The Corn Is Green (1945)

A schoolteacher becomes the mentor of a talented young miner and seeks to get him into a university.

Director:

Irving Rapper

Writers:

Frank Cavett, Casey Robinson,

Stars:

Bette Davis, Nigel Bruce, Rhys Williams

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Bette Davis	...	Miss Lilly Moffat
Nigel Bruce	...	The Squire
Rhys Williams	...	Mr. Jones
Rosalind Ivan	...	Mrs. Watty
Mildred Dunnock	...	Miss Ronberry
Arthur Shields	...	Glyn Thomas
Gwyneth Hughes	...	Sarah Pugh
Thomas Louden	...	Old Tom
John Dall	...	Morgan Evans
Joan Lorring	...	Bessie Watty
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jack Owens	...	Tudor
William Roy	...	Idwal Morris (as Billy Roy)

Storyline

Schoolteacher Lilly Moffat is dismayed by conditions in a Welsh mining town. She sets up a school to teach fundamental education to the villagers. Her housekeeper and daughter oppose the project, as does the local Squire who will not rent her space. Using part of her own home, she goes ahead with Miss Moffat's School. One of her students Morgan Evans turns from bully to brilliant student.

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Plot Keywords:

school | mining | education | wales | orchestral music score | 

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Taglines:

In her heart of hearts she knew she'd never hold him.

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Welsh

Release Date:

14 July 1945 (USA)

Also Known As:

Das grünende Korn

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The play and the film tell the true story of playwright Emlyn Williams and his schoolmistress Miss Cooke.

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Goofs

Despite the villagers being illiterate, every time a poster is put up people gather round to read it.

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Quotes

Miss Lilly Moffat: I have never spoken to a man for more than five minutes in my life without wanting to box his ears.

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Connections

Featured in AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Bette Davis (1977)

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Soundtracks

"The March of the Men of Harlech (Rhyfelgyrch Gwyr Harlech)"
(uncredited)
Traditional Welsh folk tune
Lyrics by John Jones

User Reviews

One of Warners Best

The Corn is Green is definitely one of my favorite movies of all time. Thoroughly engaging and full of comic as well as dramatic moments. Bette Davis is fantastic and is backed up by a varied and talented cast. It's sentimental and sharp. A perfect blend. It gets overlooked so often by "best lists" and it's a shame. I remember the first time I saw it back in the late 1980's. I wondered how such a treasure could be ignored for so long. I hope it gets released to DVD soon. Unfortunately the current print that's on VHS and shown on Turner Classic Movies is worn and looks like it's falling apart. Maybe that print is all that's available. No matter. Don't pass up a chance on seeing this cinematic gem. This is great movie making and theatre all in one.