The Proud Valley
An African/American man who is accepted into a South Wales coal mining community and becomes a member of the local choir and finds work down the pit - prior to the conflict of World War II.
An excellent performance from Paul Robeson, this Welsh coal mining drama from CAPAD & Ealing Studios. This historic motion picture opened up a new avenue in the portraying of stereotypical black characters in British as well as American films. Paul Robeson, a dedicated devout socialist, came to work/live in Britain and thus became a major star of the silver screen. In this ground breaking motion picture he played a character called David Goliath and this helped break the mould of the 'Negro' caricatures which had previously been depicted in motion pictures. "The Proud Valley" was Paul Robeson's last performance in a British film and proved highly controversial upon its release to cinemas.
The story highlights the plight of the working classes of South Wales and their struggle to survive. This motion picture so upset Lord Beaverbrook that he banned mention of the film in his publications and refused to allow his newspapers to advertise it. This was due to the fact that Paul Robeson had pro-Russia sympathies. Author Graham Greene also disliked Paul Robeson's character and stated it was nothing more than a "big black Pollyanna".
Even today this classic motion picture remains a striking and unflinchingly realistic representation of working class mining communities of South Wales. The mining disaster scene at the climax is brilliantly directed and it evokes memories, amongst the people of Ebbw Vale and Cwm of the mining disaster which occurred in the Marine Colliery Cwm 1st March 1927 (St. David's Day) when 52 miners lost their lives when digging for 'Black Gold'. Paul Robeson's performance is excellent, and he delivers superb renditions of: - 'Deep River' & 'All Through The Night. Years later he stated: - "It was the one film I could be proud of having played in".
Now released on DVD 70 years after its release to cinemas - I recommend that you buy it.
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Hoping to find work in Wales David Goliath (Paul Robeson Show Boat) a ship&39;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&39;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 serve the nationAEs needs With a wealth of musical numbers and Paul Robeson&39;s undeniable charm The Proud Valley is a must-see
Pen Tennyson directs this early Ealing Studios drama set in a Welsh coal mining valley. Paul Robeson stars as David Goliath, a charismatic African-American seaman who washes up in a small mining village in Wales. There, he finds work alongside the miners down the pit, and his magnificent singing voice attracts the attention of local choir director Dick Parry (Simon Lack), who has ambitions of winning the national choir contest on the strength of Goliath's talent. However, a mining disaster puts both of these occupations on hold, and Goliath rouses a group of activists to march to London in the hope of reopening the mine in time to serve the nation's wartime needs.
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