How Green Was My Valley (1941)

How Green Was My Valley is a drama about a family in turmoil. While that’s essentially it, I will try to be a bit more descriptive and less vague than the “family has hard times” plot summary on the back of the DVD box. At a Welsh mining town at the turn of the century, the story of the Morgan family is narrated by Huw, the youngest in flashback. As Huw’s older brothers and father become more entrenched in the inequality of mine work and wages, they make the dangerous decision of organizing a labor union. This combined with the story of Huw’s rough road at school, an educational opportunity the rest of his family never had, form the backbone of How Green Was My Valley, a story of struggle, loss, strength and hope that not everyone in the Morgan family survives.

This film is otherwise famously known as, “that movie that beat Citizen Kane (AND The Maltese Falcon… what?!?!) for Best Picture for some reason.” Now I’m not one of those people that thinks that Citizen Kane is the greatest film ever made; nevertheless it is a landmark film of acting, plotting, cinematography and structure that Valley just cannot match. That’s not to say that Valley is a bad film in the slightest. Thanks to my Dad I grew up with the John Ford films starring John Wayne, particularly The Quiet Man, The Searchers and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. Ironically, Orson Welles absolutely idolized John Ford so one can only wonder what his reaction was to being nominated alongside him, and I’m still happy that Ford has an Oscar, even if it’s not his very best film. Once young Huw (an excellent Roddy McDowell) starts going to school and the film becomes definitely focused upon his story, Valley becomes a compelling film about how a boy becomes a man the hard way (i.e. getting the hell beaten out of him at school by students and teachers alike). Some authenticity is granted to the story thanks to some marvelous Welsh singing and many characters with unpronounceable Welsh names (Maureen O’Hara’s character is named Angharad… have fun figuring that one out). So while Green is actually a perfectly decent film, it will always have the unfortunate fate of being remembered as the movie that beat out other superior films that may have deserved it more.

Well, How Green Was My Valley was good.  It wasn't anywhere near my favorite movie but it was decent.  I had some issues with the storytelling of the film.  It was told from the perspective of the youngest son of the Morgan family but there was stuff going on that Huw, the young boy, wouldn't have known was happening; especially the relationship between Maureen O'Hara and Walter Pidgeon.  The two of them did have some great moments but their relationship ended abruptly by Angharad (O'Hara) being married off into the wealthiest family in town.  Mr. Gruffydd (Pidgeon) never marries waiting for her but they both are, of course, miserable.  Shit hits the fan when news of Angharad's unhappiness spreads through the town and rumors of a divorce spread.  Because of this, Mr. Gruffydd and Angharad stop hanging out even as acquaintances to save face and uphold their family honor.  When there is an explosion in the mine, both Mr. Gruffydd and Angharad meet in panic.  Mr. Gruffydd saves the Huw and there is a moment of hopefulness between the unrequited lovers that is quite nice.  This helps the overall arch of the movie by not depressing the crap out of you.  However, one could guess that Angharad will never divorce and only love Mr. Gruffydd from afar... but maybe I'm just a pessimist.  Overall good movie, a somewhat ambling plot line but heartwarming and surprisingly optimistic- even for someone with my heart of stone...  


"How Green Was My Valley" famously beat Orson Welles 'Citizen Kane' to an Oscar. 

Huw Morgan: [Narrating] I think I fell in love with Bronwen then. Perhaps it is foolish to think a child could fall in love. But I am the child that was, and nobody knows how I felt, except only me.