Both were associated with the leftwing unity theatre and, in 1938, marshall had directed robeson in unitys plant in the sun. This strong bond meant that the proud valley, filmed on location in the mining villages of south wales and in some ways mirroring this reallife story, was the film that he felt most proud to have acted in. Dec 26, 2014 76 min drama music 6 april 1940 uk 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. In wales, the focus is on a film called the proud valley 1940 which was filmed in rhondda valley coalfields and it starred american actor and civil rights activist paul robeson. Movie typography from the proud valley 1940, directed by pen tennyson, starring leslie banks, c. Its central role was written for american singer, actor and civil rights activist paul robeson, who after years of refusing film roles from major studios, agreed to appear in. Simply because he doesnt play the stereotypical african. Apr 20, 2017 proud valley paul robeson was a truly remarkable man. It is about community, and the spirit of a man who fought for the people who welcomed him in with open arms. Hes simply one of the guys working down in the shaft trying to get their coal mine up and running again.
Proud valley showing at chapter for bfi black star season. 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. Buy recycled midoctober through midnovember save the earth and buy products made from recycled materials. Contributor names hine, lewis wickes, 18741940, photographer created published. Paul robeson sings deep river so deep that it rumbles the proud valley 1940. Pen tennysons the proud valley 1940 is, overall, a pretty good film. Filming was completed in september 1939 but producer michael balcon and director pen tennyson were forced to recut the ending of the film in the. The most complete account of valley towns production and alteration is in william alexander, film on the left. Watch the proud valley full movie in hd visit movie 87060 in a welsh coal mining valley, a young man with a beautiful singing voi. The film is remarkable for its time for its believable workingclass characters, not.
Paul robeson, edward chapman, simon lack in a welsh coal mining valley, a beloved young man is called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice when a pit disaster threatens. Theres a brand new 2k restoration of paul robesons proud. Proud valley 1940 in a small welsh mining town, emlyn parry simon lack leads the local miners choir. There, he finds work alongside the miners down the pit, and his magnificent singing voice attracts the atte. African american singing star paul robeson heads the cast as david, a black stoker seeaking work in the coal mines of wales. The proud valley was robesons final british feature and the one film that in his own words, he was proud of having played in. A new restoration of ealing studios classic0 the proud valley comes to bluray, dvd and est on march 27, 2017, as part of the vintage classics collection courtesy of studiocanal lovingly remastered, the proud valley stars the highly revered black screen actor paul robeson song of freedom, show boat, whose work was recently honoured in the bfi s black star season celebrating the. Marshal silver is run out of town under suspicion of being a triggerhappy killer after shooting a hired gun of honest john barrett. Its the uks biggest ever celebration of black screen actors. 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 disaster threatens his fellow miners.
Newly remastered, pen tennysons the proud valley, filmed on location in the heart of mining wales, has been made available as part of the bfis black star season its central role was written for american singer, actor and civil rights activist paul robeson, who after years of refusing film roles from major studios, agreed to appear in this independent production. The proud valley is a film that may be about the past, and may be about an industry that has all but come to its end in the united kingdom, but we the film is still easy to relate to. There were also others in the film that are credited with more than one task. And robeson gives a charismatic performance as the unlikely named david goliath, a genial african american, who fetches up in the small welsh village in the rhondda valley where. As david goliath, in the popular british drama the proud valley, robeson is the quintessential everyman, an american sailor who joins rankandfile welsh miners organizing against the powers that be. The proud valley 1940 full movie download full hd youtube. Filmed in south wales, the proud valley starred civil rights. Due to the unfolding situation with coronavirus covid19 we want to keep you up to date with any changes we may need to take to protect our staff and their families in line with government directives and any impact this may have to the service we provide to you, our valued customers. The proud valley 1940 letterboxd social film discovery. Newly remastered, pen tennysons the proud valley, filmed on location in the heart of mining wales, has been made available as part of the bfis black star season. In a welsh coal mining valley, a young man with a beautiful singing voice is called upon to make the ultimate. This car was built in california in 2010 and is title a.
African american singing star paul robeson heads the. April 21 26, 1945 final campaign in italy the po valley campaign began in early april with the attacks by the british 8th army and the us 5th army to capture the last remaining mountain peaks before reaching the plains of the po valley. Bfi and film hub wales have collaborated on a season called black star. But its this film that preserves that special relationship for posterity and managed to be, of all the films he made, robesons own personal. A placid life in a new town is interrupted by the reappearance of barrett, old enemies and the son of the hired gun from years ago, anderson. Show boat, a ships stoker, boards a train and winds up in a small mining town. The proud valley 1940 pen tennyson, paul robeson, edward. Proud valley was directed by pen tennyson, whose early death in ww2 robbed the british movie industry of one of its more talented. Proud was an official selection of the third annual buffalo. 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. Valley prouds annual upcoming projects include rio reforestation xxii november 2, helping to restore wildlife habit in the rgv. He finds an ally in the form of miner dick parry edward chapman, who is less interested in davids capacity for work than he. If i were to blame anybody for what this movie was lacking, it would be the person who seemed to have his finger in virtually all the piesjuan c vasquez.
