The Proud Valley

The Proud Valley

Year: 1940

Runtime: 76 mins

Language: English

Director: Pen Tennyson

Drama

In a Welsh coal mining valley, a young man with a beautiful singing voice is called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice when a pit disaster threatens.

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Timeline & Setting – The Proud Valley (1940)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Proud Valley (1940). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1939

The story unfolds in the late 1930s, culminating in 1939. It follows the pre-war austerity and rising tensions as Europe moves toward World War II, including the day after Poland's invasion when a march to London is proposed.

Location

Wales

Set in a small Welsh mining town where coal dominates daily life. The landscape is industrial, with terraces, a mine, and a close-knit community. The town's fortunes hinge on the mine's operation, shaping work, risk, and collective singing that underpins its social fabric.

❄️ Welsh town 🏭 Mining 🎭 Drama

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:10

Main Characters – The Proud Valley (1940)

Meet the key characters of The Proud Valley (1940), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

David Goliath (Paul Robeson)

An African-American sailor who deserts his ship in Wales and seeks honest work in a Welsh mining town. He brings resolve, a powerful singing voice, and a willingness to challenge prejudice, ultimately paying with his life in a heroic effort to free his fellow miners.

✊ Racism ⚒️ Miner 🤝 Resilience

Dick Parry (Noel Howlett)

Choir conductor and a paternal figure in the town, who rescues David by offering him lodging and a mining job. He embodies leadership and communal aspiration, and dies in the mine disaster, leaving a memory that inspires the town.

🎶 Choir 🤝 Mentor 👪 Family

Emlyn Parry (Simon Lack)

Dick Parry's eldest son, a passionate and impulsive miner who pushes to reopen the mine and leads the London march. His fervor and bold actions drive the plot forward, but he also faces the consequences of risk-taking.

🔥 Impulsiveness 💪 Determination 👪 Family ties

Gwen Owen (Janet Johnson)

Emlyn's fiancée, who insists on marrying despite poverty, challenging social expectations. Her stance motivates Emlyn to take action, highlighting themes of love and defiance against economic barriers.

💖 Love 💪 Determination 👨‍👧 Family

Mrs Parry (Rachel Thomas)

Dick Parry's wife and the mother of several children, she embodies endurance and concern for the family's welfare in hard times after the mine disaster.

👨‍👩‍👧 Family 💪 Resilience 🧭 Struggle

Mrs Owen (Dilys Davies)

Gwen's mother who challenges the couple's plans by arguing that Emlyn cannot support Gwen financially. Her stance reflects social expectations and the pressures faced by working-class families.

🗣️ Social pressure 👪 Family 💬 Opinion

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:10

Major Themes – The Proud Valley (1940)

Explore the central themes of The Proud Valley (1940), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

✊ Racism

David Goliath, an African-American sailor, faces racist objections as he seeks work in the Welsh town. The film examines prejudice in the workplace and how a diverse outsider becomes part of the community through determination and resilience. It portrays how solidarity can challenge discriminatory attitudes, even within a tight-knit workforce.

⚒️ Labor

The mining work is the town's lifeblood, and its collapse forces families into poverty and reliance on social benefits. After the disaster, workers must cope with unemployment and the uncertain future of the mine. The attempt to reopen the mine represents collective action to secure livelihoods and dignity.

🎶 Community & Sacrifice

The town's choir symbolizes unity and shared identity, carried forward as a memorial for Dick Parry. Music binds neighbors and families, offering hope amid hardship. Sacrifice appears in David's actions during the disaster and the group’s willingness to risk everything to restore work and community.

🔥 Disaster & Resolve

A gas-triggered fire devastates the mine, trapping miners and testing their courage. The tense rescue attempt, followed by a fateful decision at the exit, drives home the cost of ambition and hope. The revival of mining afterward completes the arc of resilience and communal resolve.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:10

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The Proud Valley Summary

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The Proud Valley Summary

The Proud Valley Timeline

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The Proud Valley Timeline

More About The Proud Valley

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More About The Proud Valley

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