I hardly know where to start - so perhaps with the name of the town GLANSARNO. Since it is supposed to be set in the remote countryside of Wales, perhaps PONTSARNO or LLANSARNO or even TRESARNO would make it more believable. The FAQ asks what is the meaning of the name and DOESN'T EVEN ANSWER IT!! Most mining towns were NOT remote, and in 1895 were connected by railways.
Oh dear, and what choices for the songs the miners sang travelling from work - hard songs even for the many excellent Welsh choirs and then near the end what an insult to have the pupils since one of the most well-known and famous Welsh songs 'Ar Hyd Y Nos' (All Through the Night') in ENGLISH!!! Most English speakers have trouble with Welsh and so to have a crafty illiterate Bessie Watty sing a beautiful song in perfect Welsh to the apple of her lusty eyes is also so unbelievable.
Can't believe that to advertise the school to a town of illiterate and predominately Welsh-speaking townsfolk, Miss Moffat decides to use posters!!! That would not work and again - the poster of course is in English. Add to that, the English were distrusted and she would have needed to work hard very hard to gain acceptance.
I can't believe there was anyone connected with the film who knew ANYTHING of Welsh country life and although many small independent 'schools' existed, every mining town had a State School by 1895 - they were not 'remote'.
The stand-out character was John Dall and the only other believable characters were Rhys Williams (Mr Jones), Mildred Dunnock (Miss Ronberry) and Rosalind Ivan (Mrs Watty). Bette Davis depicted a strong character but one without empathy, love and conviction so necessary for her role as an educator. The imperious, isolated and punishing character she portrayed would not have gone well with the villagers or the potential students. A mine-owner (50% share) squire would have been feared rather than loved and although I like the bumbling Nigel Bruce I thought him poorly cast.
When one sees a 'true' mining town so excellently depicted in 'How Green Was My Valley' it is truly the apogee when compared this film - the nadir in so many respects.
Review of The Corn Is Green
