One of the TEN great films that Davis worked on with Director Irving Rapper, "The Corn is Green" tells the true story of a Welsh school marm who takes on the town. The first big name we see is the pompous "Squire", played by Nigel Bruce, who was Dr. Watson for so many years in all those Sherlock Holmes stories. Davis could play any part, and didn't care how bad or frumpy she looked, as long as she could sink her teeth into the part and make it a strong personality. That's just what she does here as the self-made teacher, Miss Moffat, determined to educate the town's poor workers, who sing on the way to and from work. She needs the help of Mr. Jone's (Rhys Williams, who had a role in How Green was my Valley). At 115 minutes, they pack a lot into the story, including several songs by the Saint Lukes Episcopal Chorus, which had performed in about 20 films in the 1930s and 1940s. Cute bits by Thomas Louden as the old man doing his best to learn. Also Joan Lorring as Bessie Watty, one of the antagonists.
Review of The Corn Is Green
