User reviews

Although this is not the best of sequels it is still watchable. The main problem is that the actors playing Toby and Judy are so unlike the ones in the previous film, also the character of Vin has been completely left out altogether. I have heard it stated that the character played by Theresa Wright is somehow brought back to life. This is totally incorrect. In the original film she played Carol who became the Minivers' daughter in law. That character does not appear in this film. Whilst not as good as the first Miniver film it still has its merits, mainly the performances of Greer Garson and Walter Pigeon who still convince as Kay and Clem Miniver. In my opinion it's worth a watch as long as you don't expect too much. The ending though is very effective.

After avoiding this sequel for so long because it has only 1 star in reviews,I decided to watch it today.

I was pleasantly surprised and quite enjoyed it. It can't be compared with the classic Mrs Miniver because that was legendary, but this stands on its own two feet as an interesting if not terribly exciting film.

It gives an insight into what people had to suffer after the war, because their lives were so different during 1939 to 1945.

Greer Garson gives her usual immaculate performance and is ably supported by Walter Pidgeon.

How can anything with Greer Garson in be other than enjoyable? :)

Mrs Miniver, while not completely flawless, is a superb film and quite rightly received 6 Oscar wins and a further 6 nominations. It was a very powerful and touching film that was beautifully made and superbly acted and directed. I was expecting very little from The Miniver Story judging from what has been said about it. After watching, it was a far better sequel than expected though admittedly it was unnecessary and is nowhere near as good. The script is very soap-opera-ish, skim-the-surface quality and in places caked in over-sentimentality, something that Mrs Miniver- for a melodrama- managed to avoid. The story does have compelling moments and isn't completely tedious, but because this is no longer set in the war the drama is not as emotionally investing or as tense, the characterisations(especially the children, where there is an aforementioned glaring omission) even sketchier. You care about Mrs and Clem, particularly the former, but the rest we don't know enough about. H.C.Potter's direction is competent and gets the job done, but it lacks the tightness and nuances that made William Wyler's direction add so much to the film. The Miniver Story looks beautiful though, with sumptuous period detail and photography that is both moody and luminous. The music is nicely understated, and there are bright spots in the story. Parts of it are heart-warming, the ending is heart-breaking as is the scene on the staircase and there is a funny scene demonstrating the Home Run. The acting is good, especially Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon, Garson is very sincere and touching and Pidgeon acts with understated dignity, the two of them work wonderfully together. James Fox makes a very confident film debut and John Hodiak while not having a lot to do acquits himself well. Leo Genn and Reginald Owen are fine as well, in fact all the support cast are but you do miss May Witty, Teresa Wright and Henry Travers. All in all, not anywhere near as good a sequel and is somewhat unnecessary but while very problematic I found The Miniver Story better than anticipated. 6/10 Bethany Cox

Having finally seen this movie, and being a major fan of "Mrs. Miniver", I can definitely say that it was NOT a "weak script" or one to be skipped, as other people have stated.

It's just a nice, warm, well-done movie showing the time period was like after WWII, that's all. People DID have conflicts, couples when the soldier returned, etc.

Some have commented, negatively, on the absence of Vin, or Vincent, the oldest Miniver child from the previous movie. Richard Ney, who played him, and Greer Garson were married after the first one, and the marriage was a stormy one, and ended two years later. In the first movie, I thought it was the Vin character who was weak, and a bit of a whiner. In the movie story, he might have been captured by enemy forces and nobody've had heard from him again. It did happen.

It's 1945 London. It's VE day. Kay Miniver (Greer Garson) is brought to tears hearing Churchill's announcement. Her husband Clem (Walter Pidgeon), daughter Judy, and son Toby are all returning home. Clem is the narrator.

This is the follow-up to Mrs. Miniver (1942) which won six Oscars. The first half of the first movie is slow. That's the same sense I get from the second movie. There are moments of interest and comedy. It's family drama and I'm not completely invested in it. It feels meandering at times. Nevertheless, it's nice to catch up with the family, but like all happily ever after, the story after is not always that compelling.

