Doesn't do much justice to the first movie.
The Miniver Story is sequel to Mrs Miniver, made in 1942 at the height of World War 2. That movie was fantastic - a gritty portrayal of the lives of average English folk during WW2. It deservedly won the 1943 Best Picture Oscar.
This, the sequel, now picks up with the same family with WW2 having just ended. I liked the idea: having shown them during the war, show how people recover after war, get on with their lives and live with peace.
Fine in idea, but not great in execution. As far as examining lives recovering from war, this movie barely scratches the surface. It dwells more on melodrama and soap-opera-like plots. Much more superficial than anticipated and quite disappointing.
This said, it has some decent story lines and is reasonably engaging.
Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon reprise their roles from the first movie. I found Pidgeon irritating in the first. He's more bearable in this one.
Primary irritant instead goes to James Fox, as their son Toby. Luckily his screen time is limited.
Worth watching for completeness but it won't enhance your memory of Mrs Miniver. Probably best to avoid this so that the original stays as the masterpiece it is.
The Miniver Story is sequel to Mrs Miniver, made in 1942 at the height of World War 2. That movie was fantastic - a gritty portrayal of the lives of average English folk during WW2. It deservedly won the 1943 Best Picture Oscar.
This, the sequel, now picks up with the same family with WW2 having just ended. I liked the idea: having shown them during the war, show how people recover after war, get on with their lives and live with peace.
Fine in idea, but not great in execution. As far as examining lives recovering from war, this movie barely scratches the surface. It dwells more on melodrama and soap-opera-like plots. Much more superficial than anticipated and quite disappointing.
This said, it has some decent story lines and is reasonably engaging.
Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon reprise their roles from the first movie. I found Pidgeon irritating in the first. He's more bearable in this one.
Primary irritant instead goes to James Fox, as their son Toby. Luckily his screen time is limited.
Worth watching for completeness but it won't enhance your memory of Mrs Miniver. Probably best to avoid this so that the original stays as the masterpiece it is.