The Proud Valley 1940 | Paul Robeson | Edward Chapman | Simon Lack | Full Movie with subtitles

♪ They can't stop us singing ♪ They can't stop us singing ♪ Overhead the stars are shining ♪ All through the night ♪ They can't stop us singing, ♪ They can't stop us singing - Here, here...! What the hell do you think you're doing, eh? - Sorry friend, I didn't see you. - Didn't see me? You ought to have known I was here. I've been catching this train up the valley regular for the past 10 years, anybody'll tell you. - My fault, I've never been up this way before. - Alright...but don't let it happen again. - Okay chief. - Hmm... Off a ship by the look of ya. - Yeah, stoker. Seagull, 13,000 tons. Laid up at Cardiff three months ago. - Ah, and you've been looking for work ever since, I know. - Say, you think there's a chance to get a job in one of these pits? - Well, maybe. There was a colored bloke, Blackie Ellis they called him. Used to work in the Glen Colliery. Work, heh! Now you wouldn't think I was a rich man, would you? - No, not to look at. - I'm married, and how much do you think I pay my old woman? Two quid a week. Yes, I was surprised myself when the court made the order. - How do you manage it, company promotion? - No, chum. I toils not, neither do I speak. Grinding's my game. - Grinding? - Blimey, don't tell me you've never heard of it. - No. - Art related to psychology, that's what it is. You touch people's feelings by offending their ears. I find a nice little stretch of gutter in front of the right kind of houses. Off comes me hat, humble, and I start singing. I pick a well-known tune, and I murders it. Now listen. ♪ And when your friends desert you ♪ At the time of your downfall ♪ You'll find that your mother ♪ Is the best friend of them all - Surely the people in these valleys won't stand for that noise. - Why, this is one of my best districts. The more you work 'em, the quicker they pay you to go away. These Welsh are daft about music and as open-handed as the sun. Why don't you join me, eh? - No thanks. I'd rather work for my living. Work? It's a disease. - Well I wish I could catch it. That's why I'm on my way to that new armament factory in Darren Valley. - Well, the special will take you as far as Blaendy Colliery. But you're leaving Egypt where the corn is, my son, and going right into the winds. That hooter means they're changing shifts. - You're telling me. I worked down in the mine for five years back in the States. - Well we better lie doggo for a bit, son. Here, have a bit of cheese. - Thanks. They're coming up. - Why did we lose the last competition then? - Because we didn't get fair play. - I never knew a losing choir who did. - Too many flaming crooners in the choir, that's what's wrong with it. - Who are you getting at? - Get out of that cage. Do you want to go back down instead of these chaps? - Aye, go on. Snip-snapping like a lot of kids. - More neck oil; that's what the choir wants, boy. - Neck oil be damned! It was you basses that let us down at the last competition. Now look here-- - Ohhh, give it a rest you two. I'm about fed up with you and-- - And I'm fed up with this fellow chewing the fat about us basses. - And haven't you been chewing the fat about us tenors? - Oh, shut up man! What I want is more singing and less talking in the Blaendy Choir. I'm going through that Elijah chorus tonight. See that you're all there at practice at 8:00 sharp. - I'll be there. - Yes, and so will I. - Well stop gabbing then! I'll be able to use all the voice you've got tonight. Oh Jim, tell my boy Emlyn that I've gone on home, will you? - Alright, Dick. - Like a lot of kids. - My dad up yet? - Aye, he's just gone on with Nick Evans and Seth Jones, arguing the toss. - What, are they at it again? - I'm entitled to my say. If the choir's no good, neither is the conductor. - You wasn't man enough to say that when Dick Parry was here. - I'm man enough for two Dick Parrys. - It'll pay you to keep your mouth off Dick Parry. - It's alright Em, I'm attending to him. - No, no, Nick. Don't bother with him, for he's not worth it. - Not worth it? - Why, you--! - Nick... My turn now! - Hey Dick, what's wrong over by the pit? - Oh, a couple of them hotheads of mine got stuck into each other. - Mam, there's fighting over at the pithead. - Yes, and I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't that Emlyn of yours again. - Oh, dear! - Gwen! Gwen, come back here! - You ought to be ashamed of yourselves! Behaving like a pair of blackguards! I don't see anything to laugh at either! I expect it was you who started it. - Not him...he couldn't start a toy train. - Now Emlyn! - Go on, take him off home to mother. - Why, I'll-- - Em, please. That's a nasty cut over your eye. - Oh, that's nothing. - Come across to the shop for me to see to it. You silly boy. - I'll give that fella such a plastering before the night's out. - Drop it now! Thought you were taking me out tonight? - I've got to attend choir practice, lovely. Well, the competition's only a month off. - Yeah. With choir practice, mining classes in the night school... if it isn't one thing, it's another. - Never mind, lovely. Everything's going to be alright soon. - Not if you keep on getting into scraps all the time. You like a bit of a scrap yourself, don't you? - You'll know more about that when we're married, my boy. I'll be ready to take you on any day. - But not in my working clothes, eh? - Don't talk soft out here, Em. Coming in for a minute? - Oh, no, for your mother wouldn't like it if I came in like this. - Oh Emlyn, here's that letter from the School of Mines. - Come in and read it! - Yes, yes, in you go my boy. In here, it's more private than the shop. It looks fat enough to hold a certificate! - Oh, no such luck. You open it, Gwen. - 'Tis... 