0
0
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
In September 1939, the United Kingdom declared war on Nazi Germany at the start of World War II. Whether it was Prime Minister Winston Churchill leading the country through war or King George VI giving speeches to give hope to his people, the British people stood proud and tall in the face of evil. To show this, there have been many Hollywood movies that displayed this. Whether it is recent films like the King’s Speech, Darkest Hour, and Dunkirk or even old classics like The Bridge on the River Kwai, the British always show adversity during dark times. During the heart of World War II in the year 1942, Mrs. Miniver is released and shows the unwavering spirit of the British family and people during the beginning of the dark days of the war.
Directed by William Wyler and starring Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon. The film shows how the life of an unassuming British housewife in rural England is touched by World War II. If you want to talk about a movie that is straight up a very English tale of domestic fortitude and endurance, of middle-class reticence and perseverance, then look no further than Mrs. Miniver. In September of 1939, Mrs. Kay Miniver (Garson) and her family live a very comfortable and somewhat high-class life at a house called ‘Starlings’ in Belham, a fictional village outside London, England. The house they live in is pretty grand. It had a large garden, with a private landing stage on the River Thames, which is moored a motorboat belonging to her very loving husband Clem (Pidgeon), a successful architect. The Minivers have three children: the youngest is Toby and Judy (Severn and Sandars) and an older son Vin (Ney) at university. They also have a unique house staff by the names of Glady and Ada (Forbes and De Becker). Life seems easy, but dark clouds soon develop over England and the world that will forever change the Miniver’s lives. World War II is upon them, and Vin decides to join the Royal Air Force. On a trip home, Vin meets Carol Beldon (Wright), granddaughter of Lady Beldon (Dame May Whitty) from nearby Beldon Hall. At first, Vin and Carol disagree on many aspects of life but somehow fall in love. As Vin proposes, England declares war on Germany. With England at war, a family will soon learn and find the strength to fight against the evil of the world.
The story of this film is so engaging that it is one of the best WWII movies that shows the signs of war from the civilian side and how even wealthy people deal with the start and terrors of the war. At first, I thought this would be another boring war film about a woman who keeps her family intact. Yet, I got a film that really showed the emotion of happiness, fear, and sadness by the end of the film.
At the beginning of the film, we really get a look at the family and their lives. Mrs. Miniver rolls up with one of the most ostentatious hats I’ve seen. Homegirl looks like she was going to the Kentucky Derby. At first, I didn’t even know if that was a hat on her head, and then she goes out to buys another hat. You can tell this family is pretty wealthy because the husband straight up buys a new car and doesn’t want Mrs. Miniver to know. When you have a piano teacher for the kids and your oldest son is off at Oxford, you got money. That house was fly as hell with it being right there on the water.
Now there are a few storylines to pay attention to before the actual shit hits the fan with England going to war with Germany. The first one is with Mr. Ballard, who names his prize rose after Mrs. Miniver. He wants to enter the annual flower village and try to upset Lady Beldon, who seems to ALWAYS win the flower crown. Another storyline is Vin as his romance with Carol while he goes into the Royal Air Force. Vin and Carol somewhat have a rocky start when they argue over an idealistic attitude to class differences with Carol’s practical altruism. After this, Vin asks Carol to be his girl at a dance to the surprise of Mr. and Mrs. Miniver.
The film really pops off during a church service when the priest states that the country has declared war. The maid is crying as one of the friends, Horace, comes by and says he is joining. Vin also states that he is going to join the Royal Air Force.
Several scenes must be talked about. The first one is when Mr. Miniver is recruited for the Dunkirk Operation. As he is away, Mrs. Miniver goes to her backyard and finds a German soldier in her garden. This is when shit has officially hit the fan. As she goes to take his gun, he wakes up and gives chase to her. After an extremely tense standoff where he gets food and passes out, she manages to take his gun as the police arrive. Fear actually hits you when the German soldier goes off saying how his country will destroy everything and that there are people far better than himself that will destroy everything. After five days, Mr. Miniver rolls up, and Mrs. Miniver acts like nothing happens.
Another scene that was intense but also sad to look at was the bombing scene. It seems like that the bombing has become so common that The Miniver family is just straight chilling in the bunker. The kids are out cold, and the cat is just like whatever as the bombs go off around them. Mrs. Miniver is knitting, and Mr. Miniver asks about Alice in Wonderland. It is just mind blown that they seem so calm in this situation. Things really get real when the bombing becomes so intense that the bunker just starts shaking, and that is when the kids start crying.
The final scene is what pulls at the heartstrings. For one, we see that the Miniver’s house has been destroyed by bombs. At the annual flower judging. Lady Beldon silently disregards the judges’ decision that her rose is the winner and announces that Mr. Ballard won. Everyone cheers for him in grand display, but the happy moment is cut short when the air raid sirens cut the fair short. After Mrs. Miniver and Carol drive Vin to the airport to be with his unit, they drive back and see a dog fight between two pilots. They decide to stop, so they wouldn’t be targets. They see one of the planes shot down and crash in the distance. You can see the fear in Mrs. Miniver and Carol’s eyes. As they look on, they see another set of planes go by, and they think it is Vin until they start opening fire on each other. As the threat seems to pass, Mrs. Miniver notices that Carol has been shot and the rush to find a doctor, only for her to die. You can feel the horrors of war, and it is only the beginning.
The final scene is the saddest. Vin comes home and already knows that Carol has died and that the house they live in is pretty much gone also. Many people have been killed when they go to church as the church seems to be standing on its last legs. Yet, the priest gives a sermon that is straight fire where he finishes with the statement, “This is the People’s War. It is our war. We are the fighters.” This one line showed how strong the British were in denying the rule of the Nazi party.
The acting for this film was terrific. I don’t know what it is but in the face of danger and evil, the characters had such a calm attitude about themselves. The British are some strong people as their country was getting bombed.
Greer Garson as Kay Miniver was a joy to watch. She seemed to provide her character with such elegance and strength as the movie went on. She was a gangster for going against the Nazi soldier, and even in the face of terror, she held firm. Walter Pidgeon as Clem Miniver was just cool and calm throughout the whole movie. He never seemed to raise his voice and was another calm presence even when bombs were going off around him and his family.
Teresa Wright as Carol Beldon was a delight to watch when she was on screen. First, to tell Vin her ideas and not back down showed that she was a very strong and educated woman. She had an undying love for her grandmother and then Vin. Dame May Whitty as Lady Beldon was the tough old woman who spoke her mind and didn’t hold back. Even when she was all about tradition, she showed she had a heart when she let old boy win the flower contest. She showed genuine emotion at the end when her granddaughter passed away. Finally, Richard Ney as Vin Miniver was the usual grown son who goes off to war and has strong beliefs in the way the world should work. He actually becomes a strong character towards the end.
If you are looking for a movie that shows how strong a woman can be in the face of war, then Mrs. Miniver is it. I was skeptical at first but after watching this film, loved how it went from a calm and happy family to straight up this is war. You will see how a family deals with war and the strength that must be obtained through it.
