15. Mrs. Miniver (1942)

Director: William Wyler

Starring: Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon

Other Oscar Wins: Best Actress in a Leading Role (Greer Garson), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Teresa Wright), Best Director, Best Writing, Best Cinematography

Other Oscar Nominations: Best Actor in a Leading Role (Walter Pidgeon), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Henry Travers), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Dame May Whitty), Best Sound, Best Film Editing, Best Effects

Favourite Line: "I know how comfortable it is to curl up with a nice, fat book full of big words and think you're going to solve all the problems in the universe. But you're not, you know. A bit of action is required every now and then."

The cast of Mrs Miniver.

Mrs. Miniver is a beautiful and moving film about a middle class British family, trying to make it through the Second World War. It is thoroughly touching and optimistic, despite showing the toll that war can take on common people.

The most stunning thing about this film is the astounding number of incredible acting performances. It's no wonder it includes 5 Oscar nominations for acting alone, and two of those won. Mrs. Miniver is in fact the first film to have so many acting nominations. I personally cannot single any one performance, as all of them were very moving, lovely, and nuanced.

Art by Olly Moss.

 Interestingly, director William Wyler openly admitted that he made this film as a sort of propaganda to cause American audiences to be more sympathetic to the British during World War Two. He joined the army himself after filming was completed, and was oversees the night he won his Oscar. The final speech of the film was used extensively for the war effort in America. It was printed in magazines such as "Time" and "Look", and it was also broadcast on the Voice of America by order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Copies of the speech were dropped over Europe. Winston Churchill in fact once said that Mrs. Miniver did more for the war effort than a flotilla of destroyers. 

All in all, Mrs. Miniver is a wonderful film that I would highly recommend seeing, particularly if you are interested in the Second World War, or simply if you wish to see a showcase of excellent acting.