Mrs. Miniver

Mrs. Miniver, box-office hit motion picture about a British family enduring the hardships of World War II (1939-1945). Released in 1942, the film won six Academy Awards, including best picture, best actress, best director, and best cinematography. Led by Mrs. Miniver (played by Greer Garson) and her husband Clem (Walter Pidgeon), the Miniver clan helps out with the war effort against the Germans. This movie was made before the United States entered the war, and helped sway public opinion toward joining the war.

Director

• William Wyler

Cast

• Greer Garson (Mrs. Kay Miniver)
• Walter Pidgeon (Clem Miniver)
• Teresa Wright (Carol Beldon)
• Dame May Whitty (Lady Beldon)
• Henry Travers (Mr. Ballard)
• Reginald Owen (Foley)
• Miles Mander (German agent's voice)
• Henry Wilcoxon (Vicar)
• Richard Ney (Vin Miniver)
• Clare Sandars (Judy Miniver)
• Christopher Severn (Toby Miniver)
• Brenda Forbes (Gladys, the housemaid)
• Rhys Williams (Horace Perkins)
• Marie de Becker (Ada, the cook)
• Helmut Dantine (German flier)
• Mary Field (Miss Spriggins)
• Tom Conway (Man)
• St. Luke's Choristers (Choral voices)
• Paul Scardon (Nobby)
• Ben Webster (Ginger)
• Aubrey Mather (George, the innkeeper)
• Forrester Harvey (Huggins)
• John Abbott (Fred, the porter)
• Connie Leon (Simpson, the maid)
• Billy Bevan (Conductor)
• Florence Wix (Woman with dog)
• Bobby Hale (Old man)
• Alice Monk (Lady passenger)
• Ottola Nesmith (Saleslady)
• Douglas Gordon (Porter)
• Gerald Oliver Smith (Car dealer)
• Alec Craig (Joe)
• Clara Reid (Mrs. Huggins)
• Harry Allen (William)
• Leslie Vincent (Dancing partner)
• John Burton (Halliday)
• Leonard Carey (Haldon's butler)
• Eric Lonsdale (Marston)
• Guy Bellis (Barman)
• Charles Irwin (Mac)
• Ian Wolfe (Dentist)
• David Thursby (Farmer)
• Charles Bennett (Milkman)
• Arthur Wimperis (Sir Henry)
• David Clyde (Carruthers)
• Colin Campbell (Bickles)
• Herbert Clifton (Doctor)
• Leslie Francis (Doctor)
• David Dunbar (Men in store)
• Art Berry, Sr. (Men in store)
• Sidney D'Albrook (Men in store)
• Gene Byram (Glee club member)
• Virginia Bassett (Glee club member)
• Aileen Carlyle (Glee club member)
• Irene Denny (Glee club member)
• Herbert Evans (Glee club member)
• Eula Morgan (Glee club member)
• Vernon Steele (Glee club member)
• Vivie Steele (Glee club member)
• Marek Windheim (Glee club member)
• Tudor Williams (Glee club member)
• Kitty Watson (Contestant)
• Hugh Greenwood (Contestant)
• Sybil Bacon (Contestant)
• Flo Benson (Contestant)
• Harold Howard (Judge)
• Billy Engle (Townsman)
• Louise Bates (Miniver guest)

Awards

• Academy Award for Best Picture (1942)
• Academy Award for Best Actress (1942): Greer Garson
• Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (1942): Teresa Wright
• Academy Award for Best Director (1942): William Wyler
• Academy Award for Best Writing—Screenplay (1942): George Froeschel, James Hilton, Claudine West, Arthur Wimperis
• Academy Award for Best Cinematography—Black & White 1942: Joseph Ruttenberg

Trivia

• After the film’s release, Greer Garson married Richard Ney, who played her character’s son in this film.

Quote

• Carol Beldon: “I know how comfortable it is to curl up with a nice, fat book full of big words and think you're going to solve all the problems of the universe. But you're not, you know. A bit of action is required now and then.”