The Way to the Stars (1945)

Director:

Anthony Asquith

Writers:

John Pudney (poems)
Terence Rattigan (scenario)

Release Date:

16 June 1945 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | War

Plot:

Life on a British bomber base, and the surrounding towns, from the opening days of the Battle of Britain...

Plot Keywords:

Bomber | RAF | Usaaf | WWII | Boeing B 17

Cast

Michael Redgrave	...	Flight Lt. David Archdale
John Mills	...	Pilot Officer Peter Penrose
Rosamund John	...	Miss 'Toddy' Todd
Douglass Montgomery	...	Johnny Hollis
Renée Asherson	...	Iris Winterton (as Renee Asherson)
Stanley Holloway	...	Mr. Palmer
Basil Radford	...	Tiny Williams
Felix Aylmer	...	Rev. Charles Moss
Bonar Colleano	...	Joe Friselli (as Bonar Colleano Jnr)
Joyce Carey	...	Miss Winterton
Trevor Howard	...	Squadron Leader Carter
Nicholas Stuart	...	Col. Rogers (as Tryon Nichol)
Bill Owen	...	Sgt. 'Nobby' