It’s never going to get the full credit it deserves.
On one hand, this is a superbly-crafted tale of life among the coalminers of South Wales, achingly beautiful and emotional.
On the other, it’s the film which beat Citizen Kane at the Oscars, so it usually leads off discussions of Best Picture winners which some people think don’t deserve the honor.
Nonsense, that distinction belongs to junk like The Bore of the Rings or Shakespeare in Love.
This John Ford flick can stand on its own merits, and they’re many.
Approach it with an open mind, and discover for yourself.