How Green Was My Valley (1941) | |
| Director(s) | John Ford |
| Producer(s) | Darryl F. Zanuck |
| Top Genres | Drama, Epic, Family |
| Top Topics | Book-Based |
Featured Cast:
How Green Was My Valley Overview:
How Green Was My Valley (1941) was a Drama - Family Film directed by John Ford and produced by Darryl F. Zanuck.
The film was based on the novel of the same name written by Richard Llewellyn published in 1939.
SYNOPSIS
Ford's vivid recounting of a childhood spent in the lush hills of Wales. A Welsh coal-mining family experiences labor unrest and personal tragedy as their traditional way of life collides with the 20th century. Beautifully realized and deeply felt portrayal of the sustaining power of home and family. And O'Hara was never lovelier. The Oscars have solidified its place in history as one of the top tearjerkers of all time. Adapted from Richard Llewellyn's best-selling novel.
(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).
.How Green Was My Valley was inducted into the National Film Registry in 1990.
Academy Awards 1941 --- Ceremony Number 14 (source: AMPAS)
| Award | Recipient | Result |
| Best Supporting Actor | Donald Crisp | Won |
| Best Supporting Actress | Sara Allgood | Nominated |
| Best Art Direction | Art Direction: Richard Day, Nathan Juran; Interior Decoration: Thomas Little | Won |
| Best Cinematography | Arthur Miller | Won |
| Best Director | John Ford | Won |
| Best Film Editing | James B. Clark | Nominated |
| Best Picture | 20th Century-Fox | Won |
| Best Writing | Philip Dunne | Nominated |
BlogHub Articles:
Hollywood Goes Welsh: How Green Was My Valley and The Corn Is Green
By Rick29 on Mar 8, 2026 From Classic Film & TV CafeMaureen O'Hara and Walter Pidgeon.How Green Was My Valley (1941). One of John Ford's most beloved movies, How Green Was My Valley won five Academy Awards including Best Picture. It ranks #75 in the 2007 edition of the American Film Institute's 100 Years…100 Movies. In 1990, the Library of Cong... Read full article
Walter Pidgeon and Maureen O’Hara head the cast in “How Green Was My Valley”
By Stephen Reginald on Jun 10, 2021 From Classic Movie ManWalter Pidgeon and Maureen O’Hara head the cast in “How Green Was My Valley” How Green Was My Valley (1941) was an American drama film directed by John Ford and starring Walter Pidgeon, Maureen O’Hara, Donald Crisp, Anna Lee, and Roddy McDowall. It is based on the best-s... Read full article
How Green Was My Valley
By Michael on Sep 14, 2016 From Le Mot du CinephiliaqueEditor’s note : this review is a translation of one of the first reviews to ever appear on this blog back in 2009. Those were less than a 150 words long and were written immediately after the viewing of each film. This is as aforementioned a translation and a longer edit of this original film ... Read full article
1001 Classic Movies: How Green Was My Valley
By Amanda Garrett on Aug 15, 2016 From Old Hollywood FilmsHow Green Was My Valley (1941) starring Walter Pidgeon and Roddy McDowall is one of the 1001 classic movies you should see. Each Monday, I'm going to recommend a classic movie you should see (for the reasons behind the 1001 series and reviews of earlier films covered go here). August's theme coin... Read full article
How Green Was My Valley
By Amanda Garrett on Feb 27, 2016 From Old Hollywood FilmsToday, I'm reviewing How Green Was My Valley, starring Walter Pidgeon (left) and Roddy McDowall. This film about life in a Welsh coal-mining village won the 1941 Academy Award for best picture. This article is part of the 31 Days of Oscar blogathon hosted by Paula's Cinema Club, Outspoken & Fr... Read full article
See all How Green Was My Valley articles
Quotes from
Mr. Gruffydd: Huw, I thought when I was a young man that I would conquer the world with truth. I thought I would lead an army greater than Alexander ever dreamed of, not to conquer nations, but to liberate mankind. With truth. With the golden sound of the Word. But only a few of them heard. Only a few of you understood.
Mr. Gruffydd: You've been lucky, Huw. Lucky to suffer and lucky to spend these weary months in bed. For so God has given you a chance to make the spirit within yourself. And as your father cleans his lamp to have good light, so keep clean your spirit... By prayer, Huw. And by prayer, I don't mean shouting, mumbling, and wallowing like a hog in religious sentiment. Prayer is only another name for good, clean, direct thinking. When you pray, think. Think well what you're saying. Make your thoughts into things that are solid. In that way, your prayer will have strength, and that strength will become a part of you, body, mind, and spirit.
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Facts about
For the scene where the miners greet their women by putting their earnings in baskets, actress Maureen O'Hara stopped the scene's filming once she noticed that her basket was a modern Kraft basket and not a basket of the movie's period. Director John Ford was so upset by being corrected in front of the cast and crew that he closed down the set and told O'Hara to wait on a nearby hill until he called for her. Fuming, O'Hara waited an hour before an assistant came to retrieve her but was satisfied to see that the basket had been changed upon her return.
As well as this film, the book has twice been adapted by the BBC as a serial for television, in 1960 and 1975. The 1975 production - scripted by Elaine Morgan - starred Stanley Baker, Siân Phillips, and Nerys Hughes. It was also adapted as a Broadway musical, called A Time for Singing, which opened at the Broadway Theatre, New York, on May 21, 1966. The music was by John Morris; book and lyrics were by Gerald Freedman and John Morris. The production was directed by Mr. Freedman, and it starred Ivor Emmanuel, Tessie O'Shea, Shani Wallis, and Laurence Naismith.
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