MovieChat Forums > How Green Was My Valley (1942) Discussion > Suffocating Soundtrack

Suffocating Soundtrack

posted 17 years ago by mlevens1
8 replies | jump to latest

I liked this film – I thought it was well made and well acted.

However, the one thing I did not enjoy too much was the soundtrack. Too often we are listening to orchestral music in the background with only one goal: convey emotion to its audience. I much more prefer when pictures, dialogue, and acting convey emotion (in films) and not cheaply written up string music. I understand the movie is old, but I've seen a great many flicks and many of them from that time do not wade so deep in the "emotion-conveying music".

Otherwise, it was a decent piece of work.

[–] bebop63-1 16 years ago

The music was sung by an authentic Welsh choir (presumably most of the extras in the film), meant to reflect the mood of the scenes depending when they were played. For instance, the song Cwm Rhondda, in the early part of the movie when the miners are walking to their homes after work, signifies the asking of the Lord for guidance after their daily labour and the trek to home (it is commonly sung in Protestant Churches under titles like "Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah").

Calon Lan or Pure Heart in English, sung during the nuptial of Ivor Morgan and Bronwyn, is so apt for the occasion. If you google search the song, the English translation goes something like "I do not wish for jewels or treasures that will fade away, but a pure heart that will go on forever..." Very apropos for a wedding, don't you think?

I feel and believe John Ford put a lot of effort in assigning the right music to the film. After all, it would sound even weirder if say, jazz music was applied to what is obviously a movie about a particular ethnic culture like Welsh.

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] elm0catt 15 years ago

bebop

John Ford had nothing to do with the music for "How Green was my Valley"
He had to leave the production as soon as filming ended to join the War effort.

However careful planning is evident by the meanings and usage of the songs
More than likely the music was overseen by Daryl F Zanuck as this film was his pet project that he spent a long time trying to bring to fruition and had a very watchful eye upon from start to finish

[–] Greenteeth 16 years ago

The singing was moving, but I agree that it got in the way sometimes and it was too loud.

[–] turtletommy 16 years ago

Yep me too. I greatly appreciated hearing authentic Welsh music but....And those darn steam whistles could have woken up the French across the Channel, never mind the next valley! Did Welsh miners sing 500 strong back and forth to work as depicted in the movie? I'm sure that was a wee bit overdone by Ford.

[–] onepotato2 16 years ago

Oh, to be sure, they are a wee happy people! I hope we can hear one or two or fifty of their irritating folks songs.

[–] aciolino 15 years ago

Suffocating???

So, what, your dead now? (hopefully)

What a pompous arse.

[–] androphile 15 years ago

Let's let people have their opinions. I didn't find the OP's post pompous though I'll admit being biased since I agreed with it. As a professional musician myself, I'm particularly aware of the power of music to enhance the drama of a film. In HGWMV, though, I did find it suffocating. The Welsh choirs would have been wonderful in moderation, and most of the orchestral score was, IMO, nakedly manipulative and sentimental. This film had some very fine actors whose performances would have triumphed on their own merits. It was almost as if the constant use of overly amplified music was a vote of no confidence in the actors' ability to move and inspire an audience. I still believe it's a fine film, but the soundtrack remains a serious flaw. Just my opinion. If it makes me a pompous ass, I guess that'll be my cross to bear.

"Tell you what . . . the truth is . . . sometimes I miss you so much I can hardly stand it." --Jack Twist