How Green Was My Valley
How Green Was My Valley

Movie spotlight

How Green Was My Valley

1941
Movie
118 min
English

Huw Morgan, the academically inclined youngest son in a proud family of Welsh coal miners, witnesses the tumultuous events of his young life during a period of rapid social change. At the dawn of the 20th-century, a miners' strike divides the Morgans: the sons demand improvements, and the father doesn't want to rock the boat.

Insights

IMDb7.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes88%
Metacritic77/100
Google Users91%
Director: John FordGenres: Drama, Family

Plot Summary

The film chronicles the life of the Morgan family, coal miners in a Welsh village, through the eyes of the youngest son, Huw. As industrialization and changing times impact their lives, the family faces economic hardship, social upheaval, and personal tragedies. Huw's journey reflects the loss of innocence and the enduring bonds of family amidst a rapidly transforming world.

Critical Reception

How Green Was My Valley was a critical and commercial success, notably winning the Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Director for John Ford, and Best Supporting Actress for Sara Allgood. It was praised for its emotional depth, stunning cinematography, and powerful performances, though some critics at the time felt it was sentimental.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its poignant portrayal of Welsh mining life and strong family dynamics.

  • Acclaimed for John Ford's masterful direction and the evocative cinematography.

  • Felt by some to be overly sentimental, but generally lauded for its emotional resonance.

Google audience: Viewers consistently praise the film's touching story about family, community, and the struggles of the working class. Many highlight the excellent performances and the film's ability to evoke strong emotions and a sense of nostalgia.

Awards & Accolades

Won 5 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress (Sara Allgood), Best Cinematography, and Best Film Editing. Nominated for Best Actor (Walter Pidgeon), Best Screenplay, and Best Sound Recording.

Fun Fact

The film's dramatic portrayal of the Welsh mining community was so impactful that it led to a decline in tourism to actual Welsh mining towns, as people became wary of the depicted harsh conditions.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Made at the start of WWII, there is something especially potent about this simple story of a Victorian family of Welsh miners. The mine was their economy, their community and patriarch "Morgan" (Donald Crisp) the stern, but loving, father o...