In our more openly cynical era, the 'flaws' of How Green Was My Valley are all too obvious. The story is sentimental and romanticized. Many of the supporting characters are stereotyped: the mine owner's son (Marten Lamont) is an insufferable fop, the schoolmaster Jonas (Morton Lowry) is a class prejudiced sadist, the Church Elder (Arthur Shields) is ultra-conservative and vindictive. Huw's five older brothers are all manly and completely interchangeable, and Huw himself (Roddy McDowell) is as ageless as Peter Pan despite the story clearly taking place over several years.

Huw is also earnest and meek nearly to the point of being precious, although young McDowell redeems himself well. Still, it is difficult to believe that coal miners all have incredible singing voices, and that they never curse, tell dirty jokes, or wheeze from black lung disease.

The film's arguably best scene is one of its most discomforting. The hateful teacher is beaten up by a former boxer (Rhys Williams, the only cast member actually born in Wales). The audience is encouraged to cheer as the bullying Mr. Jonas receives his comeuppance, even though this action is against Huw's explicit wishes. If Jonas had died when his head slammed against the wall, would there still be a comic aspect to the scene?

Despite is problems, How Green Was My Valley is still a very good film. Like the Best Picture winners of immediately preceding years, it had an excellent source novel, in this instance from Richard Llewellyn. The script approaches poetry. The black and white cinematography is simply outstanding, as every shot is gorgeous.

Donald Crisp is well cast, as is McDowell. Maureen O'Hara is as beautiful as ever. Walter Pidgeon's commanding speaking voice made him an excellent choice as the self-sacrificing preacher Gruffydd, although his smaller role does not deserve its first billing.

How Green Was My Valley won five Oscars, including the two most important ones: Best Picture and Best Director. The next year Mrs. Miniver (1942), a decidedly lesser film, was able to win six Oscars, adding Best Actress to Best Picture and Director.

These two films dominated their respective ceremonies not because they were the best films of the year, but because they represented the values and themes that Hollywood wished to promote. The British Isles were in danger of being occupied by the Nazis and Fascists, who had already conquered France in addition to the rest of Western and Central Europe. Hollywood was preparing the U.S. for its entry into World War II, a major motive of which was to secure the American ancestral WASP homeland, England.

How Green Was My Valley was crowned Best Picture in February of 1942, just two months after Pearl Harbor. Never mind that it was only the sixth best film of the year, behind Citizen Kane, Dumbo, The Maltese Falcon, Suspicion, and the underrated Never Give a Sucker an Even Break.

It wasn't the best movie in the lengthy and distinguished career of director John Ford, either. Ford's best films were Stagecoach, The Grapes of Wrath, the underappreciated Wee Willie Winkie, and The Quiet Man. How Green Was My Valley was only his fifth best film, but the studio could not have better timed the release of a heartwarming story of a Welsh mining family beset with troubles.

The movie won Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor (Donald Crisp), Best Art Direction (Richard Day, Nathan Juran, Thomas Little), and Best Black & White Cinematography (Arthur C. Miller). Twentieth Century Fox mogul Darryl Zanuck received the Best Picture Oscar. John Ford became the first man to win Best Director in consecutive years, following his poignant The Grapes of Wrath.

How Green Was My Valley also picked up five Oscar nominations. Sara Allgood, who played Huw's noble and strong-willed mother, received a nod as Best Supporting Actress. Other nominations were in the categories of Best Film Editing, Best Score, Best Sound, and Best Screenplay (Philip Dunne).

I have to admit that when I first saw the film, I confused Arthur Shields, who played the shrewish Mr. Parry, with Barry Fitzgerald, who had the role of the boxer's best friend. Fitzgerald eventually became one of Hollywood's most successful supporting actors. He somehow received Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor nominations for the same role in Going My Way. It is difficult to distinguish between Fitzgerald and his brother Shields, as they both look and sound alike.

(79/100)

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Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older