Review of Mrs. Miniver (1942) by Thomas W — 21 Aug 2010

Although Mrs. Miniver is a film wthl several flaws (which I'll get to), it remains one of the best family war-dramas ever filmed. Released in 1942, it dealt with subject matter American audiences only briefly heard of and didn't fully understand (Americans had no idea what a bomb raid was really like).

Mrs. Miniver opened the eyes of America and made us realize our compatriots across the Atlantic were in peril and in many cases, in danger of losing their everyday lives. As war remained distant, this film made family struggle, worry and concern apparent to American eyes for the first time.

This film tackled all of the family domestic problems but showed what happened when the pressure and threat of war was added into the mix. Greer Garson rightfully won an Oscar for her performance of the titular character who is so good that a local horticulturist has named his newest rose after her.

Walter Pidgen, Richard Ney, Dame May Whitty and Teresa Wright (who won Best Supporting Actress) all nicely flesh our their roles and give them soul and depth. This is actually the very first film to garner FIVE acting nominations .

.. a feat that hasn't been matched too many times after. As the film wasn't filmed on location (London was probably still being bomed at the time), the street scenes and fronts of the houses don't look overly British/London at all.

The insides don't match up with British custom and/or furnishings either. This flaw is also joined with a lack of proper accents. Yes ... boo! The movie is good enough -- it is very good -- that these can be forgiven.

The film is deep enough that these shallow flaws cannot drown it.