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How Green Was My Valley (1941)

How Green Was My Valley (1941)
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Spanning 50 years, director John Ford's How Green Was My Valley revolves around the life of the Morgans, a Welsh mining family, as told through the eyes of its youngest child Huw (Roddy McDowall). Over the years, the family struggles to survive through unionization, strikes, and child abuse. As they do so, their hometown and its culture begins to slowly decline. Donald Crisp portrays Gwilym, the patriarch of the Morgan household, who dreams of a better life for young Huw. Based on the novel of the same name by Richard Llewellyn, How Green Was My Valley won five Academy Awards in 1941, including Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Crisp), Best Art Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Picture (beating Citizen Kane). The book was later adapted into a 1975 BBC miniseries. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

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Starring:
Walter Pidgeon, Maureen O'Hara, (more)
Director(s):
John Ford
Format(s):
DVD
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Synopsis of How Green Was My Valley

Spanning 50 years, director John Ford's How Green Was My Valley revolves around the life of the Morgans, a Welsh mining family, as told through the eyes of its youngest child Huw (Roddy McDowall). Over the years, the family struggles to survive through unionization, strikes, and child abuse. As they do so, their hometown and its culture begins to slowly decline. Donald Crisp portrays Gwilym, the patriarch of the Morgan household, who dreams of a better life for young Huw. Based on the novel of the same name by Richard Llewellyn, How Green Was My Valley won five Academy Awards in 1941, including Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Crisp), Best Art Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Picture (beating Citizen Kane). The book was later adapted into a 1975 BBC miniseries. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

Theatrical Feature Running Time:
118 mins

Complete Cast of How Green Was My Valley


Director(s):
John Ford
Writer(s):
Philip Dunne
Producer(s):
Darryl F. Zanuck
How Green Was My Valley Awards:
  • 1941 - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - Best Picture
  • 1941 - Film Daily - 10 Best Films
  • 1989 - Library of Congress - U.S. National Film Registry
  • 1941 - National Board of Review - Best Acting
  • 1941 - National Board of Review - Best Acting
  • 1941 - National Board of Review - Best Acting
  • 1941 - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Director
  • 1941 - New York Times - 10 Best Films
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Scott W.

I liked this movie because it portrayed a Welsh family during the chaotic time period before world war I. It was a time of transition that effected everything from religion, miner union activity, national education, child labor in the mines. Although some of the acting seemed unnatural/artificial, much of everything was authentic---down to the Welsh love of singing and usage of the welsh language. Unfortunately this movie is in black and white which does not give justice of the beautiful countryside of Wales. This is a good entertaining movie but no one should expect it to answer every question about the narrator's life.

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Andrea P.

Nostalgic and moving, this film is both a coming-of-age story and a portrait of a family's disintegration due to external influences: lost work, limited opportunities (both social and economic), emigration and death in a 19th century Welsh mining town. While the action is set in Wales, the Battle of Britain forced the film to be made in Burbank, California, and the cinematographer realized that he could only make Burbank resemble Wales by shooting in black and white. However, this actually sets the right mood, and the set is extremely convincing. Maureen O'Hara's Welsh accent comes and goes, but her character's feelings of love for the pastor, played by Walter Pidgeon, and his feelings for her, are tenderly and poignantly expressed. The young Rory Calhoun, through whose eyes we view all, is naturally affecting. As the film progresses, it is apparent how coal smoke increasingly blackens the sky and slag covers the ground of what was once a beautiful, green valley.

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Greg G.

A poignant tale of an early 20th century Welsh coal mining family and village that captures the changes of culture and spirit as a society moves further into the industrial era. Family cohesiveness and village solidarity are affected by unionization, industrial safety, class struggle, immigration, and emigration.

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