The Proud Valley (1940)
1h 16m | PG-13
In a Welsh coal mining valley, a young man with a beautiful singing voice is called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice when a pit disaster threatens.
Director: Pen Tennyson
Studio: Ealing Studios
Genre: Drama
Video: 720p
Cast
Paul Robeson
as David Goliath
Rachel Thomas
as Mrs. Parry
Edward Chapman
as Dick Parry
Simon Lack
as Emlyn Parry
Dilys Thomas
as Dilys Parry
Edward Rigby
as Bert
Reviews
Paul Robeson has been drafted in to add his rich bass-baritone dulcets to the gorgeous sounds of a Welsh male voice choir in this otherwise rather formulaic story. He is "David" who works down a Welsh pit that is struggling to pay it's way. When a disaster strikes, the community all but grinds to an halt. No money, no jobs, no prospects - so he and a few of his cohorts decide to walk the 200-miles to London where they hope to implore the mine's owner "Sir John" (Ronald Ward) to let them try another, much riskier, route to a possible ten thousand tons of coal. It's the singing that sets this apart - and the ensemble songs at that. From Mendelssohn to traditional and rousing themes, the audio sometimes makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. There are some underplayed political under-tones, and one or two racial ones too at the beginning, but for the most part this is a testament to community strength, loyalty and determination that is worth a watch.