It’s no secret that the Hollywood Comet loves musicals.
In 2010, I revealed I had seen 400 movie musicals over the course of eight years. Now that number is over 600. To celebrate and share this musical love, here is my weekly feature about musicals.

The Proud Valley, poster, Paul Robeson, 1940. (Photo by LMPC via Getty Images)

This week’s musical:
The Proud Valley (1940) – Musical #801

Studio:
Ealing Studios

Director:
Pen Tennyson

Starring:
Paul Robeson, Edward Chapman, Simon Lack, Rachel Thomas, Edward Rigby, Dilys Thomas, Janet Johnson, Charles Williams, Jack Jones, Dilys Davies, Clifford Evans, Allan Jeayes, George Merritt, Edward Lexy

Plot:
American David Goliath (Robeson) leaves his ship when he arrives in Wales. He hops on a freight and ends in a small town. Hearing a choir, conducted by Dick Parry (Chapman), David stops to sing outside to sing along. Dick Parry is stunned by David’s beautiful voice and hopes he will sing with the miner choir in competition. Dick also invites David to come stay with his family and helps him get a job with him in the coal mines. When disaster strikes the mines and closes them down, David helps by walking with the miners to London to get them open and working again.

Trivia:
• Filmed in Wales
• One of only three films directed by Pen Tennyson, who was killed in action in 1941 during World War II.
• Paul Robeson’s character was based on a real person from West Virginia who found his way to Wales, according to Robeson’s biographer 
• The onset of World War II changed the story, when the miners are walking to London and seeing the headlines, according to a historian on British film. 
• Released in the United States under the title “The Tunnel.”

Highlights:
• Paul Robeson singing

Notable Songs:
• “You Can’t Stop Us Singing” performed by the chorus
• “Lord, God of Abraham” performed by Paul Robeson
• “Ar Hyd y Nos (All Through the Night)” performed by Paul Robeson and the chorus
• “Thanks Be to God” performed by Paul Robeson and the chorus
• “Land of My Fathers” performed by Paul Robeson and the chorus

My review:
In an era when Black actors were relegated to playing service industry workers or comedic tropes, Paul Robeson refused to accept those roles.

Robeson also uniquely held leading man roles during this time — rather than playing a railroad porter or servant — in films released by mainstream studios. One of these was including EMPEROR JONES where he played the title character, SONG OF FREEDOM and this week’s Musical Monday, THE PROUD VALLEY (1940).

Robeson agreed to make THE PROUD VALLEY after declining roles from major studios for two years. He agreed to appear in this film, because it was an opportunity to play a real person and “not the caricature he is always represented to be on the screen,” according to his biographer. 

In the film, Robeson plays David, who is a sailor who leaves his ship when it arrives in Wales. David rides on a freight train and hikes until he comes across a small Welsh town. When David hears a miner choir singing, led by Dick Parry, he stops outside the window and sings along. Dick is stunned by David’s beautiful voice and hopes he will sing with the miner choir in competition. Dick also invites David to come stay with his family and helps him get a job with him in the coal mines. When disaster strikes the mines and closes them down, David helps by walking with the miners to London to get them open and working again.

Filmed in Wales, Robeson is said to have loved Welsh people and filming in the country. THE PROUD VALLEY is also said to be one of Robeson’s favorite films that he made, according to a Turner Classic Movies article.

The plot of the film was changed due to the outbreak of World War II after Hitler invaded Poland. The film had a different ending, but was revised due to the war. The director, Pen Tennyson, was also killed a year later in World War II. He was also the husband of actress, Nova Pilbeam. 

THE PROUD VALLEY is a lovely but sad film. While Robeson’s character, David, is welcomed by most of the Welsh miners, some speak out against working with him in the mines, because of his race. However, the film feels ahead of its time, as other miners speak out on David’s behalf. However, though David makes friends with miners and helps them, he also does it at his own expense.

The music in the film is gorgeous, both performed by the chorus and Robeson.

Overall, THE PROUD VALLEY is quite beautiful, but also will leave you rather sad. Certainly recommended.

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