MovieChat Forums > How Green Was My Valley (1942) Discussion > This is an AMAZING movie, why so many ne...

This is an AMAZING movie, why so many negative posts

posted 17 years ago by obiwan_1999
22 replies | jump to latest

UNBELIEVABLE movie, and I am a yank raised on star wars and indiana jones. This movie gave me chills, and brought me to tears. Yes they are doing an irish accent and supposed to be welsh, but it shows the welsh in an incredibly positive light!!! I am of irish descent, and this movie makes me proud of the emerald isle, no matter which side of the isle we are refering to!!!!

Peace!

"Life is a journey, not a destination"

[–] HarlowMGM 16 years ago

The negative posting surely comes mainly from the fact that it beat CITIZEN KANE at the Oscars and KANE is "the" movie to many serious (and often humorless) film students. Not unlike Bette Davis fans who still can't get over the fact that Judy Holliday beat her in the 1950 Oscar race with her fine comic performance in BORN YESTERDAY over Davis at the apex of her career in ALL ABOUT EVE.

[–] sean_pak215 16 years ago

Harlow is right. Virtually the only reason that this movie catches flack is because it infamously beat out Citizen Kane. But HGWMV really doesn't get its due, and that makes me sad.

I'll be the first to admit that, sure, it isn't Citizen Kane. But it's still powerful, passionate filmmaking, and John Ford was the equal of Orson Welles with the camera (in my opinion). A study of every single scene in HGWMV will show you that it was every bit as artistic as Welles' masterpiece. And it is by far one of the best, most aesthetically pleasing movies to win Best Picture, an award that's usually a joke.

People should get past the fact that this movie beat out Kane, and just enjoy two deserving classics.

[–] bradford-1 16 years ago

I'm not ashamed to admit I'm a 53-year-old, "tough" New Yorker who watched HOW GREEN for the first time in years last month and found myself sobbing uncontrollably during much of the last 40 or so minutes. I don't care about the accents, or the fact that it beat out KANE, it spoke to me heart and soul.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] aciolino 15 years ago

There are a LOT of angry, ignorant, ill-informed people around. In fact, it's getting worse. May I recommend Bauerlein, "The Dumbest Generation," -- it explains much, and may temper your consternation at a very stupid world.

[–] hachmom-1 15 years ago

I agree with the above posters...the negative rating off this movie seems to go hand in hand with the rise of the auteur theory and the veneration of Citizen Kane....(ironically because JohnFord is a darling of those folks, and this contains mainy of the same motiffs as movies like the SEarchers)
How Green was my Valley has never been forgiven for beating Kane out for best film....altho as i and others have argued on this board, it is the superior film, even if Kane is a technical marvel......

It is not our abilities that make us who we are...it is our choices

[–] heyuactor 15 years ago

I find this film more enjoyable than CK, but CK is a greater achievement. Those who disagree with the choice the Academy makes should fault the voters, not the the film itself.

"Did you make coffee...? Make it!"--Cheyenne.

[–] somerelief2-859-146886 14 years ago

The fact is, the two films are both wonderful, but are poles apart: Kane is one of the most cerebral, objective films ever made as well as perhaps the most innovative. It's like a diamond, brilliant, stunning but cold. Valley is a masterpice of warmth and sentimentality. It works at a visceral, deeply human level that we all can respond to. I love both of them, and shudder at the thought of not having either.

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] spiderwort (11) 8 years ago

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[–] IronBallsM 15 years ago

I'm betting the voting has something to do with it. IMDB is wierd that way. Fools vote things "1" because they want to see the ratings change.

[–] violinprincess32 14 years ago

Personally, I appreciate it as a good film. However, I have actually read the book (it's my fave), and I think the book is far superior.

Ave atque vale

[–] DeepFriedJello 14 years ago

I'm sure the book would be better. This movie seems like they edited the carp out of something grander.

[–] dmnemaine 14 years ago

What's interesting is that the original intention for "How Green ..." was to make it a technicolor epic on the scale of "Gone With The Wind". Zanuck's original vision was a four hour film. Because of the strong union message in the story, the powers that be in NYC vetoed that idea because they were afraid the public wouldn't accept it, and were afraid the expense would be too great. They finally agreed to allow Zanuck to produce a scaled down BW version. So that's probably why it seems like they edited "something grander".

[–] Lady-Dedlock 13 years ago

I am just in awe of the lineup of movies for the 1941 Oscar:

This film, Citizen Kane, The Maltese Falcon, Suspicion (cop-out ending, but still wonderfully Hitchcockian), Sargeant York (Gary Cooper was no slouch)...

It's depressing, really, when one sees what passes for Oscar-worthy these days.

CK is a masterpiece, but any of the films above could have legitimately been worthy of the Oscar.

Re TrueBill: I love a man that can set a woman on fire and give a granny money!

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] obiwan_1999 13 years ago

*sighs* I know, I know. Ive been getting abused for years for that part of my comment. My ignorance of the geography of GB is on display for all to see. At least it motivated me to look at a map of GB, so I wont make that mistake again.

Peace!

"Life is a journey, not a destination"

[–] oldmotem 12 years ago

hahahahahahaha. :^) I won't mention that.

:^) I only know where Wales is because my ancient relatives resided there.

[–] seahawk3133 12 years ago

While I thought How Green was a good movie, I didn't have the "this is a great movie" impression of it.
I believe many of the dopes who say this is a horrible movie feel the need to exaggerate because it makes them feel important. Anyone with a brain couldn't honestly believe How Green is a bad movie.

Personally, there are a few movies of 1941 I prefer (Citizen Cane, The Little Foxes, Meet John Doe, Ball of Fire, Sullivan's Travels) but doesn't mean I wouldn't recommend How Green to someone who hasn't seen it.

7 / 10

[–] IronBallsM 10 years ago

Imagine if they had the Internet during WWII???