How Green Was My Valley (1941)

How Green Was My Valley

You need a rainy day a warm fire and this movie to have a perfectly wonderful trip back in time. The actors and the mining towns put you right inside of the homes and you feel like one of the family the way this story is told. I am sure you will enjoy this one, It's worth a couple hours of your time. July 4, 2008

What Makes a Classic Classic

The starkness of the black and white film photography adds to the mood and captures the essence of life in the mining towns of Wales and the social conditions that continue to impact the lives of countless of millions on our planet even today. The strength and integrity of the characters add a realism we no longer find in contemporary film with all of its superficialities which unfortunately reflect much of what passes for relationships in the current milieu. The character actors take over this film because it is a film and not just a "movie". The moral tone and message is not overbearing and the deeply spiritual character of the Welsh people is exempliefied in their "chapel" and their local choir which was the contribution Methodism made to the life of the people of Wales. June 18, 2008

A good film about Welsh culture.

This movie has worth in that it provides insight into the traditional Welsh culture. It shows many of the difficulties of life working in the mines. Which is really and truly a prime example of the fall-out from the Industrial Revolution. It is very popular in Celtic circles for the fact that it features some of the traditional Male Voice Singers, a Welsh tradition. As far as the plot is concerned, I didn't really find the love story all that compelling. Maureen O'Hara does well in this movie, but the movie itself just isn't the most inspiring the way it is written. It has more promise than it fulfills in the end. May 6, 2008

Maureen O'Hara was even beautiful at 19

Many of the John Ford Team is in this one -- Maureen O'Hara (my all time favorite female actress) is fun to watch as are the many John Ford characters. Wonderful special features about the making of the movie and how difficult it was getting the project going. If you like John Ford movies you will like this....To Maureen -- you are such a beautiful and classy woman and have remained so your entire life - thanks! April 5, 2008

A great, timeless classic

The Amazon review is wonderful and I don't have anything to add; just to nod in agreement that this is a film not to be missed! The story is lovely, deeply sentimental. One wonders if the idyllic village life was truly that beautiful or if that was the way the author wanted to remember it. Anyway, realistic or not, it is refreshing to see a tight knit community, in this day of alienation. I found the singing of the coal miners as they marched to work to be very touching. Can you imagine marching to work with your friends, singing, in three part harmony?!

Of course bad things happened to mar the happiness and that is part of the human experience. The story doesn't gloss over the hardships but they are all met with such heroism that one is heartened to see them. Truly these folks were not trivialized by watching too much Seinfeld.

The cast is perfect. I had never seen Roddy McDowell as a child and was amazed at his flawless performance. Obviously John Ford had a way with actors. He loved them, (the Special Features says) and it shows. There is a natural innocence to all of them. Maureen O'Hara was fresh over from Ireland and in full beauty. Walter Pidgeon is the embodiment of strength, charm and integrity as the parson. (No wonder the O'Hara character fell for him!) Donald Crisp certainly deserved the Oscar he won for his performance as the father! Anna Lee as the big bosomed mother who has her own strength and humor is impressive, too. She makes
you realize what it is to be a mother--to bring babies into the world, only to lose them.

There is a political theme, of the exploitation of the workers by the mine owners and the necessity for the formation of unions. But the human drama is the main focus of the film and one isn't oppressed by dreary polemics. There is a bit of preaching by the preacher when an unwed mother is castigated by the church folks, but it is certainly deserved and, again, it isn't too much.

The film was made at the time when America was about to enter WWII and the audience was ready for such a hearty and comforting tale about human strength in the face of adversity. But it is, like all fine works of art, a film that has something for all of us at any time. Basic human values and virtues never go out of style. March 23, 2008

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