Paul robeson stars as david goliath, a charismatic africanamerican seaman who washes up in a small mining village in wales. Proud is a 2004 film directed by mary pat kelly and stars veteran actor and activist ossie davis, in his final film performance. He later performed concerts in south wales and developed a strong attachment to the mining community there. Theres a brand new 2k restoration of paul robesons. It includes their passion for singing as well as the dangers and precariousness of working in a mine. The proud valley coming soon hoping to find work in wales, david goliath paul robeson. South wales, around a year before the outbreak of world war two. Valley proud s annual upcoming projects include rio reforestation xxii november 2, helping to restore wildlife habit in the rgv. Proud valley paul robeson was a truly remarkable man. Dick parry edward chapman and his wife are not one dimensional. Penrose tennyson, 1940 was written for paul robeson by herbert marshall and his wife, alfredda brilliant.
Premiered at the steel workers organizing committee convention, chicago, may 14, 1940. The proud valley 1940 pen tennyson, paul robeson, edward chapman, simon lack, drama, music february 20, 2017 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. The film is remarkable for its time for its believable workingclass characters, not caricatures. Simply home entertainment po box 7741, ringwood, bh24 9fa. David goliath is an unemployed africanamerican ships stoker who once worked down a mine for. The proud valley 1940 penrose tennyson, pen tennyson. In a welsh coal mining valley, a young man with a beautiful singing voice is called upon to. Proud valley was directed by pen tennyson, whose early death in ww2 robbed the british movie industry of one of its more talented contributors. The proud valley is a workers film, with the poor mans drama, dark. The proud valley is a 1940 ealing studios film starring paul robeson. 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.
A 1940s film about a black american miner and singer who moved to cardiff to find work has been remastered and is going on tour. Buy the proud valley on dvd with free delivery from. In a welsh coal mining valley, a beloved young man is called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice when a pit disaster threatens. The proud valley has been rereleased on dvd to mark the 70th anniversary of the original. Gateway classic cars of tampa is proud to offer this bad to the bone custom 1937 ford roadster replica. Mar 27, 2017 the proud valley is a film that may be about the past, and may be about an industry that has all but come to its end in the united kingdom, but we the film is still easy to relate to. The acting by the whole cast is very good but, of course, paul robeson delivered the most compelling performance. The motion picture was filmed in elmira ny and buffalo, ny. Both were associated with the leftwing unity theatre and, in 1938, marshall had directed robeson in unitys plant in the sun the film is remarkable for its time for its believable workingclass characters, not caricatures. A competent singer, goliaths roaring voice soon draws the. Paul robeson miner film the proud valley on show bbc news. The proud valley 1940 the movie title stills collection. The cinematography is, perhaps, the strongest aspect of the film, especially the underground scenes in the coal.
Dvd release for the proud valley starring paul robeson. Forceful and deeply moving mining drama that provided the legendary american singeractor paul robeson with what was undoubtedly his best british film role. Phil morris revisits pen tennysons the proud valley, the 1940 ealing studios film starring cultural icon and political activist paul robeson october 1957. A longdistance phone call links the welsh seaside town of porthcawl where the south wales miners have gathered for their annual eisteddfod to an undisclosed recording studio in new york, where paul robeson waits to circumvent.
He is credited with writing, directing, producing, editing and acting in this film. Pen tennyson directs this early ealing studios drama set in a welsh coal mining valley. One of the least insulting films robeson made in the uk. Filmed in the south wales coalfield, the principal welsh coal mining area, the film is about a seaman who joins a mining community. The proud valley 1940 body and soul 1925 the proud valley 1940 jack jones, simon lack, paul. David goliath robeson, a charismatic africanamerican stoker, washes up in a small welsh village where he finds work alongside the miners down the pit. It was also the first film to be premiered on radio, on february 25th 1940, when the bbc home service broadcast a sixtyminute version, reproduced from its soundtrack. Lauderdale showroom is this awesome 2010 asve mk4 roadster factory five. The columbia law school graduate was a civil rights activist, a panafricanist, a political activist, an athlete, an acclaimed actor his performances of othello in london and broadway are still the stuff of legend, and of course a singer, with one of greatest and most powerful voices ever heard. Devastated by his daughters suicide, an immigrant entrepreneur working in hightech seeks answers to his lingering questions. 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. With paul robeson, edward chapman, simon lack, rachel thomas.
The screenplay was written by kelly based on her nonfiction book proudly we served 1999. I l 1940 in a small welsh mining town, emlyn parry simon lack leads the local miners choir. The proud valley 1940 1940 s the proud valley is a unique mix of musical, disaster movie, social realist drama and wartime propaganda, all buoyed by a central performance from legendary singer paul robeson, who is somewhat stilted and often awkward when not crooning here, yet always charismatic. The events and characters portrayed in this film are fictitious. An unemployed ships stoker robeson arrives in a small welsh mining village looking for work and wins the hearts of the local community.
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