Rent The Proud Valley (1940)
3.5 of 5 from 62 ratings
1h 14min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
Hoping to find work in Wales, David Goliath (Paul Robinson), a ship's stoker, boards a train and winds up in a small mining town. There, his powerful physique and magnificent singing voice attract the attention of Parry (Simon Lack), the choir director, who hopes to win the national singing meet on the strength of David's vocal chords. Goliath soon finds himself embracing village life, working down the pit and singing with the choir. However, when a cave-in leads to disaster, the mine is closed and all the workers are left unemployed. Hoping to convince the owners to reopen the colliery, Goliath helps lead a group of activists in a walk to London. Along the way, they learn war has been declared, and begin to plan to get the mine up and running again in time to server the nation's needs. - Actors:
- Paul Robeson, Edward Chapman, Simon Lack, Rachel Thomas, Edward Rigby, Dilys Thomas, Janet Johnson, Charles Williams, Jack Jones, Dilys Davies, Clifford Evans, Allan Jeayes, George Merritt, Edward Lexy, John Glyn-Jones, Noel Howlett, Roddy Hughes, Mike Johnson, Edward Keyes, Leslie Phillips
- Directors:
- Pen Tennyson
- Producers:
- Michael Balcon
- Writers:
- Herbert Marshall, Alfredda Brilliant, Pen Tennyson, Jack Jones, Louis Golding, Roland Pertwee
- Studio:
- Optimum
- Genres:
- Classics, Drama, Music & Musicals
- Collections:
- Getting to Know..., Getting to Know: Denzel Washington, People of the Pictures, Remembering Leslie Phillips
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 27/03/2017
- Run Time:
- 76 minutes
- Languages:
- English LPCM Mono
- Subtitles:
- English Hard of Hearing
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Full Screen 1.37:1
- Colour:
- B & W
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- Paul Robeson and the Proud Valleys Featurette
- David Harewood on Paul Robeson
- Mining Review 2/11: A Star Drops In (1949)
- Selected Tracks from 'Paul Robeson - The Transatlantic Exchange Concert
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Reviews (1) of The Proud Valley
A moving and historical document - The Proud Valley review by kw
The plot is a bit rubbish but the film itself is marvellous. Paul Robeson described it as his favourite, being the only one where his portrayal of a real character (as opposed to a stereotype) wasn't edited out in the cutting room. I think this was the first occasion in which a film portrayed a black man as a hero. And of course his wonderful voice will send shivers down your spine! Well worth viewing.
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