Members of the audience were certainly carried along and were shouting out their sighs, joining in the inevitable amens and we all clapped at the end. African american singing star paul robeson heads the cast as david, a black stoker seeaking work in the coal mines of wales. A longdistance phone call links the welsh seaside town of porthcawl where the south wales miners have gathered for their annual eisteddfod to an undisclosed recording studio in new york, where paul robeson waits to circumvent. Paul robeson miner film the proud valley on show bbc news. This strong bond meant that the proud valley, filmed on location in the mining villages of south wales and in some ways mirroring this reallife story, was the film. Starring paul robeson, edward chapman and simon lack. The proud valley film hub wales canolfan ffilm cymru. There is a brief fight scene in which two men push each other around. Hoping to find work in wales, a ships stoker, boards a train and winds up working in a small mining town. Huw morgan roddy mcdowall, the academically inclined youngest son in a proud family. Rachel thomas, clifford evans and benjamin percy williams. Proud mary movie crews descend on downtown lawrence.
The film is remarkable for its time for its believable workingclass characters, not caricatures. Upon spotting the lovely singing voice of david goliath paul robeson, emlyn instantly. This is a brilliant film set in a welsh mining village at the start of ww2, it was greatly enjoyed by my 5yr old grandson who found it very helpful in showing how miners lived and worked in the hard conditions down the mines my grandson had to find out about mining coal for his school homework work and this film showed what his grandad a retired former miner had. The proud valley 1940 penrose tennyson, pen tennyson. Penrose tennyson, 1940 was written for paul robeson by herbert marshall and his wife, alfredda brilliant. Film casting list, boxoffice, free download movie hdposter and buy bluray dvd mm52. Apr 20, 2017 proud valley paul robeson was a truly remarkable man.
The proud valley 1940 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. As david goliath, in the popular british drama the proud valley, paul robeson is the quintessential everyman, an american sailor who joins rankandfile welsh miners organizing against the powers that be. Paul robeson, rachel thomas, edward chapman, simon lack in a welsh coal mining valley, a young man with a beautiful singing voice is called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice when a pit disaster threatens. Hes the both the anchor and the motor of this film, a huge presence that dominates valley even when the story doesnt call for it. Henson, jahi diallo winston, billy brown, danny glover, neal mcdonough, xander berkeley, margaret avery, and follows an assassin who must look after a young teenaged boy after a hit job goes wrong. Paul robeson, edward chapman, simon lack, rachel thomas, edward rigby, dilys thomas, janet johnson, charles williams, jack jones, dilys davies, clifford evans uk distributor. A 1940s film about a black american miner and singer who moved to cardiff to find work has been remastered and is going on tour. Made in 1939, it is a patriotic film with an emphasis on everyone doing hisher bit for the war effort, a bit overly sentimental in places but with some good acting despite the occasionally dodgy welsh accents and naturally with some very fine singing from robeson, both solo and as part of a choir. Theres a brand new 2k restoration of paul robesons. This is a brilliant film set in a welsh mining village at the start of ww2, it was greatly enjoyed by my 5yr old grandson who found it very helpful in showing how miners lived and worked in the hard conditions down the mines my grandson had to find out about mining coal for his school homework work and this film showed what his grandad a retired former miner had told him. The proud valley ealing classic by pen tennyson featuring. Filmed in the south wales coalfield, the principal welsh coal mining area, the film is about. Paul robeson, edward chapman, simon lack, imdb rating. The proud valley 1940 pen tennyson, paul robeson, edward.
There was some appalling wooden acting going on, some poor editing but all in all the proud valley is a powerful film. More paul robeson his favorite film proud valley coming. The acting by the whole cast is very good but, of course, paul robeson delivered the most compelling performance. Meet the cast and learn more about the stars of the proud valley with exclusive news, pictures, videos and more at.
The proud valley 1940 pen tennyson, paul robeson, edward chapman, simon lack, drama, music february 20, 2017 in a welsh coal mining valley, a young man with a beautiful singing voice is called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice when a pit disaster threatens. Actors mel gibson and john lithgow may also have prominent roles in the film. A longdistance phone call links the welsh seaside town of porthcawl where the south wales miners have gathered for their annual eisteddfod. Pen tennysons the proud valley 1940 is, overall, a pretty good film. Mar 27, 2017 the proud valley is a film that may be about the past, and may be about an industry that has all but come to its end in the united kingdom, but we the film is still easy to relate to.
In a welsh coal mining valley, a young man with a beautiful singing voice is called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice when a pit disaster threatens. It is about community, and the spirit of a man who fought for the people who welcomed him in with open arms. The proud valley 1940 phil morris revisits pen tennyson s the proud valley, the 1940 ealing studios film starring cultural icon and political activist paul robeson. Silverdale, staffordshire, england, uk colliery scenes is this interesting. Media caption the proud valley tour begins in cardiff on sunday. A longdistance phone call links the welsh seaside town of porthcawl where the south wales miners have gathered for their annual eisteddfod to an undisclosed recording studio in new york, where paul robeson waits to.
Hoping to find work in wales, a ships stoker, boards a. Paul robeson miner film the proud valley remastered bbc news. As david goliath, in the popular british drama the proud valley, robeson is the quintessential everyman, an american sailor who joins rankandfile welsh miners organizing against the powers that be. The proud valley a universal tune its a sheer delight covering the restoration series by a number of studios as they perform cultural archaeology in their vaults or in this case mine, searching, sifting and uncovering some real diamonds every so often.