'Tis! Look Ma! His manager's certificate! - Yes, be careful with it my girl for you'll want to frame it one day. - Don't I get a look?It took me three years to get that. - No, I'll hold it for you. - Oh...it isn't much to look at, is it? There's only one place we could hang that. - Of course! In the front parlor of your little house when you get married, my boy. Well it's glad I am that you'll be getting a good job now soon. But as I was saying to Gwen, what a difference there is between Mrs. Bowen, the manager's wife with her nice little car, and the wife of a collier like your mother with a house full of children. - Oh Mam, you mustn't! - No disrespect to your mother, Emlyn, for she's a hardworking woman who's had to make one shilling do the work of two. I'll go, Gwen. - You mustn't take any notice of Mam, for you know how she talks. - Oh, I don't mind her. Not now anyway. - Wash your face then, and I'll give you a kiss. I said wash your face! - Four, five, six, seven. - Well, that ain't so dusty! - How was I doing? - Very nice. You've got a big future in this game, my boy, but it don't pay to be shy. Let 'em have it. ♪ And when your friends desert you ♪ In the time of your downfall - Lamentations! Somebody must have been run over by the sound of it! Lamentations! I thought something was the matter when I heard the noise you were making. Shut up good boys, and go from here before you do frighten the children of the place out of their senses. Go, for it's a worse noise than the wild beast show! Go, go, before I send for John the policeman. - Spare a copper, lady? - Payment you expect for making such a noise? - That's the only way to get rid of them, Mrs. Owen. - To encourage them, more like. - Well we've all got to live. - Oh, thank you kind lady! ♪ Hear and answer ♪ Hear and answer, Baal ♪ Mark how the scorner derideth us ♪ Derideth us, ♪ Derideth us ♪ Hear and answer, ♪ Hear and answer, ♪ Hear and answer ♪ Hear and answer, Baal ♪ Hear and answer, ♪ Hear and answer, ♪ Hear and answer - No, no, no! There's your weakness, you first tenors! Our kettle sings better! Open your mouth, will you? Aye, there is an opening there. Very little voice comes out of it. - There's as much-- - Oh shut up! Or else I'll have a length of rubber tubing put down your throat, see if I can get any sound out of that. Here, Syd...as they come into that place where they crack, try and cover 'em up, will you? Give 'em plenty of that! I've heard better first tenors singing on trees. Oh, so you've condescended to come at last, have you? - Sorry I'm late, Dad. - Oh, get to your place man. I don't suppose our celebrated bass soloist, Mr. Ben Jenkins, has turned up yet. - I'm afraid he's met with a bit of an accident, Dad. - Accident? You had nothing to do with it, huh? - I think he ran his face into something. - Well we're not gonna wait for him any longer. Get into your positions, please. Come on, hurry up! This is a choir practice, not a funeral. Emlyn, come here. Was it a good scrap, son? - Aye, alright Dad. - Good boy! Now listen everybody, we'll go straight through. As Ben isn't here, I'll beat the time for the solo part myself. Come on now lads, give me everything you've got! ♪ Hear and answer, ♪ Hear and answer, ♪ Hear and answer ♪ Hear and answer, Baal ♪ Mark how the scorner derideth us ♪ Derideth us, ♪ Derideth us ♪ Hear and answer, ♪ Hear and answer, ♪ Hear and answer ♪ Hear and answer, ♪ Hear and answer ♪ Hear and answer, Baal ♪ Hear and answer, ♪ Hear and answer, ♪ Hear and answer ♪ Hear and answer, ♪ Hear and answer ♪ Hear and answer ♪ Baal, Baal ♪ Hear and answer, ♪ Hear and answer, ♪ Hear and answer... - One, two, three, four! ♪ Hear and answer - One, two, three, four, one-- ♪ - Lord God of Abraham ♪ Isaac and Israel ♪ This day let it be known-- - Here, steady mate, steady. - ♪ That thou art God ♪ And that I am thy servant ♪ Lord God of Abraham ♪ Hear, O hear me, Lord ♪ And answer me ♪ O hear me, Lord and answer me ♪ Lord God of Abraham ♪ Isaac and Israel ♪ O hear me, ♪ O hear me ♪ And answer me ♪ And show this people ♪ That thou art Lord God ♪ And let their hearts again be turned ♪ And let their hearts again be turned ♪ Lord God of Abraham - Here, was that you? - Yeah. Was it alright? - Ohhh!...come up here. We want to talk to you. No, come on, come on up friend! - Come on up friend. - No thanks. I'll stick to me own line. But that's where YOU ought to be. Well, so long chum. - So long, and good luck. - And the same to you. ♪ And when your friends desert you ♪ At the time of your downfall... - Mam, I tell you he's got a bottom bass like an organ. The finest I ever heard in these valleys. Ohhh...it floated in that hall like... like thunder from a distance. - Here, steady mate, steady. - Oh, it's either all or nothing with him. - Boy, I tell you, with you in the choir we can't lose at the Eisteddfod. - Maybe, but I gotta find a job. That's why I'm on my