A flagwaving celebration from Hollywood of British stoicism during World War II, Mrs Miniver is a treacle-thick melodrama as the comfortable Minivers adjust to wartime life in the Home Counties.
A naive lack of awareness of the politics of the day sees Mrs Miniver (Greer Garson – Random Harvest, Goodbye Mr Chips) shopping for expensive hats and Mr Miniver (Walter Pidgeon – Funny Girl, Executive Suite) purchasing a sports car just as war is declared. Their son Vin (Richard Ney – The Fan, Joan of Arc) returns from Oxford to join the locally stationed RAF – which is all just dandy for the budding romance with Carol Beldon (Teresa Wright – Shadow of a Doubt, The Actress), granddaughter of the formidable Lady Beldon (Dame May Whitty – Gaslight, The Lady Vanishes).
Flower shows, escaped POWs, air raids and Dunkirk all feature as war impacts on a ‘dress-for-dinner’ way of life that is deftly captured by director William Wyler (Roman Holiday, Ben-Hur) but which, by today’s viewing, is cloyingly over-sentimalised.
Nominated for 12 Oscars in 1943 including best actor, supporting actor (Henry Travers), supporting actress (May Whitty) – won 6 for best film, director, actress, supporting actress, screenplay and b&w cinematography.
Rating: 54%
An Opinion or Two 