Mrs. Miniver (1942)
Director: William Wyler.
Cast: Greer Garson (Mrs. Kay Miniver), Walter Pidgeon (Clem Miniver), Teresa Wright (Carol Beldon), Dame May Whitty (Lady Beldon), Henry Travers (Mr. Ballard), Reginald Owen (Foley), Miles Mander (German Agent's Voice), Henry Wilcoxon (Vicar), Richard Ney (Vin Miniver), Clare Sandars (Judy Miniver), Christopher Severn (Toby Miniver), Brenda Forbes (Gladys, the Housemaid), Rhys Williams (Horace Perkins), Marie de Becker (Ada, the Cook), Helmut Dantine (German Flier), Mary Field (Miss Spriggins).
A little slow, but an excellent movie about the coming of World War II and its impact on a family in England. The first to feel the brunt of the war is the maid whose loved one goes to join the army. But it is not the last effect as the older son of the family goes off to join the Royal Air Force. The husband uses his boat to help evacuate troops from the shores of Dunkirk, France.
But it is not only the men's lives who are affected. Mrs. Miniver herself is confronted with an armed downed German pilot. And the ultimate sacrifice is not paid by a soldier fighting against the Germans, but someone unexpected.
Return to Home Page (Vernon Johns Society)