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With an excellent central performance from Robeson, this Welsh coal-mining drama from Ealing proved controversial on release. Alex Davidson takes a look.

After years of portraying stereotypical black characters in American films, Paul Robeson, a devout socialist, moved to Britain, where he became a major star without compromising his integrity, playing strong, interesting characters rather than ‘negro’ caricatures. Ealing Studios’ The Proud Valley, Paul Robeson’s last British film, would prove highly controversial (and pioneering) upon its release.

Its simple, moving tale of an African-American man adopted by a Welsh coalmining community (and local choir) in the run up to WWII, concealed a fierce left-wing polemic on the struggles of the working-classes. Newspaper magnate Lord Beaverbrook banned mention of the film in his publications owing to Roberson’s pro-Russia sympathies, while Graham Greene felt Robeson’s character was nothing more than a “big black Pollyanna”. Yet watching the film today it is striking how unflinchingly realistic the representation of working-class characters still seems, and the mining disaster scene at the climax is brilliantly directed. Robeson’s performance is excellent, and he delivers superb renditions of several traditional hymns. Years later he would state: “It was the one film I could be proud of having played in”.

 

Alex Davidson on 21st December 2009
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