Customer Reviews

Valley of Decision [VHS]

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This was one of those films that I found on TV about midway through, and was instantly hooked. After that, I just HAD to see the whole thing, so I bought the video, a box of kleenex, and then the book.

This film is wonderful...One of my ultimate favorites! This was the first time I had seen Greer Garson and I thought she was wonderful. Gregory Peck was perfect, of course! He a rich steelmill owners' son, she a poor Irish housemaid. They fall in love, but can they ever be together?

I absolutely love the ending to this film. I can't tell you...you have to see it, but that's what prompted me to buy the book. I wanted to see what else happens! I confess that I prefer the movie adaptation over the book, but the movie only covers about a third of what the book has to tell. Go out and get both...you won't be sorry!

Greer Garson and a very young Gregory Peck star in this excellent movie. Peck plays Paul Scott, the son of a wealthy steel mill owner. He falls for the new maid, Mary Rafferty (Garson), in spite of the efforts of his friend and neighbor played by Jessica Tandy. Another obstacle to the relationship is Mary's father, who is a bitter cripple since he was disabled in an accident in the mill and wants his daughter to have nothing to do with the wealthy Scott family. She, however, persists in working for them, and endears herself to the entire family.

When the mill workers go on strike Mary tries to help mend things, but the situation turns ugly. She blames herself, leaving the Scott home and refusing to communicate with Paul.

Years pass and Paul's siblings want to sell the mill. Paul's mother had forseen such a time and had left Mary in an interesting position, which allows her to influence the situation.

I'm not sure if you could say this movie has a "happily-ever-after" ending, but it is satisfying. The story is interesting and the acting is top-notch. This is one of my favorite classics with two of my favorite classic actors.

Just a word of warning, if you didn't notice in the product description, this is a DVD-R, which is burned on demand--it is not the same process used to produce most commercial DVDs. Though I have purchased several of these types of movies from the Warner Archive and had no problems, the most recent one I bought is very touchy about playing in my DVD player. Sometimes it plays fine, other times I can't get the player to read the disc. The company warns that these discs may not play in DVD player/recorders, which mine is not, and most of these movies have worked fine, but you need to be aware of this when you order. If your only DVD player is also a recorder, this may not be your best option.

Greer Garson picked up one of long string of Oscar nominations for this film (losing to Joan Crawford, of all people, for Mildred Pierce). While I wasn't entirely convinced of the romantic chemistry between Garson and Gregory Peck, I think her nomination was well-deserved for other reasons, including her handling of an Irish accent (Garson was not Irish born, as she claimed through much of her life, but British) and her deft portrayal of a relatively complex character, Mary Rafferty. Garson developed a sort of mini-specialty playing bright, attractive, working-class women, and few other film actresses have pulled off this combination as successfully as she did (Meryl Streep, Susan Sarandon, and British actresses such as Julie Walters being examples of some who have). Garson also makes the most of what might be called Mary's "fatal flaw"--the high-minded stubbornness that nearly destroys her chance at love.

Peck's performance was (unsurprisingly) good too, though I don't consider this one of his best films. To me, Peck always seems more convincing in man-on-a-mission type roles (Atticus Finch, etc.) than in romantic leads. But he does have several moving scenes in which he fights to save his father's steel mill from labor strife and his wastrel siblings.

An extra-special treat in this movie is a very young Jessica Tandy, playing Peck's selfish wife, Lucille. Tandy brings poignancy and raw emotional power to the small role.

A worthwhile MGM classic.

Contrary to what one reviewer thought, Greer Garson played the character to perfection. She was every bit the character that Davenport created in her book, on which this film is based. And "annoying, uppity and full of herself" is exactly the opposite of the role that Garson portrays. See the movie and you'll see. As for chemistry in the film...it's beautiful. I couldn't imagine any other leads other than Peck and Garson. I totally recommend the book too! After you see the movie, you'll want to see what happens next. And so much more happens!

I found this movie as it was just rolling opening credits, it was near 4am and i had work the next day! Dont you know i gostuck on this adventure until i saw the final credits passing by??

Gregory Peck plays the smart, proper brother, mixed in with a family of various types of characters, he plays his role great right to the very end!

One thing i dont understand is how he (peck) ends up marrying someone who in the beginning he made it clear he did not want to marry. This goes against peck's character traits in the movie to do a "oh well i guess i will marry you then ..." type of move, he appeared to have way more class than that. But it all works out perfectly in the end and i was thrilled with the ending.

This may throw my review under a truck, but i think this may be the very first black and white film i haev ever watched, and liked!

The story was just beautiful, and it was layed out so nicely.

I have come to buy this movie so i can watch it again with my grandmother, i just know she will love it!

The Valley Of Decision is one of those sprawling, episodic, all-star novel-based dramas that were done so well in the 1940s, like How Green Was My Valley, I Remember Mama, Adam Had Four Sons, A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, Keys Of The Kingdom, etc. As in those films, the excellent performances of almost every actor enhances the dramatic impact of the film. It's about the daughter (Greer Garson) of a disabled, embittered steal mill worker (Lionel Barrymore) who goes to work as a maid for her father's ex-boss, Donald Crisp (A Dog Of Flanders, How Green Was My Valley) the owner of the Scott Steal Mill. While employed at the big house, she falls in love with one of his sons (Gregory Peck). After years of working up to it, it looks like they'll finally end up married - until a violent labor dispute involving the two fathers drives a wedge between the families.

Of course Crisp and Barrymore are perfect in their roles, as well as Garson and Peck, but the whole film rises another notch due to the cast surrounding them, including Dan Duryea (Ball Of Fire, Flight Of The Phoenix), Marsha Hunt (The Human Comedy, Chloe's Prayer), Marshall Thompson (The Basketball Fix, Daktari), Galdys Cooper (The Bishop's Wife, The Secret Garden, Etc.), Dean Stockwell (Down To The Sea In Ships, Quantum Leap), Preston Foster (Ramrod, Tomahawk, etc.), Reginald Owen (Kim, Five Weeks In A Balloon, Mary Poppins, etc.), Jessica Tandy (The Birds, Batteries Not Included), and Arthur Shields (who was Barry Fitzgerald's brother), and others. It's primarily because of the cast that I give The Valley Of Decision 5 stars.

Valley of Decision is one of the classics. It has a type of romance to it that comes at you full force. This is a clean movie that will give you "the hots".

We loved this movie. Greer Garson is so perfect and Gregory Peck, as always, is a perfect gentleman. Humorous and also very moving. It keeps you sitting on the edge of your seat right until the end - make sure you have a box of kleenex handy.

Having lived for a short time in a coal mining town and later a town with a steel plant (in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia) I could easily relate to the story. It held a lot of authenticity regarding the steel making process, and the lives of the workers.

The social stratification was still apparent in the hierarchy of the steel plant (and community) that I lived in in Cape Breton.

The movie has captured the lives of the workers perfectly as 'The salt of The Earth' as they toil for a rich owner who is at odds with the Union. When the maid falls in love with the Steel Plant Owner`s son, the story ignites into a passionate love story which , as it reaches a climax will leave a lot of viewers teary eyed.

This is a Classic story, and the acting is superb . It reminds the viewer how great the actors in those days were. I highly recommend it.

I have searched long and hard for this movie. It is so very hard to find. But thanks to you I have found it and I have really enjoyed watching it. Thank you for your prompt delivery and the quality of the film. I will definitely be ordering again. Thanks again