The proud valley is a 1940 ealing studios film starring the africanamerican actor paul robeson. Robeson had long been something of a hero to the british mining community, ever since he starred in the film proud valley d. Despite its clear leftist politics, the proud valley is not a particularly gritty piece of social realism. That he starred in such movies as show boat and the emperor jones was due in large part to the fact that these films were. Proud valley was directed by pen tennyson, whose early death in ww2 robbed the british movie industry of one of its more talented.
By the start of world war ii, paul robeson had given up his lucrative mainstream work to participate in more socially progressive film and stage productions. Filmed on location in the south wales coalfield, the heart of the main coal mining region of wales, the film tells the story of a black american miner and baritone singer who is invited to join a male voice choir. The proud valley 1940 a singing stoker paul robeson finds work in a welsh coal mine, where he is called upon to make a grave sacrifice when a pit. Proud valley the 1940 in a welsh coal mining valley, a young man with a beautiful singing voice is called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice when a pit disaster threatens. African american singing star paul robeson heads the.
The proud valley 1940 penrose tennyson, pen tennyson. Proud valley 1940 in a small welsh mining town, emlyn parry simon lack leads the local miners choir. It was extremely rare for a black character to be presented in this way in the 1930s and 1940s, when cinema audiences were used to seeing stepin fetchit playing. The proud valley is a 1940 ealing studios film starring paul robeson. Phil morris revisits pen tennysons the proud valley, the 1940 ealing studios film starring cultural icon and political activist paul robeson. Paul robeson sings to scottish miners 1949 youtube. This rather dated parable on the need for community unity in the face of wartime tragedy was one of six films paul robeson made in britain, and it gave him the rare opportunity to escape from. The proud valley the 1940 movie, trailers, videos and more at yidio. The proud valley 1940 movies, tv, celebs, and more. Pen tennyson, 1940 as an american sailor stranded in cardiff who finds. Proud valley was directed by pen tennyson, whose early death in ww2 robbed the british movie industry of one of its more talented contributors. David goliath is a black american sailor who, stranded in cardiff, finds work in bleandy colliery, a south.
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