The Stars Look Down (1940)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Carol Reed

Writers:

A.J. Cronin (novel)
A. Coppel (scenario) ...

Release Date:

24 February 1940 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Davey Fenwick leaves his mining village on a university scholarship intent on returning to better support the miners against the owners...

Plot Keywords:

Miner | Teacher | Rescue Attempt | England | Coal Mine

Cast

Michael Redgrave	...	Davey Fenwick
Margaret Lockwood	...	Jenny Sunley
Emlyn Williams	...	Joe Gowlan
Nancy Price	...	Martha Fenwick
Allan Jeayes	...	Richard Barras
Edward Rigby	...	Robert Fenwick
Linden Travers	...	Mrs. Laura Millington
Cecil Parker	...	Stanley Millington
Milton Rosmer	...	Harry Nugent, MP
George Carney	...	Slogger Gowlan
Ivor Barnard	...	Wept
Olga Lindo	...	Mrs. Sunley
Desmond Tester	...	Hughie Fenwick
David Markham	...	Arthur Barras
Aubrey Mallalieu	...	Hudspeth

Runtime:

110 min | West Germany:90 min (TV)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-12 | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (1997)

Filming Locations:

Cumbria, England, UK

Company:

Grafton Films

Quotes:

[first lines]
Richard Barras: Well, Fenwick, will the men work tomorrow?
Robert Fenwick: Not if its to be in Scupper Flats, Mr. Barras.
[indicating a well-dressed union official]
Richard Barras: Even against your union?
Robert Fenwick: The union isn't being asked to work in Scupper Flats. On the other side of that coal seam is a million tons of flood water ready to rush right down on top of us.
Richard Barras: You don't think I'd take a chance in floodin' me own mine, do you, Fenwick?
Robert Fenwick: Well, show us the plans of them old workings, then!

Movie Connections:

Version of "...e le stelle stanno a guardare" (1971)

Essential, dark drama

Director Carol Reeds version of A.J. Cronins novel of poverty, greed and unfulfilled dreams still seems fresh today despite its sixty years.

Michael Redgrave stars as Davey Fenwick, a bright man from a poor mining background, who wins a scholarship to university. He hopes to graduate and then enter politics, so as to work to end the suffering of his kith and kin and their ilk.

However, his plans change when he meets and falls in love with Jenny Sunley (played by Margaret Lockwood), a strikingly beautiful but manipulative and materialistic little minx who has just been cruelly dumped (why???) by her boyfriend, Daveys old friend, the ruthlessly ambitious Joe Gowlan (Emlyn Williams). Understandably smitten, Davey marries the lovely but self-centred Jenny and, at her instigation, quits university and moves home to work as a schoolteacher. But his world is turned upside down when trouble at the pit, Jennys restlessness and the reappearance of Joe, whom Jenny still loves and who is now flashily well-to-do,combine.

At the time, this was one of the most expensive films ever made in Britain. But it was well worth the investment. It assured Carol Reeds reputation and gave to film audiences and to posterity a grimly realistic picture of life at the sharp end in 30s Britain. The all-star cast too got a chance to show their ability, giving terrific performances; Redgrave is superb as the disillusioned idealist, Williams is thoroughly unpleasant as the unfeeling, cynical Joe while Margaret Lockwood, one-time screen ingénue in her first wicked girl role, gives a wonderful performance as the drop-dead gorgeous, vixenish, gold-digging Jenny.

As social commentary this is a great movie, but, on another, more profound level,it works as a dark, despairing canvas depicting the often destructive nature of human relationships. Essential viewing!