Probably the greatest propaganda film from American studios during World War II was Mrs. Miniver. It was that because it successfully made the American civilians identify with Mr.&Mrs. United Kingdom, Clem and Kay Miniver. After seeing this film, no red blooded American didn't want to go to war and save this family and millions like them from Mr. Hitler. Mrs. Miniver is also a favorite film of mine. It was the best film of 1942 and Greer Garson and Teresa Wright won Oscars from that film, It certainly gave Greer the film she was most identified with.
But like so many actresses Greer wanted to move on, but I suspect that she and Walter Pidgeon were pressured into making the sequel. Because of that I also suspect Greer insisted on killing Kay Miniver off in the sequel so she wouldn't be doing a series. This was going to be it for the Minivers.
This story leaves off the balance of the war years from 1940 to 1945 from where the first film ended. Walter Pidgeon has also gone off to war, joining his son Richard Ney who is absent and not even referred to in this film. Older daughter Cathy O'Donnell is a WREN and also out of the service. And young James Fox making his screen debut has been sent to America as so many British children where he's now picked up Americanized idiom, habits, and customs such as baseball.
The Minivers are facing the problems that were common all over Europe, rebuilding after the conflict Mr. Hitler made. There are a few personal issues as well. Walter Pidgeon is an architect and he's been given a really nice offer to go to Brazil for the duration to design some buildings. Cathy O'Donnell is involved with married General Leo Genn although working kid from their town, Richard Gale is crushing out big time on her.
But looming over all of this is the fact that Greer has been diagnosed as terminal from one of those unnamed Hollywood diseases. Only she and doctor Anthony Bushell know and she'll pick the proper time and place to inform her family.
In the meantime she wants as many loose ends tied up as possible before she meets her Maker. That's the substance of The Miniver Story.
Probably the reason that The Miniver Story was so badly received by the movie going public was that a beloved mother figure from cinema died in the film. Certainly it was more realistic in some ways, but lots of people do like happy endings.
Besides Walter and Greer, Reginald Owen and Henry Wilcoxon repeat their roles from Mrs. Miniver. I think The Miniver Story is a fine sequel to one of the best films ever made.
But like so many actresses Greer wanted to move on, but I suspect that she and Walter Pidgeon were pressured into making the sequel. Because of that I also suspect Greer insisted on killing Kay Miniver off in the sequel so she wouldn't be doing a series. This was going to be it for the Minivers.
This story leaves off the balance of the war years from 1940 to 1945 from where the first film ended. Walter Pidgeon has also gone off to war, joining his son Richard Ney who is absent and not even referred to in this film. Older daughter Cathy O'Donnell is a WREN and also out of the service. And young James Fox making his screen debut has been sent to America as so many British children where he's now picked up Americanized idiom, habits, and customs such as baseball.
The Minivers are facing the problems that were common all over Europe, rebuilding after the conflict Mr. Hitler made. There are a few personal issues as well. Walter Pidgeon is an architect and he's been given a really nice offer to go to Brazil for the duration to design some buildings. Cathy O'Donnell is involved with married General Leo Genn although working kid from their town, Richard Gale is crushing out big time on her.
But looming over all of this is the fact that Greer has been diagnosed as terminal from one of those unnamed Hollywood diseases. Only she and doctor Anthony Bushell know and she'll pick the proper time and place to inform her family.
In the meantime she wants as many loose ends tied up as possible before she meets her Maker. That's the substance of The Miniver Story.
Probably the reason that The Miniver Story was so badly received by the movie going public was that a beloved mother figure from cinema died in the film. Certainly it was more realistic in some ways, but lots of people do like happy endings.
Besides Walter and Greer, Reginald Owen and Henry Wilcoxon repeat their roles from Mrs. Miniver. I think The Miniver Story is a fine sequel to one of the best films ever made.