Plot: What’s it about?
Now sixty years of age, Huw Morgan’s memories are all he has to keep his younger days close at hand. Morgan remembers the details of his youth, his family, and the small town where he grew up. As he reminisces, he see the world of the small town begin to develop, and by the end, we know much about the town and the Morgan family. The town was best known for it’s mining resources, so the local mine was the focus of employment for the residents. The story deals with how the mine is brought into a union based system, and how his family slowly drifts and breaks apart. This is a general overview of the plot movement, but as you’ll see when you watch the movie, there is so much detail and subtle touches, it’s hard to summarize.
How Green Was My Valley is a classic film, which is critically acclaimed as well as well received by the public. In 1941, it took home five Oscars; Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Art Direction, and Best Cinematography were the awards it walked away with. I liked the movie quite a bit, mainly due to the fact that it seems real. I can see this happening in small towns even know, the collapse of local families and problems with the primary employer are troubles that face towns everywhere. I also like the fact that the movie lacks the usual Hollywood shine, it doesn’t sugarcoat the issues found inside the town. If you’re a classic movie buff, or are just looking for a great classic to enjoy, I recommend this movie highly, and the disc gives a nice treatment. While a little lacking in the extras, the video and audio is quite good, so don’t worry about it.
The acting in this movie is excellent, but the directing really steals the show. A legend in the directing field, John Ford added yet another epic to his roster with this movie. Ford used some outstanding framing and “mise en scene” with this picture, some of the best from this time period. While Ford is best known for westerns, such as The Searchers and Stagecoach, he also mastered the other genres, especially those which explored the human process, such as How Green Was My Valley. The cast is also good, with strong leading performances by Walter Pidgeon (Forbidden Planet, Funny Girl) and Maureen O’Hara (Rio Grande, Miracle On 34th Street). Since the material calls for natural, subtle performances, the acting is reserved, but that is the intent here. Also starring in this movie are Donald Crisp (National Velvet, The Man From Laramie), Michael Greer (Three Daring Daughters), Sara Allgood (The Spiral Staircase, The Lodger), and Roddy McDowall (The Legend of Hell House, Lord Love A Duck).
Video: How does it look?
How Green Was My Valley is presented in full frame, which is correct for it’s original aspect ratio. The film was shot in the black & white format, so contrast was of supreme importance. Since the movie is close to sixty years old, you should expect some nicks and other print wear. This print shows some age signs, but on the whole, it looks very good, better than I was expecting. The brighter segments are very well done, bright but not to the point of blooming. The darker areas show deep and correct shadows, ensuring high detail levels are always seen. I noticed some small edge enhancement, but not enough to get upset over.
Audio: How does it sound?
The mono track used here for audio is more than sufficient, as the movie has very little emphasis on audio, aside from dialogue. The music and small effects sound good, and no separation issues arise. Dialogue is clear and crisp throughout, with every word easily audible.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The disc includes a small photo gallery and the theatrical trailer, as well as some bonus trailers for other Fox classics.
