The Miniver Story *** (1950, Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, John Hodiak, Leo Genn, Cathy O’Donnell, Henry Wilcoxon, Reginald Owen) – Classic Movie Review 5849

When he made The Servant in 1963, the film proclaims ‘introducing James Fox’, which is supposed to means that it is someone’s first film, but Fox had been working since he was 10. He was in The Miniver Story in 1950 billed under his real name of William Fox and thereafter had a busy little career as a child actor. And so it is that James (then called William) Fox makes his film début aged 11 as the Minivers’ little son, Toby.

Director H C Potter’s popular 1950 British MGM drama provides more of the Miniver story as Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon return for the belated sequel to their 1942 hit Mrs Miniver.

With the Second World War finally over, the Minivers had unfortunately passed their sell-by date, particularly with this downbeat story of family struggling with shortages and tensions in post-War Britain and Mrs Miniver (Garson) slowly dying and her husband Clem (Pidgeon) stoically distraught. It has a lot to live up to as the sequel to a best picture Oscar winner, and that’s another part of the problem, it can’t really do that.

Nevertheless, only the heartless could be unmoved by the warmhearted, capably handled story. And the stars are still a touching team, while, happily, Henry Wilcoxon (as the vicar) and Reginald Owen (as Mr Foley) are back too.

Ronald Millar and George Froeschel’s fairly adroit, heart-tugging screenplay is based on the characters created by Jan Struther.

It also stars Cathy O’Donnell as Judy Miniver, John Hodiak and Leo Genn.

Also in the cast are Anthony Bushell, Peter Finch, Richard Gale, Cicely Paget-Bowman, Ann Wilton, Paul Demel, Sandra Dorne, Alison Leggatt, Eliot Makeham and Brian Roper.

Joseph Ruttenberg shoots in black and white in MGM British Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5849

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