way to Darren Valley. - Darren Valley? - Like a red rag to a bull, since they beat him at the last Eisteddfod. - No, you can't go there. I'll...I'll find you work in the pit with me. Mam, he'll stay here with us. - With us? - Mmm. - What you talking about? Where with us? I'd like to know. - Oh, we'll find room for him somewhere. - Somewhere? Dick Parry. - Hmm? - Have you forgot that we have five children of our own sleeping in this house? - No. - Well well, I don't know what to make of you. - Oh, come now Mam. Think what'll it mean to the choir. - You and your old choir... Why don't you bring all the members of your choir to sleep here? Make a barracks of my house and have done with it. - Oh, come now lovely. - Don't think you can get over me this time with your old nonsense. - Oh, come now-- - Let me go! - Listen--! - Too much I have listened to you! - Well... I think I'd better be going too. - No no, you stay where you are now. Let me have a talk with her. - The stranger's all alone now. - Where's Dad then? - Gone after our mam. She's in her tantrums. I'm going to talk to the stranger. - You watch yourself, our Dilys. - I should be alright. Hello! - Hello! I'm Dilys. What's your name? I'm David Goliath. - Ooh I know! Same as in the story Teacher told us in Sunday school. There's high up you are! There, I'm not so high up now. Our mam is in her tantrums. But never you mind, she'll be alright when she's had her bang-out. - Yes, I see. I tell you I can't manage it. Ohhhh... - Mr. Parry? I just wanted to thank you for the cup of tea and the bite to eat... 'cause I'm going along now. - Indeed!I'm not gonna let you go at this time of night. We'll find somewhere for you to sleep. - Aye, he can sleep on the sofa in the front room, can't he? Yes, to be sure. - There! - Here, here... Didn't I tell you she'd be alright? - Yes! Dilys! Get back to bed this minute! - Oh no Mam, let her stay. Oh, I do wish you'd been down there to hear him tonight. A bottom bass like an organ. He sounded-- - Hello Mam, hello Dad. - Oh Em, I was telling your mother about our practice tonight. - Aye, great! But I have something more important to tell Mam. - Oh? - Mam... We've got that little house on Mountain Row... And Gwen's mother is willing for her to be married a month next Monday. Isn't it grand? - Yes Emlyn, of course it is! Oh, I don't know... But there, perhaps I worry too much. - What's the matter, our Mam? - There's nothing I wanted so much as to see you married to Gwen and in a home of your own. - Well? - But things have been so slack at the pits lately and...well I don't know how we're going to manage without your help. - We'll manage, my girl. We managed afore he started work, and we'll manage after he gets married. - Oh, I expect we will. - I know, we'll have David here as a lodger. - Yes! - He can have Emlyn's room and pay his share. - Fine, you get me work and I'll do it alright. But you'll find I've got an outsize appetite. She'll take care of that, won't you Mam? Come on now, let's celebrate! Dilys, you go and get that bottle of rhubarb wine, eh? - Yes, Dad! - Well now, son. You left it later than me and your mother did. Let me see now, lovely. We had a baby before I was Emlyn's age, didn't we? - I don't know about you, but I had one and another coming. Aye, and a good mother you've been to them all. - Here you are, my lovely. - Ah, now let us drink to the success of the male voice choir at the Eisteddfod. - Emlyn and Gwen first, Dad. - Oh aye, to be sure! I forgot. Joy to Emlyn and Gwen! - They're coming up. - Hey, what's the matter Seth? - Where's Dick Parry and that new butty of his? - Why, what do you want with him? - Well you call him, and then you'll see. - Hey, Dick? Well, if you don't want us, we'll go on down-- - Wait a minute. - Oh, what for? - Where is that new butty of yours? - Well, he'll be along soon. - Ever heard of the seniority rule, Dick Parry? - Oh, so that's what you're getting at. - Bringing that big stranger to work in the pit. - Aye, what about that? - On top of that, you give him Ben's solo part in the choir. - Ah that's what's stuck in your gizzard, Seth. Now listen, lads. Am I the first to break the seniority rule then? - We've always kept it in Blaendy, Dick. - No, fear we haven't done it. Here Will...remember when your brother was conducting the colliery band? - Yes.- Didn't he bring three fellows down from Yorkshire to work in this pit so they could play for him? - What my brother done is nothing to do with me. - You, Seth. You know as well as I do those three tenors that walloped us at last year's Eisteddfod were brought in from outside Darren Valley. Isn't that right, man? Answer! - Ah, stumped you, has he Seth? - Anyway, they were white. This fellow brought a black man to work down the pit. Well? What about it? - Alright, David. Leave me to deal with him. Now listen lads... Dave here is more than a good singer. He's as good a butty as ever worked down a pit with me. Aye, and he's a decent chap into the bargain. Here's Seth talking about him being black. Why damn and blast it man, aren't we all black down that pit? - Aye, take a look at yourselves. This fella's as good a pal as any of you. - Well...anybody else got anything to say before me and my butty go down the pit? - Haven't you chaps finished chewing the fat? What about a bit of work? Keep the home