How Green Was My Valley

Yes, this is the film that earned Best Picture and Best Director honors over Citizen Kane, but hold the outrage: as in The Quiet Man, John Ford etches an indelible portrait of a close-knit community in this episodic film based on Richard Llewellyn's sprawling novel about a Welsh coalmining family whose ties are irrevocably undone by hard times and a labor strike. The brilliant ensemble cast includes Oscar-winner Donald Crisp as the father who opposes a miners' union, a radiant Maureen O'Hara as his lovelorn daughter, Walter Pidgeon as the village's new preacher (whom O'Hara loves), and Roddy McDowall as youngest son Huw, whose warm reminiscences as an adult frame the story. This "Studio Classics" edition is a vast improvement over the previous DVD release, with extras including audio commentary by Ford historian Joseph McBride and Anna Lee Nathan, who stars as the miner's beautiful young wife Bronwyn; as well as an episode of the AMC series Backstory that offers an efficient chronicle of the film's production, covering some of the same ground as the commentary. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (K. Lee Benson)[Blu-ray Review—Feb. 12, 2013—Fox, 119 min., not rated, $24.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1941's How Green Was My Valley sports an outstanding transfer and a DTS-HD 5.1 soundtrack. Extras include audio commentary by costar Anna Lee Nathan and film historian Joseph McBride, a "Hollywood Backstories" production featurette (25 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: Ford's multiple-Oscar-winner is luminous on Blu-ray.]