Plot: What’s it about?
Kay Miniver (Greer Garson) is not a soldier on the front lines or a pilot soaring over enemy lines, but she is involved in the war, no doubt about it. Her household is impacted by the events of World War II, a conflict which takes place close to her own home. Her husband Clem (Walter Pidgeon) serves as part of a river patrol, while her oldest son Vin (Richard Ney) has just returned from Oxford and soon enlists. Vin isn’t quite the same as when he left, as he is more pompous and critical, which doesn’t please his parents. Soon after his return, Vin begins a courtship of sorts with Carol Beldon (Teresa Wright), the daughter of social elitist Lady Beldon (Dame May Whitty). The Miniver family also has two younger children, which keeps Kay quite busy, though she always finds time to do whatever is needed. Even though times are tough and spirits are often low, Kay does her best to keep things under control and boost the spirits of her loved ones. When the bombs begin to reign down, she comforts young children inside of a bomb shelter. She is scared herself, but remains strong and determined, nonetheless. Even when a German paratrooper lands right in her backyard, she is not prepared to surrender, not even close. Can Kay Miniver pull her family through this dark time, or will even her spirit be crushed?
This movie took home an armload of Oscars on awards night, but is Mrs. Miniver a true timeless classic? I resisted this movie for a long while, as I am not often a fan of straight dramas, but I shouldn’t have waited on this one. I’ve now seen the movie a few more times, but the experience was just as power when I sat down with this new DVD edition. The driving force behind Mrs. Miniver is Greer Garson (Goodbye, Mr. Chips, Madame Curie) who delivers a potent, memorable effort, one which landed her an Oscar and one of the longest acceptance speeches of all time. The rest of the cast is superb also, with such names as Walter Pidgeon and Teresa Wright, with Wright also winning an Oscar for her turn. But the cast isn’t the sole highlight, as the photography is gorgeous, production design is excellent, and the writing is top notch. William Wyler (Ben-Hur, The Collector), who won an Oscar for his work, brings together all of these elements with great skill, so the impressive parts are even better as a whole. A movie could be good with just a few of the elements found here, but to have them all, you know Mrs. Miniver truly is a classic motion picture. I think the film deserves one of Warner’s deluxe two disc releases, but this single disc hosts a few supplements. So for fans of classic cinema, Mrs. Miniver isn’t to be missed.
Video: How does it look?
Mrs. Miniver is presented in full frame, as intended. Warner has done some superb work with transfers on older material, but also some mediocre work, so I wasn’t sure which side would show up with this release. I was pleased to see the good side was on showcase, as this is a terrific visual presentation. I saw minimal print wear, damage, or specks and I also found no compression flaws, which is impressive to say the least. The black & white image is clean and sharp at all times, while black levels are stark and well balanced. This is how all classic films should look, no complaints at all, given the source materials.
Audio: How does it sound?
The original mono track is used and while it has no bells & whistles, the basics are present and in fine form. The audio has no traces of age related problems I could hear and though mono is limited, the range was quite good given those limits. The music sounds clean and bold, with no distortion and the sound effects come across well also here. The main focus is the dialogue however, which sounds clean and crisp throughout the film, no problems in the least to report. This might not be an explosive mix, but given the age and nature of the movie, this is an impressive option. This disc also includes a French language track, as well as subtitles in English, Spanish, and French, just in case you might need those.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes a clip of Greer Garson at the Oscars, two vintage newsreels, some still photos, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
