In a Welsh coal mining valley, a young man with a beautiful singing voice is called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice when a pit disaster threatens.In a Welsh coal mining valley, a young man with a beautiful singing voice is called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice when a pit disaster threatens.In a Welsh coal mining valley, a young man with a beautiful singing voice is called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice when a pit disaster threatens.
- Mr. Trevor
- (as Alan Jeayes)
- Mr. Howes - Collector
- (uncredited)
- Company Clerk
- (uncredited)
- Lloyd - Miner
- (uncredited)
- Cage Operator
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis film's earliest documented telecast occurred Monday 18 June 1945 on New York City's pioneer television station WNBT (Channel 1).
- Quotes
Emlyn Parry: Lovely, everything's going to be all right soon.
Gwen Owen: Not if you keep on getting into scraps all the time.
Emlyn Parry: You like a bit of a scrap yourself don't you.
Gwen Owen: You'll know more about that when we're married my boy. I'll be ready to take you on any day.
Emlyn Parry: Not in my working clothes, eh?
Gwen Owen: Don't talk soft out here, Em.
- Crazy creditsOpening credits prologue: South Wales 1938
- ConnectionsFeatured in Arena: Cinema (1977)
Consequently, Robeson, in the guise of a discharged American seaman, fetches up in a South wales mining village, where he is a valuable recruit to the local choir. Unfortunately, a disaster closes the mine, and a group of the miners (including Robeson, of course), march down to London to try and persuade the colliery bosses to let them find a way round the blocked section. As they march, a succession of newspaper posters chart the events leading to the outbreak of war.
This is an echo of the pre-war hunger marches - but in this situation, a clever narrative device is used, for no-one is to blame for them being out of work. As a result, the bosses and workers are later seen working together, trying to reopen a pit that is strategically valuable to the war effort.
Of course, the plan eventually boils down to detonating an explosive charge that is, in effect, a suicidal act. Robeson knocks out the miner who has drawn the short straw and sacrifices himself. Just as the soldier on the battlefield, the miner sometimes has to lay down his life for his friends. (Mining in wartime Britain was a reserved occupation.)
There is hardly any reference to colour prejudice in this film, and full use is made of Robeson's fine singing voice.
- shrbw
- Feb 5, 2002
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Details
- Runtime1 hour 16 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1