Review of The Proud Valley (1940) by Greg W — 09 Jun 2010

Irish coal mining film, which was strangely developed around the same time as john fords how green was my valley of the same subject and featuring a lot of the same cultural elements such as singing. paul robeson plays a vagrant who gets a job after the choral director hears him sing.

its a sad tale (i dont think ive ever seen a film that featured coal miners that didnt focus on the peril of that occupation). some great vocal talent, and a decent story, if a bit cliched.