Day 7: Mrs Miniver

Mrs Miniver (1942) is set in England in the early days of World War II including the Battle of Britain and the evacuation at Dunkirk.  Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon are wonderful as they individually and together shift from focusing on the day to day cares of life to coming to understand the dangers and sacrifice of war for them and their children.  Filmed and released during the war the tone is clearly to keep up morale but the excellent performances give the film a substance that stands the test of time.

Downton Abbey fans watch for the plot line that perhaps Julian Fellows knowingly recycled in Season 1.