fires burning. - Aye, come on lads. Another eight hours' savage amusement. - Don't let that lot worry you, Dave. - They don't worry me. - Nobody takes any notice of them. - I think it would have been better if you'd let me go on my way the first night I came. - No, fear it wouldn't man. I know what'll drive that out of your head. Hey lads, what shall we sing? - What about the Eisteddfod test piece? - Fine! Come on David man, give 'em a lead. ♪ Back to work with no repining ♪ All through the night ♪ Overhead the stars are shining ♪ All through the night we're singing ♪ Morning sun brings fervent greeting ♪ Sing we then our song of greeting ♪ All through the night Ooh! Mam! Mam! Mam! Mam! The bus for Eisteddfod is outside. - What? Already? - If you don't believe me, come and see. - I must get those children ready before your father comes home. Fetch them in from the back. - Righto, Mam! - Hello, girl! Hello, come in! - Hurried I have with my breath in my fist, for they've only just come. - Let me see them!- And I wanted the children to go looking tidy tonight. Don't you think they're lovely? - Indeed they are! - And with a bit of trimming they'll do fine for the wedding. - Yes, they'll be nice! But... I don't know when I shall be able to pay you for them. - Have I said anything about payment? - Ohhh... that is kind of you. - We're as good as one family, my girl. So you can pay me for these things a shilling at a time. - Thank you very much indeed. - And I won't charge you the credit price either. - Come through quietly so Mam won't hear you. - Shh! - Oh, look at the state of those children! - Good gracious! Whatever have you been doing with yourselves? - They've been playing working in the pit, Mam. - Oh, dear! Come on, for me to wash you. - Of all the dirty little flamers I've ever seen-- - Dilys! I'll give you swearing in a minute! Stay there... - Where did you hear that? I'd like to know. - It was our dad who I heard saying it, and he said it isn't swearing, so there! - Dick does let off steam sometimes. He forgets there's children present. Come on, Johnny. - Come on. - How's the time, Dave? I've had about enough for this shift. - We only got 10 minutes to go. - Good. Pass me that drinking jack, will you? Ah, thank you. The air's thick in here today. - Yeah, it's hot as hell. - Aye, it's always warmish in Klondyke. - Then send me a roll of brattice cloth down. Right away, you damn fool! - What's the hurry? - Oh, the air's a bit dirty in Klondyke today. - That chap in the stores on top's as dull as a sledge. - Hello Ned, what are you doing back here? - There's a small pocket of gas down in Klondyke, sir. - How many times have I told you to keep brattice cloth on the spot in the workings? - Well, I thought-- - Go and tell those men to come out at once. Less than 10 minutes to go anyway. - I wish your dad would come. - Will Dad's choir lose marks if he's late, Mam? - No, I don't think so. Will you sit still, Johnny? What's the matter with you? - Emlyn...what you looking at? - You'll see in a minute, my girl. Hello, lovely. - Hello Em. - You look great! - Like it? - You bet! - Hello everybody! Hello Gwen! - Doesn't she look nice? Are you entering for the Eisteddfod, Gwen? - Don't be silly. It isn't a beauty competition. - Are those sunflowers? - Yes.- It's very nice, but it's a bit on the short side. - Why, you Little Miss Particular. Get out of the way, all of you, and let your mam have a look at her future daughter-in-law. Indeed Gwen, it's-- The pit! Dad! Oh my God! - I'm going down with the rescue team. - Oh Em, be careful. - I'll be alright. You stay and look after Mam. Don't worry Mam. We'll be back. - Mr. Trevor wants Number 2 Rescue Team down at once. - Come on boys, down below. - Hurry up! - You'd better get some more help. - Very good sir. - If we don't stop this fire spreading, we shall have the whole pit down on top of us. Come on, hurry up now. Come on! - Seth, seen my dad? - Sorry Emlyn... There's no news yet. - Nick, where's my dad? - You won't get much out of him. - Do you know? - I don't know who's out or who's in. - Number 2 Rescue Team, sir. - Right, get your equipment off and give a hand with this wall, quick. Where do you think you're going? - In there, to look for my dad. - Not if I know it. - You're not stopping me, Mr. Trevor-- - Now listen son... There's Sam James and Nat Llewelyn. They went in with Number 1 Rescue Team. - I don't care, I'm going-- - It's suicide, I tell you. Don't be a young fool. - Let me go! - Get hold of him. - Let me go! - You fool! - Look! - Ned, leave him to them. - Are you alright? - Careful! I'm alright. - Steady. Steady boy! Something for his head. - Dad! It's my dad. - I'm afraid there's nothing much we can do for him. - Dad it's, me... Emlyn. - Hello Emlyn. I've copped out. Bit of bad luck, that's all. Me...coppin' out like this. Only 10 minutes to go... It's the Eisteddfod! Time we was there! Em... Tell your mam I... Tell your mam... - He's...gone... We would like to thank the committee for postponing this Eisteddfod so as to give us a chance to compete. But we do not feel we can do so... for the loss of our conductor...my father... and those who died with him ...is too fresh in our minds. - I didn't know Dick Parry for long... but I lived and worked with him enough to realize that he was a man, every inch of him. Sometimes