Drama

How Green Was My Valley

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

A man in his fifties reminisces about his childhood growing up in a Welsh mining village at the turn of the 20th century.

Release Date : 1941-10-28

Language :EnglishWelsh

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : 20th Century Fox

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Mr. Gruffydd

Original Name : Walter Pidgeon

Gender : Male

Character Name : Angharad Morgan

Original Name : Maureen O'Hara

Gender : Female

Character Name : Bronwyn

Original Name : Anna Lee

Gender : Female

Character Name : Gwilym Morgan

Original Name : Donald Crisp

Gender : Male

Character Name : Huw Morgan

Original Name : Roddy McDowall

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ianto Morgan

Original Name : John Loder

Gender : Male

Character Name : Beth Morgan

Original Name : Sara Allgood

Gender : Female

Character Name : Cyfartha

Original Name : Barry Fitzgerald

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ivor Morgan

Original Name : Patric Knowles

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mr. Jonas

Original Name : Morton Lowry

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mr. Parry

Original Name : Arthur Shields

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ceinwen

Original Name : Ann E. Todd

Gender : Female

Character Name : Dr. Richards

Original Name : Frederick Worlock

Gender : Male

Character Name : Davy Morgan

Original Name : Richard Fraser

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gwilym Morgan Jr.

Original Name : Evan S. Evans

Gender : Male

Character Name : Owen Morgan

Original Name : James Monks

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dai Bando

Original Name : Rhys Williams

Gender : Male

Character Name : Evans

Original Name : Lionel Pape

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Nicholas

Original Name : Ethel Griffies

Gender : Female

Character Name : Iestyn Evans

Original Name : Marten Lamont

Gender : Male

Character Name : Adult Huw (Voice)

Original Name : Irving Pichel

Gender : Male

Character Name : Villager (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Curtis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Postman (uncredited)

Original Name : Herbert Evans

Gender : Male

Character Name : Eve (uncredited)

Original Name : Mary Field

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mine Superintendent (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Pennick

Gender : Male

Character Name : Minor Role (uncredited)

Original Name : Robert B. Williams

Gender : Male

Character Name : VIllager (uncredited)

Original Name : Bobby Hale

Gender : Male

Reviews

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2022-04-04

Made at the start of WWII, there is something especially potent about this simple story of a Victorian family of Welsh miners. The mine was their economy, their community and patriarch "Morgan" (Donald Crisp) the stern, but loving, father of five sons. It soon becomes clear to his sons that the reliability of the mining industry as a source of income could be waning. Their wages begin to be cut, the job-for-life that they thought they had started to look much less certain. Much to the chagrin of the older man, they are instrumental in calling a strike and that begins a story that challenges and redefines their social and cultural norms. Simultaneously, a new minister "Gruffydd" (Walter Pidgeon) arrives and his methods cause some consternation too - the villagers are facing tough choices. The final thread here focusses on the youngest "Morgan" - "Huw" (a fine effort from Roddy McDowall) whom his parents are determined will be educated, hopefully ensuring a better chance in life avoiding the pit. John Ford has created a gentle, observational masterpiece here. The characterisations are rich and tender. There is no stand out star, all contribute cohesively to a story of family and loyalty, tragedy and optimism all set against an background of huge change. It isn't a political film, as such. It clearly takes a swipe at the mine employers repeatedly lowering wages, or employing cheaper labour but also glories in their sense of achievement when their choir is commanded to Windsor Castle to sing for Queen Victoria. Though hardly laugh out loud, there is humour here - a very peculiar sense of Welsh, working class drollery that is best exemplified when two villagers decide to teach the bullying school master "Jonas" (Morton Lowry) that vengeance is not just the Lord's. The pace is perfect, the story ebbs and flows most naturally with high standards of production and some fine singing now and again too. Lovely film!