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

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Taglines:

Rich is their humor! Deep are their passions! Reckless are their lives! Mighty is their story!

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Genres:

Drama | Family

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The songs sung by the male voices are all authentic Welsh. The song sung at the opening is "Men of Harlech" (it was also used as the rallying cry for the Welsh soldiers defending against a Zulu attack in Zulu (1964)).

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Goofs

The wage reduction proclamation contains the word "labor" (American spelling) rather than "labour" as any British Islander would spell it.

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Quotes

Beth Morgan: I have come up here to tell you what I think of you all, because you are talking against my husband. You are a lot of cowards to go against him. He has done nothing against you and he never has and you know it well. How some of you, you smug-faced hypocrites, can sit in the same chapel with him I cannot tell. To say he is with the owners is not only nonsense but downright wickedness. There's one thing more I've got to say and it is this. If harm comes to my Gwilym, I will find out the men and I...

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Alternate Versions

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

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Connections

Version of How Green Was My Valley (1975)

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Soundtracks

Mochyn Du
(uncredited)
("Black Pig")
Traditional Welsh folk song sung by the guests

User Reviews

Excellent period Drama from 1941

Great drama about life and struggles in a Welsh mining village and their desire for a better life.

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)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1