Cathardincu Surprisingly incoherent and boring

AniInterview Sorry, this movie sucks

Ensofter Overrated and overhyped

Kien Navarro Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

gkeith_1 I portrayed Miss Moffatt in acting class. This was scene work from The Corn Is Green. I had the lead part.I had to learn to know the character of Miss Moffatt. She is a strong-willed school teacher who wishes to increase the educational opportunities of children in the historic Welsh coal mining times in which child labor is exploited. There are no child labor laws here.I, as Miss Moffatt, am interested particularly in the education of Morgan Evans. He is my Teacher's Pet. He is illiterate, plus ignorant in the ways of the outside world. He is backward but promising. Perhaps I can instill in him a yearning to read, write and learn unlimited subject matter.My scene study included sitting on top of the hill of Moel Hiraeth in Wales, thinking about Morgan's future and how I can motivate him to want to eventually go to college. I believe that he has the intelligence needed, but that he has to work toward developing that ability.This time period is toward the end of the nineteenth century. Children do not necessarily have compulsory education, and they work all day in dangerous, filthy and unprotected environments earning small pay for their parents. Child labor laws were to come later in history, at least in the early twentieth century for the United States. Children, later, were raised to value education as a preliminary for the work world.I was told that Ethel Barrymore had played Miss Moffatt on Broadway. Later, I saw this film of The Corn Is Green starring Bette Davis.Morgan Evans in this movie is snarly and obnoxious. In my scene study, my play partner portrayed Morgan as more sympathetic. We never got to the part about Bessie Watty, she of the conniving ways and big mouth. Bessie Watty would have been a rival for Miss Moffatt's affections, since my director told me to portray Miss Moffatt as also romantically interested in Morgan Evans.In the Bette Davis movie, Morgan Evans is tall and rather cute -- after all of that coal soot is cleaned from his face. He is way younger than Miss Moffatt, but what the hey. He becomes a hunk, and for a stereotypical old maid school teacher perhaps he would be her only chance.The Corn Is Green: when you are down in a coal mine, you can look up and perhaps see a hole through which the sun shines. You can see yellow corn growing there, growing down into the coal mine. The long stalks are green. The corn husks are green. The green young man grows into the mature man, a citizen of the world. Or at least, so Miss Moffatt thinks.Ten out of ten.Smashing.Powerful.

SnoopyStyle It's 1895 in the small remote Welsh village of Glansarno. Schoolteacher Lilly Moffat (Bette Davis) is left a building by her uncle. Everybody expected a man and is surprised especially her degree in Master of Arts. She is dismayed by the illiterate children working in the coal mines and she sets up a school for them. Safe Mr. Jones and spinster Miss Ronberry are enlisted to help. Her housekeeper Mrs. Watty tries to be helpful but her daughter Bessie (Joan Lorring) is quite a gossiping schemer. The Squire who owns most of the town including a half-share of the mine opposes Moffat's school. She takes an interest in promising student Morgan Evans (John Dall) who she hopes to go to Oxford University.This is a simple traditional proper principled woman coming to rescue poor disadvantaged kids. The 'kids' could look a bit younger. John Dall is pass his mid-20s. Although both him and Joan Lorring did get Oscar nominations for their performance. This is workable formulaic film.

jotix100 When Miss Lilly Moffat decided to settle in a small Welsh village, little prepared her for the horrible conditions all around her new surroundings. The coal mines were not far away, so it was inevitable to see the mainly teen aged boys going to work, and worst yet, seeing them return home covered in coal dust. In spite of their hard life, the lads always sang the country airs they loved so well.Miss Moffat decided against her better judgment to start a school for the locals because she sees the need to bring education to the poor rural area. With the help of two other teachers, Mr. Jones and Miss Ronberry, the classes begin. The Squire, an unofficial sort of mayor, was not too keen in the idea, perhaps because his own interests in the mine. He could see that learning to read and write would make the people challenge his authority, his knowledge and his status.With a lot of patience, Miss Moffat concentrates in one boy, Morgan Evans, because she realizes he has potential to make something out of himself. Morgan, in turn, gets the inspiration and support from the tireless Lilly Moffat. When she decides to nominate him for a scholarship to Oxford, Morgan is taken by surprise, but goes along with her plans, which almost get derailed when he has a night of passion with the daughter of the cook, Bessie. Miss Moffat, who learns about how Bessie has her own plans for Morgan, comes to the rescue."The Corn is Green" was an enormous hit on the American theater. The leading queen of the New York stage, Ethel Barrymore, made an unforgettable Miss Moffat and became a legend for her brilliant take on the character. Warner Bros. made an interesting choice when they entrusted Bette Davis, the brightest star of the studio to portray Lilly Moffat. This was one of her best performances, and yet, this picture didn't help much her career.As directed by Irving Rapper, the film kept its theatrical flavor. The adaptation opened the play, but not enough. For John Dall, a theater actor, this was his first film. He held his own playing against Ms. Davis. He went to give an inspired performance, worthy of his character. Mildred Dunnock appears as Ms. Ronberry and Rhys Williams is the loyal Mr. Jones. Nigel Bruce and Joan Lorring have also good moments in the film.The film is recommended to Bette Davis fans because she made Lilly Moffat credible and did wonders with the role.

Kevin Shropshire (kevshrop) The Corn is Green is definitely one of my favorite movies of all time. Thoroughly engaging and full of comic as well as dramatic moments. Bette Davis is fantastic and is backed up by a varied and talented cast. It's sentimental and sharp. A perfect blend. It gets overlooked so often by "best lists" and it's a shame. I remember the first time I saw it back in the late 1980's. I wondered how such a treasure could be ignored for so long. I hope it gets released to DVD soon. Unfortunately the current print that's on VHS and shown on Turner Classic Movies is worn and looks like it's falling apart. Maybe that print is all that's available. No matter. Don't pass up a chance on seeing this cinematic gem. This is great movie making and theatre all in one.