Filmed in south wales, the proud valley stars paul robeson, who is being celebrated as part of the british film institutes bfi black star. Written by the socialist husband and wife writing team of herbert marshall and fredda brilliant and the novelists louis golding and jack jones who also appears in the film the proud valley is based on the true story of an afroamerican miner from west virginia who had drifted to wales, by way of england, looking for work. Both were associated with the leftwing unity theatre and, in 1938, marshall had directed robeson in unitys plant in the sun the film is remarkable for its time for its believable workingclass characters, not caricatures. There are scenes of mild threat when characters are trapped down a mine shaft and are faced with various dangers including fire, explosions and falling debris. A casting call for that movie was held in haverhill in march. Nov, 2016 a 1940s film about a black american miner and singer who moved to cardiff to find work has been remastered and is going on tour. The columbia law school graduate was a civil rights activist, a panafricanist, a political activist, an athlete, an acclaimed actor his performances of othello in london and broadway are still the stuff of legend, and of course a singer, with one of greatest and most powerful voices ever. The proud valley is a workers film, with the poor mans drama, dark soundtrack and bits of war tones. Huw morgan roddy mcdowall, the academically inclined youngest son in. The proud valley is a film that may be about the past, and may be about an industry that has all but come to its end in the united kingdom, but we the film is still easy to relate to. Pen tennysons best remembered film of the three 1930s movies he made before being killed in action in the second world war, the proud valley concerns a mining village in wales which faces change on two fronts first in finding a new singer for their choir american bassbaritone paul robeson just happens to be passing through wales looking for a place to work. African american singing star paul robeson heads the.
Nov, 2016 media caption the proud valley tour begins in cardiff on sunday. The proud valley is a 1940 ealing studios film starring the africanamerican actor paul robeson. Made in 1939, it is a patriotic film with an emphasis on everyone doing hisher bit for the war effort, a bit overly sentimental in places. Find video, photos, forums, blogs and shop for some of the best movies ever made only at tcm. Proud valley, a story of welsh singingminers, at the little carnegie soviet musical at the miami. Paul robeson miner film the proud valley remastered bbc. The proud valley is a british drama, from 1940, about a black miner who joins a male choir. The proud valley has now been fully restored with deliciously crisp and sharp black and white images. Proud valley was directed by pen tennyson, whose early death in ww2 robbed the british movie industry of one of its more talented contributors.
Both were associated with the leftwing unity theatre and, in 1938, marshall had directed robeson in unitys plant in the sun. There are a number of reasons to see the proud valley, an uneven but interesting little picture, but the biggest reason is of course paul robeson. Phil morris revisits pen tennysons the proud valley, the 1940 ealing studios film starring cultural icon and political activist paul robeson. It is about community, and the spirit of a man who fought for the people who.
He was usually cast as an african chief in low budget british made films, in this film he plays the part of a coal miner in wales. The proud valley british board of film classification. By the start of world war ii, paul robeson had given up his lucrative mainstream work to participate in more socially progressive film and stage productions. The proud valley genre film notes records by paul robeson of orig cast. Apr 05, 2017 robeson always claimed the proud valley was his proudest achievement as it showed workers in a positive and respectful light, and it isnt difficult to understand why. In a tiny welsh mining town, emlyn parry simon lack is in charge of the local miners choir. The film is remarkable for its time for its believable workingclass characters, not. The columbia law school graduate was a civil rights activist, a panafricanist, a political activist, an athlete, an acclaimed actor his performances of othello in london and broadway are still the stuff of legend, and of course a singer, with one of greatest and most powerful voices ever heard. Theres a brand new 2k restoration of paul robesons proud.
Proud valley as i said below in the article about his film sanders of the river paul robeson was a truly remarkable man. Proud mary is a 2018 american action thriller film directed by babak najafi, from a screenplay written by john s. Dick parry edward chapman and his wife are not one dimensional. I l 1940 in a small welsh mining town, emlyn parry simon lack leads the local miners choir. Proud valley 1940 in a small welsh mining town, emlyn parry simon lack leads the local miners choir. Proud valley paul robeson was a truly remarkable man. Filming locations 4 filming dates 1 filming locations. Welsh film about family in the valleys and working underground. The cast are a bit of a mixed bag and welsh accents do wander on occasion, though this is most definitely robesons show, and he dominates with his towering presence and rich. This strong bond meant that the proud valley, filmed on location in the mining villages of south wales and in some ways mirroring this reallife story, was the film that he felt most proud to have acted in. It includes their passion for singing as well as the dangers and precariousness of working in a mine. Turner classic movies presents the greatest motion pictures of all time from one of the largest film libraries in the world.
In a welsh coal mining valley, a young man with a beautiful singing voice is called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice when a pit disaster. Proud valley, a story of welsh singingminers, at the. Robeson plays the hero, david goliath, as downonhis. Sep 11, 2017 welsh film about family in the valleys and working underground. Filmed on location in the south wales coalfield, the heart of the main coal mining region of wales, the film tells the story of a black american miner and baritone singer who is invited to join a male voice choir. He later performed concerts in south wales and developed a strong attachment to the mining community there. The proud valley is a 1940 ealing studios film starring paul robeson. Upon spotting the lovely singing voice of david goliath paul robeson, emlyn instantly scholarships him a. The film is part of the vintage classic collection by studiocanal just click here for more information. In partnership with the film foundation, turner classic movies is proud to bring you this exclusive monthly column by iconic film. Filmed in south wales, the proud valley starred civil rights. Filmed in the south wales coalfield, the principal welsh coal mining area, the film is about a seaman who joins a mining community. A nicely crafted film which manages to hide most of its limitations. Phil morris revisits pen tennysons the proud valley, the 1940 ealing studios film starring cultural icon and political activist paul robeson october 1957.
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