How Green Was My Valley

Last night our house was invaded by lots of ladies. (No it's not my fatal attraction to opposite sex!) My good lady had thrown a Girlie Gardening Party. She had been to the Harrogate Showground to a gardening event, and a stall there was occupied by "Girlie Gardening" - a couple of ladies who specialise in producing gardening requisites (usually in pink) for lady gardeners.

As a result I was persona non grata, and relegated to the office for the duration of the party.

Those of you who follow my blog will have gathered that I am something of a "movie buff", so last night I decided to sit down in my office and watch a DVD from a set of five classic award winners I had purchased some time ago.

This was the 1941 5 Academy award winner "How Green was my Valley", starring Walter Pidgeon, Maureen O'Hara and a very young Roddy McDowall. It tells the story of a Welsh Valley at the turn of the century, and its change from a pastoral paradise to a despoiled mining region.

It is seen through the eyes of the youngest son of the Morgan family, Huw, who recounts the trials and tribulations the family has to endure when the miners wages are reduced, and how they are victimised for trying to stand up to the mine owners. The family have to struggle with poverty, hunger and hardship, as well as the conflicting demands of faith, economics, education and family loyalty.

The film is based on a novel by Richard Llewellyn, and has a soundtrack of much treasured Welsh Choral Music. 

Although somewhat dated in its attitudes and depiction of family life, this is a most enjoyable film, with a socio-economic message, which could very well be pertinent to our nation today!