One of the great films of the war, "Mrs. Miniver" won the Oscar for Best Picture of 1942. In 1950, M-G-M released this sequel; "The Miniver Story." A disappointment if there ever was one! First of all, the first film was directed by the legendary director, William Wyler. This film was directed by H. C. Potter. No more needed to be said on that point! And since this is a sequel, why is there no mention of the Miniver's older son Vincent? (Played by Richard Ney in the first film.) It's as if he never existed. Both Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon (the only originals) should have said no to this turkey!

I watched this sequel on a rental after hearing about it for years and expecting it to be somewhat disappointing. Of course, I knew the original "Mrs. Miniver" Best Picture Oscar winner and had seen that perhaps five times. This follow-up creation was much better than I expected. It tackles important issues of the post-war era just as well as the original showed the problems and challenges during the war. The acting and directing of the film seemed smooth enough. It is a sad, realistic story, without sugar coating. It is not melodramatic. Greer Garson is simply excellent in an understated way and again the story rightfully revolves around her character. Walter Pigeon is also excellent, with his familiar voice serving to narrate the film with thoughtful voice-overs. Those who completely knock this picture compared to the first one need their eyes examined.

Predictably, because the first MRS. MINIVER film directed by William Wyler was such an overwhelming success, MGM thought it was time to bring the Minivers back in a post-war tale that would also bring in the customers since it would also star GREER GARSON and WALTER PIDGEON.

Wrong. H.C. Potter is no substitute for William Wyler and the script is a sentimental sudser with Garson harboring a deep secret she wants to nobly hide until the last moment. Eldest son Vin (played in the original by Richard Ney, soon to become Garson's real-life hubby) is nowhere in sight in this sequel. Instead we have Toby (JAMES FOX in his film debut as Toby Miniver) and CATHY O'DONNELL as his sister, Judy.

With a cast that also includes British star LEO GENN, JOHN HODIAK and REGINALD OWEN, this was an attempt to give the post-war years of the family a meaningful treatment so that fans would rush to the box-office for a sequel to the famous World War II film. Again, wrong.

Garson and Pidgeon do respectable acting jobs as the couple with on screen chemistry, but the script is a tedious thing and certainly not up to the standards of the original film. If you have fond memories of MRS. MINIVER, I'd advise you to skip this one.

Doesn't do much justice to the first movie.

The Miniver Story is sequel to Mrs Miniver, made in 1942 at the height of World War 2. That movie was fantastic - a gritty portrayal of the lives of average English folk during WW2. It deservedly won the 1943 Best Picture Oscar.

This, the sequel, now picks up with the same family with WW2 having just ended. I liked the idea: having shown them during the war, show how people recover after war, get on with their lives and live with peace.

Fine in idea, but not great in execution. As far as examining lives recovering from war, this movie barely scratches the surface. It dwells more on melodrama and soap-opera-like plots. Much more superficial than anticipated and quite disappointing.

This said, it has some decent story lines and is reasonably engaging.

Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon reprise their roles from the first movie. I found Pidgeon irritating in the first. He's more bearable in this one.

Primary irritant instead goes to James Fox, as their son Toby. Luckily his screen time is limited.

Worth watching for completeness but it won't enhance your memory of Mrs Miniver. Probably best to avoid this so that the original stays as the masterpiece it is.

The previous poster wanted to know why Richard Ney wasn't in "The Miniver Story". I believe the reason for Mr. Ney's omission was probably on Greer Garson's part.

Mr. Ney had fallen in love with Greer Garson while filming "Mrs. Miniver". Although he played her son he was only 11 years younger than Miss Garson.

They had a stormy divorce which occurred a couple of years prior to filming this sequel. I guess that's why his character wasn't even mentioned. Miss Garson probably wanted to just wipe out all memory of him.

Like many here. I've avoided this film because of so-so reviews. What a revelation upon finally watching it. Absolutely loved it. A quietly poetic quality differentiates it it from the tense and dramatic "Mrs. Miniver." Greer Garson can't have ever given a better performance: understated, luminous, she simply towers above everyone in the good cast.. She perfectly portrays a lovely, kind-hearted English woman shadowed by a secret sadness - the cause of which I won't reveal. There are a few scenes where she has a heartbreaking faraway look and dreamy manner. I love "Mrs. Miniver," but think Garson is far more mature and subtle in this role. A great actress. Bravo, Greer!

