How Green Was My Valley (1941)

At the turn of the century in a Welsh mining village, the Morgans, he stern, she gentle, raise coal-mining sons and hope their youngest will find a better life.

Director:

John Ford

Writers:

Philip Dunne (screen play), Richard Llewellyn (based on the novel by)

Stars:

Walter Pidgeon, Maureen O'Hara, Anna Lee

Won 5 Oscars. Another 8 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Walter Pidgeon	...	Mr. Gruffydd
Maureen O'Hara	...	Angharad
Anna Lee	...	Bronwyn
Donald Crisp	...	Mr. Morgan
Roddy McDowall	...	Huw
John Loder	...	Ianto
Sara Allgood	...	Mrs. Morgan
Barry Fitzgerald	...	Cyfartha
Patric Knowles	...	Ivor
Welsh Singers	...	Singers
Morton Lowry	...	Mr. Jonas
Arthur Shields	...	Mr. Parry
Ann E. Todd	...	Ceinwen (as Ann Todd)
Frederick Worlock	...	Dr. Richards
Richard Fraser	...	Davy

Storyline

Life is hard in a Welsh mining town and no less so for the Morgan family. Seen through the eyes of the family's youngest, Huw, we learn of the family's trials and tribulations. Family patriarch Gwilym and his older sons work in the mines, dangerous and unhealthy as it is. Gwilym has greater hopes for his youngest son, but Huw has his own ideas on how to honor his father. Daughter Angharad is the most beautiful girl in the valley and is very much in love with Mr. Gruffydd, who isn't sure he can provide her the life she deserves. Times are hard and good men find themselves out of work and exploited by unseen mine owners.

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Plot Keywords:

coal mine | color in title | based on novel | national film registry | coal miner | 

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Taglines:

Millions Have Read This Great Novel... Millions more will see an even greater picture!

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Genres:

Drama | Family

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Welsh

Release Date:

9 April 1942 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Richard Llewellyn's How Green Was My Valley

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Ranch, Malibu Creek State Park - 1925 Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,250,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$6,000,000, 31 January 1943

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Microphonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Ford became the second director to win three Academy Awards for Best Director, having previously won for The Informer (1935) and The Grapes of Wrath (1940). 11 years later, he would win his fourth for The Quiet Man (1952) (which also starred Maureen O'Hara), a record unmatched by any other director.

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Goofs

As Mr. and Mrs. Morgan argue about whether Huw should fight, in the camera angle that shows all three characters, Huw is right in front of Mrs. Morgan, but when there's a direct shot of Mrs. Morgan, Huw isn't close to her.

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Quotes

Mr. Gruffydd: I know why you have come - I have seen it in your faces Sunday after Sunday as I've stood here before you. Fear has brought you here. Horrible, superstitious fear. Fear of divine retribution a bolt of fire from the skies. The vengeance of the Lord and the justice of God. But you have forgotten the love of Jesus. You disregard His sacrifice. Death, fear, flames, horror and black clothes. Hold your meeting then, but know if you do this in the name of God and in the house of God, you blaspheme ...

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Alternate Versions

Original stereophonic soundtrack recovered and restored for later video and cable TV release.

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Connections

Featured in Maltin on Movies: Warm Bodies (2013)

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Soundtracks

Myfanwy-Arabella
(uncredited)
Music by Joseph Parry
Welsh lyrics by Mynyddag
Townfolks serenating mother at door

User Reviews

What a Magnificent Movie!

In Wales, Huw Morgan recalls his childhood fifty years ago, in the end of Nineteenth Century. In a green valley, where the colliery is the unique economical activity, Huw (Roddy McDowall), his brothers and his sister are raised by his beloved parents, Mr. Gwilym Morgan Sr. (Donald Crisp) and Mrs. Beth Morgan (Sara Allgood). In times of changes and exploitations of the worker class, the young workers try to gather their power in a labor union and fight against the unemployed reserve army with a strike, while Mr. Morgan is against their movement. Along the years, the situation of the dwellers gets worse and worse, with poverty, while the coal mine blackens the hills of the valley with the slag.

What a magnificent movie "How Green Was My Valley" is! This is the first time I see this movie, and I am really excited with such masterpiece. The outstanding and awesome direction of John Ford certainly deserved the Oscar he won in 1942. The story is excellent, with drama and romance in a period of economical and political changes in the world. There are many important and strong characters, built with heart by the cast, and I was particularly impressed with the touching performance of Roddy McDowall, in the role of a boy with strong personality and moral qualities. The awarded black and white cinematography is also remarkable. The wonderful metaphoric title completes this classic. My vote is ten.

Title (Brazil): "Como Era Verde Meu Vale" ("How Green Was My Valley")