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How Green Was My Valley

Play trailer Poster for How Green Was My Valley 1941 1h 58m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
93% Tomatometer 89 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Huw Morgan (Roddy McDowall), the academically inclined youngest son in a proud family of Welsh coal miners, witnesses the tumultuous events of his young life during a period of rapid social change. At the dawn of the 20th century, a miners' strike divides the Morgans: the sons demand improvements, and the father (Donald Crisp) doesn't want to rock the boat. Meanwhile, Huw's eldest sister, Angharad (Maureen O'Hara), pines for the new village preacher, Mr. Gruffydd (Walter Pidgeon).
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How Green Was My Valley

How Green Was My Valley

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Critics Consensus

Nostalgic without becoming maudlin, this working-class drama is enlivened by a terrific cast and John Ford's ineffable directorial eye.

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Critics Reviews

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Adam Kempenaar Filmspotting Jun 12, 2026
4.5/5
What the movie reckons with is what happens when those rituals are disrupted and then discarded forever. Go to Full Review Pauline Kael The New Yorker Jul 28, 2022
John Ford's much-honored movie about the decline of a Welsh mining family is moving and impressive in a big-Hollywood-picture way. Go to Full Review Marjory Adams Boston Globe Jul 26, 2022
The drama is no "made up" tale, but a panoramic glimpse of the small joys, the unmeasurable needs, the many griefs of a whole countryside. It is a story of life that is no more, but it is also a drama of people in every community. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Feb 18, 2025
3/4
This is best known among cineasts as the movie that beat Citizen Kane (and The Maltese Falcon) for the Best Picture Oscar, but that really shouldn’t be held against it (just against the petty and myopic Academy). Go to Full Review Christopher Lloyd The Film Yap Sep 18, 2023
4.5/5
Unfairly derided as one of the most undeserving Best Picture winners, John Ford's gorgeous, heartbreaking portrait of a Welsh coal-mining community represents the best sort of cinema. Go to Full Review Mark Johnson Awards Daily Jun 27, 2023
Core values, faith in God, and the importance of doing a good job well are at the center of this dreary and determined drama. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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bruce F @bruce999 Aug 15, 2026 well done mining movie. worth seeing See more Frank B. @frankfrank1955 Apr 27, 2026 Classic movie and a great book!!! See more Christian K @ckacar Jan 30, 2026 Some the exterior shots are gorgeously framed and lit. I think the story is standard fare for the era and topic. I only slightly cringed when basically the last line of the movie is "How Green Was My Valley then?" when the montage is playing of how nice it was. See more Kyle M @RT77296778 Nov 12, 2025 Though questioned whilst outshined by its equally effective imitators and the competition it’s beaten, this industrial coming of age drama is appraised by the affective performances, sharp cinematography and timeless social commentary above the hazy storyline in attempt to replicate “The Grapes of Wrath” success by secondary equivalent. (B) See more Madam D @Madam1948 Apr 5, 2025 This historical fiction has a stellar cast. The plot shows the changes in late Victorian era Welsh coal mining via a large family. See more Rosana B @RosanaBotafogo Aug 6, 2024 Após a morte do autor Llewellyn, foi desmentido que se baseara em experiências pessoas, pois vivera pouco no País de Gales, apenas para reuniu material com famílias mineiras locais. Um adorável retrato do capitalismo selvagem vs o malfadado sindicato, ganhador de 5 Oscars, vencendo Citizen Kane como melhor filme, justo por usa importância, ambos criticam o poder desmedido, e uma crítica a como as mulheres eram tratadas a época, pelo divórcio, submissão, traições, belíssimo… See more Read all reviews
How Green Was My Valley

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Cast & Crew

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John Ford

Director

Walter Pidgeon

Mr. Gruffydd, Village Preacher

Maureen O'Hara

Angharad Morgan, Eldest Daughter

Roddy McDowall

Huw Morgan, Youngest Son

Donald Crisp

Mr. Gwilym Morgan

Anna Lee

Bronwyn Morgan, Ivor's Wife

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How Green Was My Valley

How Green Was My Valley (1941) How Green Was My Valley (1941) How Green Was My Valley (1941) Donald Crisp, shown here with actress Sara Allgood, in the film "How Green Was My Valley." "How Green Was My Valley" stars Walter Pidgeon as the village preacher Mr. Gruffydd and Roddy McDowall as Huw Morgan. A scene from John Ford's film "How Green Was My Valley." Director John Ford's "How Green Was My Valley". Ford (left), pictured here with Roddy McDowall (center) and writer Philip Dunne. A scene from John Ford's film "How Green Was My Valley." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Huw Morgan (Roddy McDowall), the academically inclined youngest son in a proud family of Welsh coal miners, witnesses the tumultuous events of his young life during a period of rapid social change. At the dawn of the 20th century, a miners' strike divides the Morgans: the sons demand improvements, and the father (Donald Crisp) doesn't want to rock the boat. Meanwhile, Huw's eldest sister, Angharad (Maureen O'Hara), pines for the new village preacher, Mr. Gruffydd (Walter Pidgeon).
Director
John Ford
Producer
Darryl F Zanuck
Screenwriter
Philip Dunne
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
Twentieth Century Fox
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 27, 1941, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2013
Runtime
1h 58m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1)
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