the audience applauded

disgusting, overrated, pointless

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

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

Bette Davis plays Miss Lilly Moffat, a career school teacher in a small Welsh mining town. Lilly recognizes a special intelligence in one of her students, Morgan Evans (John Dall, who received his only Academy Award nomination - Best Supporting Actor - in his first film!), and does everything she can, including manipulating the town squire (Nigel Bruce) to provide him an opportunity to go to Oxford.However, negatively influenced by others within the community who are jealous of the "teacher's pet", Morgan makes a costly mistake involving a young woman, Bessie Watty (Joan Lorring, who also received her only Oscar nomination - Best Supporting Actress). Lilly must then exert maximum effort, and ultimately make a great sacrifice, to convince Morgan that she is right about what is best, and that he should pursue the high goals she has set for him to attain.Rhys Williams and Mildred Dunnock, among others, provides support. Directed by Irving Rapper, with a screenplay by Frank Cavett and Casey Robinson that was based on the Emlyn Williams play.

To be honest, except for the fact that I was a school teacher for many years, there is little in this film that would normally appeal to me. Yet, I find it an unusually delightful film.Welsh coal miners. No interest for me there. Yet, I found the story fascinating, particularly as it related to child labor. It's a wonderful story, in places depressing, in other places heartwarming.But the strength here is the acting, starting with Bette Davis. For me, the period between 1939-1946 was Davis' best, and this is just another example of how wonderful she could be in films. And, this is slightly against type -- not a bit bitchy here! But her character is determined, and it works very well for her as the school teacher. Incidentally, the makeup making her look older is superb.It's too bad that wonderful Nigel Bruce is stuck once again playing a bit of an buffoon. Definitely typecast as the squire.John Dall, who didn't make many films, is superb. He plays the part of the young coal miner who is intellectually gifted with finesse.Rhys Williams turns in another wonderful character performance, as does Mildred Dunnock as the teacher-assistant. Why Joan Lorring was nominated for a supporting actress Oscar, I don't know.I do have an issue with the ending of the film. Yes, it is a complex moral dilemma. However, the solution to the dilemma was -- in my view -- 50% WRONG.Aside from that, I can find little in the film to criticize, and much to acclaim.

Thirty-seven yr old Bette Davis dons figure concealing padding to play a much older Lily Moffatt, who tries to bring education to a small Welsh coal mining town right before 1900. She inherits property and the community is a bit standoffish from the new interloper. She notices young men march to and from work in the coal mine and feels there has to be something better for the younger men. The thoughts of building a school gets the thumbs down from the town Squire(Nigel Bruce)and of course the villagers follow his lead. Miss Moffitt turns her own home into a school to teach just fundamentals to anyone who wishes. A young coal miner, Morgan Evans(John Dall)catches her eye showing promise. Her steadfast tutoring prepares him for the chance to take an entrance exam for Oxford University. She charms the Squire into sponsoring the young man. On Morgan's return to wait for his test marks, a young woman named Bessie(Joan Lorring)arrives to spoil any good news...for she has had the young scholar's child. Her mind is set on blackmail for some of Morgan's scholarship funds. It will take some great human sacrifice to allow the former coal miner to continue his higher education. There are some scenes to provoke human conscience. The workers singing on the way to and from work is definitely unrealistic. Nevertheless THE CORN IS GREEN is a heartfelt human drama. Other players include: Mildred Dunnock, Rhys Williams, Rosalind Ivan and Thomas Louden.

With her degree, an inherited estate in a small Welsh village, and a modest amount of money in the bank, Miss Lilly Moffat--a confirmed and not-reluctant spinster in 1895 who shows early signs of women's liberation--opens a school on her property for the uneducated locals and the illiterate boys who work in the nearby coal mine. Surely finding a hidden scholar amongst her pupils would bring Miss Moffat pride, but it may require a life-long sacrifice from her... Terrific drama from Warner Bros. with light and sentimental moments, music from the song-happy miners and students, and theatrical yet effective performances from the large cast. Bette Davis brings a persnickety wisdom to Miss Moffat, a clipped yet jaunty stride which invites warm human interaction during the infrequent moments when she's not all business. The students do not worship the regal Miss Moffat in fearful admiration, nor do the townspeople question her reign over the educational system--everyone, in fact, falls right in league with her, as if she were the Pied Piper of teachers. The background noise is kept to a blessed minimum in order to concentrate on the relationship between teacher and student; quite amazingly, each of the many characters blossoms as a result. Smartly-attuned adaptation of Emlyn Williams' play provides the perfect vehicle for Davis (seldom better), as well as John Dall (Oscar-nominated as the miner whose early essay signals to his teacher that he may have much more to offer than meets the eye). Slightly hoked-up near the finale, but still a sprightly, hearty film, beautifully produced. *** from ****