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The Valley of Decision, 1945

posted 22 years ago by georgef
14 replies | jump to latest

This has been one of my favorite films since it appeared in 1945. With a cast including Greer Garson and a very young Gregory Peck, along with a whole stable of MGM stars, I have been amazed over the years that it has not enjoyed a wide audience. It has been shown on very rare occasions on television; it never was released on laserdisc. It did appear on VHS but whether it is currently available I don't know. Based on a novel by Marcia Davenport, it dramatizes a love affair between a housemaid and the young scionich, steel manufacturing family. I am now wondering if, with your help, some of us can't produce some demand for its DVD release. I would love to see it with a pristine picture and good sound. Is anyone else interested?

[–] neighturboy 15 years ago

The DVD-R is being released today, 2/17/2010, by Warner Archives. Details and limited artwork (as usual for this type of release) at classicflix.com.

[–] BarryTrexel 14 years ago

This is truly one of MGMs finest films of the 1940s. Greagory Peck, Greer Garson, Lionel Barrymore, and Jessica Tandy were all superb in it. If Crawford didn't give her brilliant comeback performance in "Mildred Pierce" that same year, the award would have hopefully gone to Garson. It's a thought provoking film dealing with subjects that include the ongoing disfunction of a wealthy family, romance between the classes, and workers & the exploitation of workers. Tay Garnett's direction is fluid and the performances are some of the best of the period.

[–] kenny-164 9 years ago

Regarding Crawford's Oscar for Mildred Pierce, I understand why she got it, but imo Garson's performance here was better.

But don't forget also in the running was Gene Tierney for Leave Her to Heaven, her only Oscar nomination, and her follow up to Laura.

All great performances. My personal favorite is between Tierney and Garson.