It is hard to follow up the success of hugely popular WWII film with a sequel. The original "Mrs. Miniver" set the bar so high that it would be hard to measure up under the best of circumstances. Add to that the fact that William Wyler is no longer directing but a less than adequate H.C. Potter. Unfortunately, the result is far from attaining the excellence of "Mrs. Miniver", as evidenced by it not even receiving a nomination for a single award. "Mrs. Miniver", on the other hand, won 6 Oscars and was nominated for another 6.
With that being said, on top of what they had stacked against it in trying to measure up to the original - they then decide to stoop to the level of soap opera in the script. The 20ish daughter is involved with a married general,and Mrs. Miniver is diagnosed with a terminal mystery illness and refuses to tell the family. The first film presented a family that everyone admired, and then they turn them into a sappy soap opera.
Greer still is quite beautiful to watch and her acting is admirable in spite of the weak script. I did like the scene when she finally tells her husband she is sick at the dance. It was filmed quite beautifully, and Pidgeon's voice-over describing his thoughts at the moment about noticing mundane things (like a lamp flickering) was quite effective. The ripples in the lake water was also a nice touch as you imagine the ripple effect of the news he is learning.
While it certainly isn't a complete dud, it falls way short of the success of the first "Mrs. Miniver."
With that being said, on top of what they had stacked against it in trying to measure up to the original - they then decide to stoop to the level of soap opera in the script. The 20ish daughter is involved with a married general,and Mrs. Miniver is diagnosed with a terminal mystery illness and refuses to tell the family. The first film presented a family that everyone admired, and then they turn them into a sappy soap opera.
Greer still is quite beautiful to watch and her acting is admirable in spite of the weak script. I did like the scene when she finally tells her husband she is sick at the dance. It was filmed quite beautifully, and Pidgeon's voice-over describing his thoughts at the moment about noticing mundane things (like a lamp flickering) was quite effective. The ripples in the lake water was also a nice touch as you imagine the ripple effect of the news he is learning.
While it certainly isn't a complete dud, it falls way short of the success of the first "Mrs. Miniver."