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Their son Vin (Richard Ney), on holiday from university,
embarrasses his parents with an attack on the English class
structure while an attractive young woman, who regards him
as a stuck up prig, visits them.
Carol (Teresa Wright) turns out to be the grand daughter
of the local landowner Lady Beldon (Dame May Whitty). Lady
Beldon is unhappy because Mr Ballard the stationmaster (Henry
Travers) has developed a new hybrid that may beat her flower
in the annual rose competition, and what is almost as bad
he's called it 'Mrs Miniver'.
Suddenly this normality is shattered with the outbreak of
war. Vin joins the airforce to challenge the Lutwaffe, Clem
takes his boat across the channel to rescue British and French
soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk and the village is bombed.
Mrs Miniver keeps 'the home fires burning' until she meets
a German airman face to face when she behaves with courage
and humanity.
Mrs Miniver strikes an emotional chord in any viewer who
puts it in the context of the times in which it was made.
It is a propaganda film designed to bring the American public
unstintingly behind the Allied war effort. It works brilliantly;
the cast is completely in character as they create the characters
and relationships in a village at war.
Even though Greer Garson won the Academy Award, Walter Pigeon
is masterly in his underplayed portrayal of a man too old
to fight who becomes a hero by 'just doing his bit'.
A contemporary publicity quote sums up the main theme of
the film. 'When Hitler did his worst, Mrs Miniver did her
best'.
Conclusion: 90% Extras: 75%.
Continued: DVD
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