I agree with the favorable preceding review. For all who loved Mrs. Miniver, I feel this is a fine and very moving, very powerful sequel. Pidgen and Garson have extraordinary chemistry (as everyone knows) and aside from the simple error of failing to refer to the elder son, this movie wonderfully adopts, as the preceding reviewer states, an "after the storm" tone that perfectly fits life in Britain from 1945 to 1950.

I love this movie and its predecessor - largely because of Greer Garson's warmth, beauty, liveliness, decency. See also Random Harvest.

Excellent sequel to Mrs Miniver...addressing a lot of post war issues focusing on adjusting to civilian life and personal ones! Very entertaining and some comic incidences between Judy and her love interest Tom Foley in the car with the pig...as well as an ingenious sequence between Mrs Miniver and the older English general played by Leo Gen at his apartment, trying to dissuade him from pursuing her daughter Judy. Then helping her husband adjust by moving his architectural practice to a bustling thriving location instead of the view of a bombed out section of the city Those who put this sequel down should have their heads examined! Very underrated!

The only flaw is there is no mention made of their elder son Vin killed in battle, or of his new bride also killed in a civilian scene in the original movie Great narration by Walter Pidgeon!

I enjoyed this movie, though of course it is very different from the original. It was good to see their wonderful old house or the recreation of it, whichever it was. Garson is very appropriate with the effects of the changes her character went and is going through. Pidgeon takes up well.

The little boy (young James Fox) is darling, though it's funny to hear his strong British accent and expressions in contrast to the American actors around the family table. But of course I wouldn't want fakey British accents. John Hodiak is refreshing playing a wholesome character. Don't think I've ever seen him as one. And Leo Genn is a favorite. He plays against usual type here as well. The daughter reminds me of Teresa Wright in appearance, though of course she is a different character entirely.

No, I think they did a decent job, as hard as it is to do sequels. There is integrity in it. The Minivers have a solid marriage, with love that has deepened. Mother holds her own in the difficult crisis with her daughter, Judy. She's a strong woman who has been tempered and grown with life and difficulties, even tragedy. They both know what it means to come through.

Though the director is very different in this, I think the real difference is in the Mrs. Miniver character. What she did formerly was more interesting than what she has to do here. She's winding down here, instead of verving up as in the original. Guess they could have written some new challenge for her, but what it is, it is. And if you appreciate certain people and elements of the original, you can enjoy this film.

I do not think that William Wyler's classic was made with a sequel in mind.But the most amazing thing is to feature a terminally ill Mrs Minniver although the name of the disease is never mentioned (heart?)Toby and Judy characters are featured (But the former seems a bit too young now that the war is over) but Vin 's was ruled out ,which could be acceptable if they made at least one hint at him.

The film will appeal to people who liked the 1942 film :although she knows her days are numbered,Mrs Minniver wants to make the best of what is left for her to enjoy her children and occasionally to help them when they take a wrong turn (Judy who wants to marry a married man).My favorite line is when Greer Garson says that she wants to be back by Autumn cause it's one of her two favorite seasons and she won't be here when Spring returns...

People who like the Garson/Pidgeon (Not only "Mrs Minniver" but also "Madame Curie" ) couple should have a look at it.

The original Mrs Miniver was a huge international hit when released during the Second World War, teaming Walter Pidgeon and Greer Garson as architect Clem Miniver and his wife Kay, characters inspired by the writings of Jan Struther.

Mrs Miniver was a fiercely patriotic film, and a reminder to the USA of what Britain was taking in rationing, nightly air raids, and bombings. This sequel though, titled The Miniver Story, takes place in peace time, and is largely concerned with troubles within the family, foreshadowed by Clem's narration at the start of the film.

This film gets a lot of bad press from those who find it weak, heavy-handed or simply sentimental. It may not have the power of its illustrious predecessor as a war film, but it simply doesn't have that agenda. Clem and Kay still have a strong marriage, Judy and Toby are fast growing up (although their eldest, Vin, is curiously absent), and if you enjoyed their characters and the teaming of Pidgeon/Garson first time around, you will like this film.

In support you will find Cathy O'Donnell, Leo Genn, a very young James Fox, and (all too briefly) John Hodiak. Jan Struther might have objected to her creation ending the way it does in The Minever Story - and the film is certainly sentimental - but it is watchable, with good points.