when we were alone I used to sing him this song, which we are now going to sing for you. ♪ Deep river ♪ My home is over Jordan ♪ Deep river, Lord ♪ I want to cross over into campground ♪ Deep river ♪ My home is over Jordan ♪ Deep river, Lord ♪ I want to cross over into campground ♪ Oh don't you want to go ♪ To that gospel feast ♪ That promised land ♪ Where all is peace ♪ Oh deep river Lord ♪ I want to cross over into campground - What a game! - Oh, carry on and stop grousing. Gotta be going soon, down to the labor exchange. - Aye, and you'd better get a move on Nick or you won't get back in time to sign on. - That flaming labor exchange... - It's a good job we've got it. Better dole money than no money at all. - This "half a loaf's better than none" talk makes me sick. - Nearly a year since the explosion, and we've been no more than numbers on the books of the labor exchange. - Like a lot of flaming convicts. - Keep working, and forget it. You call this work? Burrowing like rabbits day after day, just to get enough coal to keep the kettle boiling. - You like a cup of tea, don't you Nick? - It's enough to drive a chap daft! Here we are, strutting for a few bits of slaggy coal, whilst down Blaendy pits there's millions of tons of best Welsh coal waiting to be worked. - What I want to know is, why can't we get to the coal face through the sealed section? - Because it's chock-full of gas, I expect. - If only they'd let us have a shot at it! - You may get your chance yet, Nick. - Still got faith in that letter, have you? You're daft if you think the owners will take any notice of that. You and your letters. - The last letter Emlyn sent was signed by the Miners' Federation, the Chamber of Trade and-- - Aye, aye, thank you Tom Cobley and all. - We'll get an answer from London yet. - If we do, it'll be as they says in Parliament. "In the negative". - Ah, forget it Nick. Come on, let's get goin'. - Come on, Dave. Give us a lift up with this sack. - Comin' boys? - Coming, Dave. Come on boys. - On lads...don't spare the horses. - Let me have another penny worth of tea on old account, 'till pension day. - Since the pits closed, nobody comes in here with money in their hands. It's ALL old accounts. - I know, it's awful. Some of the people 'round here, well... you can't trust them any further than you can see 'em. But you know I'm as safe as a bank. - Now go, now Phoebe. This old account business will have to stop. - Thank you Catrin, but you know I'm as safe as a bank. Safe as a bank! Oh, you can wait a minute. - Shop! Good day Mrs. Owen! Let's have a packet of Woodbines 'till the weather breaks. - Such cheek! You better go before I break you! - Oh, come on, come on! - Woodbines without the money indeed! Sure you wouldn't like a box of cigars? - Damn, I didn't know you sold cigars! - Lamentations! Outside! - Oh but Mrs. Owen, now don't-- - Outside I said! - Alright... - Where's your mother? - I'm sorry, Mr. Howells. Mam won't be able to pay you today. - You tell your mother-- - Oh but I can't, Mr. Howells. - Why, isn't she in? - Yes, but she's bad in bed. - Mam, who's that man-- - Shh! - It's her head. It's splitting in four ways! - Now you tell your mother from me that unless she pays me something next week, it's in the county court I'll be putting her. - Yes, Mr. Howells. - Where's your mother? - She's bad in bed. - Then I'll go up. - But you can't-- - Oh, get out of my way. - Oh, it's you. Come in and sit down for a minute. - Thank you, I'd rather stand. - Take the children upstairs, will you? - Alright Mam. Come on. - I've come to settle this thing once and for all. - I don't know what you're talking about! - Don't you? Well from now on, my Gwen is going to have nothing more to do with that boy of yours. - Perhaps the young people themselves will have something to say about that. - Gwen won't. I'm not letting her wait any longer. - If the pits hadn't been closed, they'd have been married-- - IF, IF! No girl of mine's going gray waiting for a boy on the dole without a penny to his name. A lot of good-for-nothing-- - Don't you dare call my boy good-for-nothing! Why, he's breaking his heart because he can't get work. Nobody's done more to get the pits opened again. - I know, letters to the owners. - Well? - Alright...would you like me to tell you what happened to that last letter? - Yes....what? - Emlyn's come! I hope he gives her what for. - Come on, tell us. - I'll tell you. The owners have written to say that your scheme is no good. No, not worth that! - How do you know? - Never you mind, I know. - Why, you're no better than a Peeping Tom! - Don't bother with her, Mam. - Such cheek! - Shut up! So we're right up against it again. - Well Em, we've been up against it before. Let's have another try. - Try? We're about sick and tired of you and your trying. Speak for yourself! - Listen to me, Emlyn Parry. My girl is a qualified postal clerk and I had to pay for her training in the technical college. Me, a widow, on my feet in that little shop from early morning 'till late every night. And now the place is my own property, and money in the bank I've got too. If you think I'm fool enough to let you drag her down 'till she's a pauper like the rest of you, then you're very much mistaken. - That's enough, Catrin Owen. There's the door. - I'm going... and let me tell you this. Before very long, me