PICTURE FILMS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 220, 28 June 1943, Page 5

PICTURE FILMS.

ST. JAMES THEATRE. Screening; to-night at 8 p.m. and for an extended season, Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon in “Mrs Miniver,” with Teresa AViright and Reginald Ow*en. A companion piece to “Afr Chips” was found by Aletro-Goldwyn-Mayer for Greer Garson in “Airs Miniver,” Jan Struthef’s novel, the touchingly human story of an average English woman of the middle classes facing the horrors of warfare on the home front. The picture, teaming Greer Garson and AValter Pidgeon, tells of the quiet heroic courage and abiding faith of a people under air attacks and raids. Alls Aliniver and her husband Clem, live in a quiet village. Their son is at Oxford'. Ho joins the R.A.F., becomes engaged to the village belle. There are air alarms; episodes in an* shelters. Clem joins the older men, going in, ramshackle boats to aid in the fescue at Dunkirk. Life goes on among the villagers as nearly normally ns possible. Finally am, air raid wrecks the village, kills many but with calm courage and faith the villagers continue to “carry on” as they listen to their vicar in the shell-torn church. Greer Carson’s role is appealing and inspiring. Pidgeon typifies the sturdiness of the average Britisher. Dame May AVhitty, as the village noblewoman, presents a whimsical and at times earnest characterisation, Teresa Wright and Richard Ncy carry the vonng love interest, and Reginald Owen, Henry Travers and Cliristopliei Severn lend authenticity, as does Honrv AA’ilcoxom as the vicar.