The Valley of Decision ** (1945, Greer Garson, Gregory Peck, Lionel Barrymore, Donald Crisp, Preston Foster, Gladys Cooper, Marsha Hunt, Reginald Owen, Dan Duryea, Jessica Tandy, Barbara Everest, Marshall Thompson, Dean Stockwell) – Classic Movie Review 13,832  

MGM’s tempestuous 1945 romantic film The Valley of Decision stars Greer Garson as an Irish serving girl, who falls for a posh chap (Gregory Peck), but he then gets engaged to a bossy loveless woman (Jessica Tandy).

Director Tay Garnett’s 1945 MGM tempestuous black and white romantic film The Valley of Decision is adapted by Sonya Levien and John Meehan from Marcia Davenport’s 1942 novel, and stars Greer Garson, Gregory Peck, Lionel Barrymore, Donald Crisp, Preston Foster, Gladys Cooper, Marsha Hunt, Reginald Owen, Dan Duryea, Jessica Tandy, Barbara Everest, Marshall Thompson, and Dean Stockwell.

Oscar-nominated Greer Garson plays an Irish serving girl, Mary Rafferty, who falls for posh chap Paul Scott (Gregory Peck), much to his family’s dismay, and to the shock of her own family because his father (Donald Crisp) owned the steel mine where an accident caused the death of her brother and the incapacity of her father (Lionel Barrymore). But then Paul Scott (Peck) gets engaged to the bossy loveless Louise Kane (Jessica Tandy)…

Plenty of tears are shed and harsh words spoken in this tale set in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the 1870s, but it fails to stir the blood despite the efforts of a fine crop of MGM’s worthiest. The top cast offers tremendous value, though, and this rarely now seen item is a great-looking film with the most handsome of production designs.

Thanks to the popular Garson-Peck star pairing, it was a big hit at the time, however, costing $2,165,000 and earning $4,566,000 in North America and $3,530,000 elsewhere, making MGM a profit of $3,480,000. This was lucky for the stars and MGM, because Peck replaced John Hodiak, who was actually born in Pittsburgh, shortly before shooting began, but admittedly not so good for John Hodiak.

The film was nominated for Oscars for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Greer Garson) and Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture (Herbert Stothart). It is Garson’s sixth nomination and her fifth consecutive nomination, a record (tied with Bette Davis) for most consecutive Best Actress nominations that still stands. Garson won once for Mrs Miniver, the highest grossing film of 1942.

The film was shot at Culver City with a large steel mill set designed by Cedric Gibbons and Paul Groesse. The Lot Three sets used for Pittsburgh street scenes had been built for Meet Me in St Louis.

Also in the cast are Mary Lord, John Warburton, Mary Currier, Arthur Shields, Russell Hicks, Geraldine Wall, Norman Ollstead, Connie Gilchrist, Richard Abbott, Joy Harrington, Lumsden Hare, Anna Q Nilsson, Mike Ryan.

Dean Stockwell, aged eight during filming, makes his film debut.

© Derek Winnert 2026 – Classic Movie Review 13,832

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