Banners stars Claude Rains as Paul Ward, Fay Bainter as Hannah, Jackie Cooper as Peter Trimble and Bonita Granville as Sally Ward, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.8/10, White Banners has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch White Banners page.
If you liked it. Fans of White Banners tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch White Banners (1938)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for White Banners change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is White Banners worth watching?
- White Banners holds an audience score of 5.8 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in White Banners?
- White Banners stars Claude Rains, Fay Bainter, Jackie Cooper, Bonita Granville and Henry O'Neill.
- When was White Banners released?
- White Banners was released in 1938, with a runtime of about 92 minutes.