and my girl will have cleared right out of this poverty-stricken hole. - Suppose you clear out of my house for a start? Go, go, before I forget myself! - Well, that's that. - Here Em. - It's no use, Dave. The people of Blaendy are properly in the cart. You ought to get out of this place. - Why? I pay my way. There's my 17-bob dole money. I do my bit on the slag heap. I try not to eat too much. - If you had any sense, you'd go. Try the Darren Valley. - No Em. - Get to Cardiff, find a ship. - Why are you staying? I'll tell you. Because of Mam and the kids. - They're my responsibility. - Not altogether Em. Listen son...your father was my friend. He took me in, gave me food and shelter, found me work. What kind of a man would I be if I left now when things are bad? Let's don't talk about it anymore. - Alright Dave. - That old thing from the post office won't come back here again in a hurry. Oh no, not after what I told her out there in front of all the children. Dilys, children, come on now to your food-- Oh, you don't miss much, do you? - We were only waiting for you to call us to supper, Mam. - Yes, with one eye to the keyhole. Come on, eat your food. Coming here with her own cheek! Paupers indeed! My boy not good enough for her Gwen! - Mam, we may as well face it. She was right. - Right? What do you mean? - We are finished, scrapped and finished. - But my boy, we can't-- - It's no use Mam! There's nothing more to say. - Oh yes, oh yes. I, I think he's still fond of you. - Indeed? That's very kind of him. - But it's all over... I'm afraid he agrees with her. And they've made up their minds, both of them. - THEY'VE made up their minds? I don't suppose I count in the least. - Well, Emlyn said he was gonna tell you about it. - I'll tell HIM! Where are you going? - I'm gonna have a word with Mr. Emlyn! - You'll find him up at the house. - Emlyn... Emlyn! - Hello Gwen. - What's the matter? - Everything! - Em...don't be silly. Give me a kiss! - Have some sense, I'm not made of stone. - Then you don't care for me anymore. - How can you say that, when everything I've tried to do for years has been for you? Down the pit eight hours a day. After work, sitting in night school through the winters to get that certificate. Who for? - Em...let's get married! - What, on my dole money? With my mother and the kids on public assistance and things getting worse every week? - Emlyn, listen... Those things aren't really important. Plenty of people in Blaendy have married like that. - Aye, it's easy enough to get married... but what about the future? - We'll be facing it together. - And bringing up our children on two bob a week? It's not good enough! - I tell you, it's good enough for me! - I like your spirit, lovely. Lord, I'm as anxious to get married as you are. - My own boy. - There must be something I could do... Gwen... if I went to London and met those owners face to face... do you think that would do any good? ♪ They can't stop us singing, ♪ They can't stop us singing ♪ For overhead the stars are shining ♪ All through the night ♪ They can't stop us singing, ♪ They can't stop us singing - Here we are Ned, easy. Take a drink of this ...and rest a while. - Get this inside you Ned. I've had plenty. Don't want any more. - Dave... - Ta, Nick. - I don't like the look of old Ned. - That bit of bread is poor packin' for a man in his state. - Some proper grub and a bed is what he wants. - At this rate, it don't look like we'll ever get to London. - London be damned. All I want is a good meal. - Ah, well the first 200 miles is always the worst. ♪ It's a long way to Tipperary ♪ It's a long way to go ♪ It's a long way-- - How do you feel Ned? Not so dusty now, lad. I got an idea, Em. Listen to that. You chaps are Welshmen, and you can sing. What's wrong with singing our way to London? - What, beg? - Well why not? Ned's a pal of ours, we've got to do something. - Yes...you're right Dave! Hey, Nick...Seth? - What's up? - Come on! - What for? - Fall in! What, again?- Ah, shut your mouth and do what you're told. - Come on, Ned. - Hitler demands Danzig and the Corridor! Hitler demands Danzig-- - Ha, that flamin' Adolf will be askin' for Blaendy next. - What's in the paper, boy? - Buy one and see. - Oh, come on son. You know we haven't got a penny between us. - That's all you get for nothing. Hitler demands Danzig and the Corridor! - What's Hitler got to do with us? - You never can tell. - Oh, come on lads! Hit the note Dave! ♪ They can't stop us singing, ♪ They can't stop us singing ♪ For overhead the stars are shining ♪ All through the night - There you are, I told you. That means war. - Never mind, we've marched into London which is more than he'll ever do. - Well, here we are at last. - After three days solid singing, our throats will need decarbonizing to talk to these owners. - I'll talk to them when the time comes. - Parliament called for Sunday official! - Parliament called for tomorrow? On a Sunday of all days. Things are pretty rough. - Is it any good going in now? - Why not? We've come a long way to put the case for Blaendy, and we're going to put it. - Emlyn's right. In we go boys. - Aye, and to hell with Hitler! Read all about it! Night news extra! - Go on now Ellen. Slip into the boardroom and tell Sir John that these men from Blaendy are here. - That'd be more than my job's worth. - Can we