How Green Was My Valley | FONY Melody

[Clash Cadillac]

I watched John Ford's 1941 movie How Green Is My Valley last night as it was pointed out to me that a song near the beginning right after the first wedding scene has the same melody as FONY. Does anyone know the name of this traditional melody?

[Clash Cadillac]

Has there never been any mention of the melody that FONY is based on in any of these threads or other media?

[ginggang]

Has there never been any mention of the melody that FONY is based on in any of these threads or other media?

According to the FONY documentary, the opening piano sequence on the song was similar to Ennio Morricones's theme from the Sergio Leone film "Once Upon a Time in America" and the similarites are quite noticable.
Wether the resemlance was purely coincidental is for others to confirm or didmiss. Though the band were very much into the film at the time FONY was evolving.
Great film, great music.

I have seen "How Green was my Valley" but I dont recall the music so basically I've been of little help to you

[philipchevron]

Has there never been any mention of the melody that FONY is based on in any of these threads or other media?

According to the FONY documentary, the opening piano sequence on the song was similar to Ennio Morricones's theme from the Sergio Leone film "Once Upon a Time in America" and the similarites are quite noticable.
Wether the resemlance was purely coincidental is for others to confirm or didmiss. Though the band were very much into the film at the time FONY was evolving.
Great film, great music.

I have seen "How Green was my Valley" but I dont recall the music so basically I've been of little help to you

It's not actually the opening piano sequence which echoes Once Upon A Time In America, but the first few notes of the vocal line - "It was Christmas Eve, babe". And yes, it was a deliberate quote. By aligning ourselves with so panoramic and poetic a film, an American tale told by a non-American (Leone/Morricone), we were signalling our own attempt to achieve something similar in 4.5 minutes.

It must be 40 years sin ce I last saw How Green Was My Valley, so I'm not much help either. I do intend to check it out, however.

[Clash Cadillac]

Thanks Philip. I just received notice from Blockbuster that Once Upon a Time in America will be landing on my doorstep any day, so the timing of your post was excellent. I have not watched this film previously.

As you may have guessed, Harry pointed me to How Green Was My Valley, which has lovely cinematography by the way. The melody in question appears during the rice throwing ceremony at 13:40 minutes into the film and lasts about 30 seconds.