Mrs. Miniver (1942)

Nominated for 12 Oscars, winner of 6 including best picture. This war based film was credited by Winston Churchill as doing more for the war effort than a fleet of ships. The title character is played by Greer Garson who won the Oscar and set the record for the longest acceptance speech in Oscar history [5 1/2 minutes].

The film begins with Mrs. Miniver shopping for a hat and Mr. Miniver shopping for a new car. On the train home she sees the British military starting to take action and before you know it the war has started and her son has enlisted. The film is more about a typical family experience during wartime. Not about a soldier, but about a mother who has a husband volunteering for dangerous tasks, who has to hide with her terrified kids in a bomb shelter during a Nazi air raid, and who has to witness a lived one die.

The film is quite powerful, and the sermon by the priest makes it a propaganda film. The message is clearly that war, although difficult is necessary in the [then] current circumstances. Well acted story, I don't know if it would have been written and acted the same if it wasn't during World War II, it really captures the era well.

Last of all, it isn't an Oscar film people talk about. It isn't on the list of most deserving, nor is it on people's list of ones that didn't deserve the Oscar. I don't hear people talking at it as a "favorite," so if you are planning on watching all the Oscar winners you will find this one to be good, not great, but not difficult like many others from the pre-50's.

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035093/

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