wait here, Miss? Perhaps Sir John might be able to spare us a few minutes after the conference. - They don't mind how long they wait, you know. - Oh, it's no use Jackson. Sir John will have to go straight over to the Ministry of Mines. I'm awfully sorry, but this crisis has turned everything upside down. Hello? Oh Syd, hello darling! What? Oh dear... When? Tonight? But I can't! We're terribly busy here. Oh, don't... Alright, if I possibly can. Goodbye darling! - What's up miss? - It's my boy... he's just been called up. He's leaving for his depot in about an hour's time. Wants me to go to Victoria Station to see him off. - Well why don't you go? The place will be here when you come back. - Do you think it would be alright? - Of course!You go, and give the young fellow a kiss to remember you by. - Tell him I won't be long, Jackson. - Right, and I'll hold the fort 'till you get back. Make yourselves at home, boys. Ah yes, that's the way of it. The sweethearts and wives will have to go through the hoop the same as my old woman did in 1914. - Miss Gray? Miss Gray...oh where's Miss Gray? Have you seen her, Jackson? - Oh, uh...yes sir. She's uh, she's just gone 'round the corner to the um...you know sir. - What? Oh, yes yes yes. Well when she returns, tell her Sir John wants her in the boardroom. Very good sir. It takes an old sweat to tell 'em the tale, eh? - Is Sir John in there? - Yes, that's the boardroom. - Say, friend... We wouldn't mind if you went for a bit of a walk. - Huh? - And have a smoke while you're waitin'. - Oh... A nod's as good as a wink to a blind horse. But make it snappy... can't stay too long, you know. - Go on inside lads ...and lots of luck. - But you're coming with us Dave! - No, no... I wouldn't be much help to you, in there. I'll just stay here... and uh..."hold the fort" as the sergeant says. You're wastin' time! Go on inside. - Stick it the Welsh, eh Ned? - That's it, son. I'm very sorry sir, but that's the position. I tell you it must be done Mr. Lewis! Tomorrow we may be at war. - But Sir John, I can't-- - I have promised the government 40,000 tons a week. - But our weekly output is only 30,000 tons. 30,057 to be precise. - Alright, we must restart some of our pits. What about Trehenwg, Blaendy, Cymlyn, Tyncoom? - Sir John, you can't open an idle pit like opening that door-- What the devil are you doing here? - We've come to talk about that idle pit in Blaendy. - And what's that got to do with you? - Well sir, we chaps work down that pit as our fathers did before us, and we want to go on working. That's all, Sir John. - I see. Well I can assure you that we are very anxious to see you start work... but there's nothing we can do for you at the moment. - But there's something we can do for you, sir. Give us the chance, and you'll be getting coal from Blaendy pit within a week. - I'd like to know how you're going to do that. - If you'll allow me to-- - My boy, we have gone into this matter thoroughly. Even if we undertook the cost of driving a new hard heading to skirt the sealed section, it would take us at least a month. - Yes, but there's a quicker way than that; straight through that sealed section. - You'll never get through alive. - That's our business. - My lad, in that sealed section there may be gob-fires, gas accumulations-- - Well we are not asking you to go through it, are we? - Now now Nick, don't lose your head. Listen, Sir John... We heard you say that tomorrow we may be at war. In that case, you know the risks that will have to be faced in the trenches, in the sky, on the sea, aye, and by our women and children in their homes. Coal in wartime is as much a part of our national defense as guns or anything else. So why not let us take our chance down the pit? - Well Mr. Lewis... what do you think? - Sir John, if they get through, it'll give the government that extra 10,000 tons. And I think with these men, it might be done. - It can be done. - What's your name? - Emlyn Parry. - Well Parry, as a mining engineer I should consider it a privilege to lead you men in this attempt. Sir John...with your permission I'll leave for Blaendy tonight. Now let's make sure we've got everything and it's all in order. Blasting powder? - Here sir. - Battery box? - Here sir. - And I've got the cable. - And I've got the yellow sparrow. I hope it don't conk out. - Now now, none of your nonsense. Come on lads. - Shall we start sir? - Yes, right away. - Get at it, boys! - A penny for 'em, Em. - They're worth more than that, Dave. ♪ In ages past ♪ Our hope for years to come ♪ Our shelter from the stormy blast ♪ And our eternal home - Well it won't be long before we're back, Jim. - I hope so sir. Good luck. - Thank you Jim. Just a minute, I'll test for gas. Yes, a bit of gas here. Put you respirators on. - Come on Phil, we must get this wall sealed up again. - But that means shutting them up in there! - Mr. Lewis's orders. If there's trouble, he doesn't want it to spread to the rest of the pit. Come on, get on with it. - Come on. - All clear. Take your respirators off, lads. There's a big fall of roof in there, Mr. Lewis. - I can see it, son. - Are you gonna blast your way through Mr. Lewis? - I don't like it, but we'll have to. Otherwise, it'll take us a day to get through. Emlyn, see to the placing of the shot. - Yes sir. Dave, let's have that powder. - Here it is. - Ned, get me some sludge to back the charge with. - Right you are. - Where you gonna place it?