The Miniver Story

The Miniver Story

Theatrical release poster
Directed by H.C. Potter
Produced by Sidney Franklin
Written by George Froeschel
Ronald Millar
Jan Struther (original characters)
Starring Greer Garson
Walter Pidgeon
John Hodiak
Leo Genn
Cathy O'Donnell
Reginald Owen
Henry Wilcoxon
Music by Miklós Rózsa
Herbert Stothart
Cinematography Joseph Ruttenberg
Edited by Frank Clarke
Harold F. Kress
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release dates
October 26, 1950 (1950-10-26)
Running time
104 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $3,660,000[1]
Box office $2,224,000[1]

The Miniver Story is a 1950 film sequel to the successful 1942 film Mrs. Miniver.

Like its predecessor, it was made by MGM and starred Greer Garson in the title role, but it was filmed on location in England. The film was directed by H.C. Potter and produced by Sidney Franklin, from a screenplay by George Froeschel and Ronald Millar based on characters created by Jan Struther. The music score was by Miklós Rózsa and Herbert Stothart, with additional music by Daniele Amfitheatrof (from Mrs. Miniver) (uncredited) and the cinematography by Joseph Ruttenberg.

Greer Garson (Kay), Walter Pidgeon (Clem), Reginald Owen (Mr. Foley) and Henry Wilcoxon (Vicar) played their original roles. Also in the cast were Peter Finch (Polish officer) and James Fox in his first film appearance (Toby Miniver).

Plot

Walter Pidgeon and Greer Garson

The story, told partly in flashback and narrated by Clem Miniver, commences on VE Day as Clem and Judy return home from war service and Toby returns from a foster family in America.

Judy, a corporal driver, is loved by Tom Foley, a captain in the Royal Engineers, but she is besotted with a general (Leo Genn) married but separated and twice her age. Kay Miniver has also conducted a brief and innocent affair with an American colonel.

Clem is now restless and dissatisfied; he successfully applies for a design contract in Brazil. But Kay, unknown to him, has developed a major cardiac condition and has one year at most to live. Despite this, she persuades the general to return to his wife, leaving Judy free to marry Tom.

The wedding goes ahead. Clem, now aware of Kay's medical condition, decides to stay in London and brings Tom into his architectural practice. Satisfied that her family are safe and happy, Kay dies.

No mention is made of the eldest Miniver son, Vincent, who appeared in the earlier film, possibly because Greer Garson and Richard Ney (the actor who portrayed Vincent) had married and been divorced (1943–1947) by the time The Miniver Story was produced in 1950.

Cast

Reception

According to MGM records the film earned only $990,000 in the US and Canada but performed better elsewhere, making $1,234,000. However this was not enough to recoup the large budget and the movie recorded a loss of $2,311,000, making it MGM's most costly flop of 1950.[1][2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
  2. Scott Eyman, Lion of Hollywood: The Life and Legend of Louis B. Mayer, Robson, 2005 p 399

External links

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