Slightly childish melodrama set in a Welsh mining village circa 1900. A local man, played by Roddy McDowall as a child, recalls his childhood growing up in a strict family united by their strong faith and work ethic. There’s life, death, forbidden romance, singing and (inevitably) mine-based tragedy.
While all of the dramatic elements in themselves are engrossing, there’s something extremely stilted about the way the film is made. There’s almost an am-dram quality to it. Not only can you see where the set ends and the painted backdrop begins, but there’s also a slowness and an unreal quality to most of the scenes. It clearly wasn’t filmed in Wales, either. The California sun beats down on the cast, and some of the accents are utterly absurd – often sounding Indian, Irish or even Dutch.
While it’s not exactly a great film, or even a good one, Maureen O’Hara is loveable as Angharad Morgan and Walter Pidgeon is impressive as the tormented priest in love with her. This romance is a thread running through the film and is far more interesting than the narrator’s digressions into authoritarian family life and awkward schooling.
Unresolved threads:
• Huw being in love with Bronwyn. Did he ever tell her or do anything about it?
• Huw being inexplicably unable to walk after falling in some cold water, then miraculously being able to walk again. How?
• Huw being bullied at school and learning to fight. Did his colleagues accept him?
• The school teacher being beaten up. What happened next? Were there really no repercussions?
• The invitation for the choir to sing before the queen? Did they ever do it?
• Two of the brothers going off to America. Were they ever heard from again?
• Two other brothers leaving home. Were they ever heard from again?
• Nasty deacon. Did he get his comeuppance?
• Angharad’s unexplained divorce. What happened?
...and most of all...
• Angharad and the priest. Did they get together or not?!
