The film that beat Citizen Kane to the best film Oscar, How Green Was My Valley is an overly romanticised narrative of a Welsh mining town at the end of the 19th century but which carries considerable social heft.
Based on the novel by Richard Llewellyn, it tells the story of the respected, hard-working Morgan family from the point of view of the youngest child, Huw (Roddy McDowall). Destined for academic opportunities that would take him out of the dangerous world of his father (Donald Crisp) and four brothers, an adult Huw narrates the unfolding story of family, marriages, deaths, strikes, mining disasters, unemployment as they impact the town and his family.
A working-class drama is enlivened by a strong cast well directed by John Ford’s ineffable eye and brilliantly supported by cinematographer Arthur Miller. The downside is a somewhat soapy, romanticised take of a Welsh mining family living in a Hollywood version of a mining cottage – huge rooms, white walls, lace curtains – that would not look out of place in suburban Connecticut.
Nominated for 10 Oscars in 1942 including best supporting actress (Sara Allgood), script, editing, score (Alfred Newman) – won 5 for best film, director, supporting actor (Donald Crisp), cinematographer, art direction.
Rating: 63%
Director: John Ford (Stagecoach, The Quiet Man)
Writer: Philip Dunne (The Last of the Mohicans, Pinky) – adapted from the novel by Richard Llewellyn
Main cast: Roddy McDowall (Planet of the Apes, Inside Daisy Clover), Walter Pidgeon (Forbidden Planet, Mrs Miniver), Donald Crisp (Jezebel, National Velvet), Maureen O’Hara (The Quiet Man, Our Man in Havana)
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