MovieChat Forums > The Miniver Story (1950) Discussion > ATTENTION!!! Spoiler! Question about the...

ATTENTION!!! Spoiler! Question about the illness of Mrs. Miniver

posted 11 years ago by waldenpond88
2 replies | jump to latest

Compared with Wyler's masterpieces "The Best Years of our Lives" (10 stars) and "The Collector" (8 stars) I rated this one 5 stars and the prequel 6 stars.
Yes, there is much more happening in the first film, because it's WW II. But I found the sequel very touching, a real tear jerker.
What I've noticed: Cathy O'Donnell played in both movies, "The Best Years of our Lives" and "The Miniver Story", Teresa Wright played in "Mrs. Miniver" and "The Best Years of our Lives". Co-incident or intention?

I will definitely watch both movies again.

For those who have watched it, I have a question.
From what terminal disease was Mrs. Miniver dying?
I assume it must have been brain cancer (because of her bouts of dizziness), but am not sure. I think way back then people always died from brain cancer.
Or maybe it was leukemia (sp?)?

I will check for answers from time to time, so your answer will be read in any case.
Thanks!

[–] the lioness 11 years ago

That's a good question. I've seen this film many times before and always thought she was dying of brain cancer. The only reason I can think of for not calling out her illness is because this is a MGM film and they just didn't mention things like that back then. I'm even surprised Kay Miniver had an affair in the film because Garson was never allowed to have affairs on screen. But getting back to the subject, I think Kay Miniver was dying of brain cancer.

[–] thetaylors604 9 years ago

Mrs. Miniver told her husband the illness was a result of what she had gone through in the war. I assumed it was heart disease. No cure for that back then.