This movie would be a GREAT film to watch after watching the wonderful HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY. Both are about rural Wales and deal with the simple coal mining families.
Bette Davis plays an Englishwoman who comes to a rural town in Wales and is appalled by the ignorance of the people, as hardly any of them can read and write. So, she sets up a school in her home and devotes her life to teaching students of all ages. Later in the film, she finds a star student who has a chance to make something of himself and leave this poor town for Oxford. But, at the same time, a very annoying little tart tries her best to de-rail this--mostly because she COULD. The tart is thrilled that the young man bound for Oxford is the father of her soon-to-be-born child--not because she cares at all for him but because it seemed to fill her with self-importance and power. Well, through the selfless efforts of Ms. Davis, this is resolved and the young bloke goes on to make something of himself.
The film is very well-crafted--with exceptional acting by all (the Welsh accents were good and Ms. Davis did well with her English accent), direction and script. A nice film all around and well worth your time.
By the way, the 1979 made for TV remake, starring Katharine Hepburn, it also WELL worth seeing. In fact, I think you should consider watching both!
Bette Davis plays an Englishwoman who comes to a rural town in Wales and is appalled by the ignorance of the people, as hardly any of them can read and write. So, she sets up a school in her home and devotes her life to teaching students of all ages. Later in the film, she finds a star student who has a chance to make something of himself and leave this poor town for Oxford. But, at the same time, a very annoying little tart tries her best to de-rail this--mostly because she COULD. The tart is thrilled that the young man bound for Oxford is the father of her soon-to-be-born child--not because she cares at all for him but because it seemed to fill her with self-importance and power. Well, through the selfless efforts of Ms. Davis, this is resolved and the young bloke goes on to make something of himself.
The film is very well-crafted--with exceptional acting by all (the Welsh accents were good and Ms. Davis did well with her English accent), direction and script. A nice film all around and well worth your time.
By the way, the 1979 made for TV remake, starring Katharine Hepburn, it also WELL worth seeing. In fact, I think you should consider watching both!