This was only Gregory Peck's third movie, but it one of my very favorites that he starred in. And, I like it for 2 reasons. First, the star pairing of Peck with Greer Garson, and second, a sort of battle between 2 wonderful character actors -- Lionel Barrymore and Donald Crisp.
You do need to understand that this is not only a drama, but also a very serious story. More serious than most dramas. Set in the steel-era of Pittsburgh, Peck's family owns one of the major steel plants, while Garson's family is simply Irish workers in the mills...except that her father (Lionel Barrymore) is an embittered old man who was crippled in a mill accident many years before. Garson goes to work in the mansion of Peck's family, including his father (Donald Crisp) and mother (Gladys Cooper), and 2 brothers and 1 sister (Marsha Hunt, Dan Duryea, and Marshall Thompson). Garson and Peck almost immediately fall in love, but Garson feels the love in inappropriate due to their different stations in life. So, she moves to Europe with Peck's sister. However, when father Crisp learns they were in loves, he calls her back, just in time for the showdown between the union and Crisp...when both patriarchs are killed. Film over. Not! A few years later, after Peck marries another woman, Peck's mother leaves her share of the mill to Garson, then dies, and it is Garson's vote which saves the mill for Peck. Peck leaves his meddlesome wife and Peck and Garson ride off into the sunset...well, at least off in a carriage.
Is there romance? Yes, but it is overshadowed by the social issues related to mining and class distinctions between miners and owners. It's all quite interesting...but serious.
Garson was nominated for an Academy Award for this picture, and she is superb as the Irish worker bee. Peck is excellent, as well. Donald Crisp turns in a superb performance and outshines Lionel Barrymore, who plays the villain here. The other siblings previously mentioned do their jobs. Jessica Tandy (whom Peck marries here) is also good at being cold. Gladys Cooper is excellent as the mother of Peck, here, but she was always such a fine character actress.
It's not easy to fault this film, but...the musical score sometimes sounds more like a Western. And, I felt that Reginald Owens' role as a servant was over the top. But, other than that, the movie is excellent and well worth watching. And, one for the DVD shelf.
You do need to understand that this is not only a drama, but also a very serious story. More serious than most dramas. Set in the steel-era of Pittsburgh, Peck's family owns one of the major steel plants, while Garson's family is simply Irish workers in the mills...except that her father (Lionel Barrymore) is an embittered old man who was crippled in a mill accident many years before. Garson goes to work in the mansion of Peck's family, including his father (Donald Crisp) and mother (Gladys Cooper), and 2 brothers and 1 sister (Marsha Hunt, Dan Duryea, and Marshall Thompson). Garson and Peck almost immediately fall in love, but Garson feels the love in inappropriate due to their different stations in life. So, she moves to Europe with Peck's sister. However, when father Crisp learns they were in loves, he calls her back, just in time for the showdown between the union and Crisp...when both patriarchs are killed. Film over. Not! A few years later, after Peck marries another woman, Peck's mother leaves her share of the mill to Garson, then dies, and it is Garson's vote which saves the mill for Peck. Peck leaves his meddlesome wife and Peck and Garson ride off into the sunset...well, at least off in a carriage.
Is there romance? Yes, but it is overshadowed by the social issues related to mining and class distinctions between miners and owners. It's all quite interesting...but serious.
Garson was nominated for an Academy Award for this picture, and she is superb as the Irish worker bee. Peck is excellent, as well. Donald Crisp turns in a superb performance and outshines Lionel Barrymore, who plays the villain here. The other siblings previously mentioned do their jobs. Jessica Tandy (whom Peck marries here) is also good at being cold. Gladys Cooper is excellent as the mother of Peck, here, but she was always such a fine character actress.
It's not easy to fault this film, but...the musical score sometimes sounds more like a Western. And, I felt that Reginald Owens' role as a servant was over the top. But, other than that, the movie is excellent and well worth watching. And, one for the DVD shelf.