- Right here in the middle of this big stuff. - Okay. - Can you manage, Dave? - It's alright Em. Get 'em in as far as you can. - Nearly ready? In a minute, Mr. Lewis. - Good. - Well, we'd better put little Caruso in a place of safety before the big bang. - Seth... - Poor fellows... - I expect they was caught by that fall. - Connect up, Emlyn. Stand clear, lads! - All set! Let her have it Em. - Roof's a bit shaky... Lloyd, get some of that loose timber over there. - Very good sir.- Morgan, give him a hand. - Yes sir. - Shall we go up to the rise and see how it's looking? - Yes, carry on. - Come on boys. - Morgan, hurry up with that prop! Put it in here. Get it up, steady. - Here you are, sir. - That's right. Get some more timber, Lloyd. - Aye sir. - Which way now, Em? - To the right. We'll try the door. - And we'll have to clear that lot. - What, with these flamin' things on? - There's no gas just here... - Alright, take 'em off. - Well this'll come in handy, Seth. - Yes. - Careful with them Seth. Pile them up on here. - All ready Em. - Clear away Ned. Well...here goes. - Say "open sesame" Dave! - Open...sesame. - The trucks! My God, Mr. Lewis! - Th...this roof is working like yeast! - Don't move Morgan, whatever you do. I'll get another prop. - Alright. Mr. Lewis! Mr. Lewis! Mr. Lewis! Go for it, boys! There! - Any news, Mr. Trevor? - Not yet, Ned. I'm sorry, there's no definite news for you yet. - Do you think they'll get through, Mr. Trevor? - God only knows, my dear. - Yes, only he knows. - I'm afraid it's no use, Nick. That rock still sounds like cast iron. - Well, they must keep on trying. - Do you think we've got a chance, Nick? Of course we have! How does that feel now? - Not so bad. - Here, wet your lips. - That sounds better! - Think so? - Try it further along. - Was that a weak spot? No... No, you take it easy. It's no good tappin' anymore! Let's get at it! - He's right Em, let me have it. - It's pretty hard, Ned. Aye, son. - Nick...Emlyn... Look at this lamp. - Gettin' short of oil, I expect. - Is it, Ned? - The lamp's not short of oil. What it wants is air. I could do with a lungful myself. And a quart of beer apiece wouldn't do us any harm. - Don't waste your breath my boy, for you have little enough left. It's getting pretty thick. We shan't last more than an hour. - Well that's the end of that. - We must be a daft lot! Why didn't we think of it before? - Think of what? - Blasting, of course. Can't we fire a shot and blow our way through? - Aye, that's it! Place a shot at that weak spot David was working on. Give us that blasting powder. - What for? To blow ourselves to pieces? It'll be certain death to fire a shot in a place this size.- It'll be certain death if we don't do something. We can hide ourselves against that rock face around the corner. - That's right! Where's the cable? - Aye, quick let's have it! Weren't you carrying it Dave? - No. Not me, boys. Mr. Lewis had the cable. - Oh, hell! Look at the flamin' thing! Just four foot of rock barrin' our way to the coal face and safety! I'll smash a way through! I'll smash a way through! Steady Nick, steady. - Look lads, look! Here's what we want! Here's cable! This will do the job lads! - It's just possible... - Whoever fires a shot with that won't stand a dog's chance! - Well, it'll be short and sweet for one, and that's better than slow death for us all. I'll have a smack at it. - Well if it's got to be done, we'll draw lots. That's it. - It's you and me for it Nick. They have more dependin' on them than we have. - Oh no...we're not having that. - Not likely. We're ALL in this. - Leave it to me and Nick. - Tip it. - So it's up to you Dave. - Not yet. Me and Ned's going to have our chance. Tip it. - You lose, son. - Well... it's you and me for the final, Em. - Your call Dave. - Now listen Em-- - I said...your call. - Tip it. - You fellas get back there. - Listen, my boy-- - Get back I say! Leave this to me. There isn't much time. Careful... - I'll place the charge for you. - Thanks Dave. - Let's say a word for the boy. Our Father... we... trapped here in the depths of the mine, are asking you to look down on that boy who is risking his life for us. In our Savior's name... amen. - Amen. - For the last time Em, will you listen to me? - It fell to my lot I tell you. - I know, but there's your mother...and Dilys and the other children. - They must take their chance. - And there's Gwen. - For God's sake, shut up! You're tearing the guts out of me. Get back to the others. - Alright... - Then go! - Well Em... All the best son... - Is he hurt? - I can't see a mark on him. Emlyn, Emlyn! - Where's David? What's happened? - So he did it after all. - David! David! Dave... He's dead... - I am the way...and the life. - Amen. - Come on son... We must finish what we set out to do. - You stay with him Seth. We must push on to the coal face. Come on. ♪ Wales, Wales ♪ Home sweet home is Wales ♪ 'Till death be passed ♪ My love shall last ♪ My longing ♪ My yearning ♪ For Wales ♪ Home sweet home is Wales ♪ 'Till death be passed ♪ My love shall last ♪ My longing ♪ My yearning ♪ For Wales ♪ Wales, Wales ♪ Home sweet home is Wales ♪ 'Till death be passed ♪ My love shall last ♪ My longing ♪ My yearning ♪ For Wales ♪ Wales, Wales ♪ Wales!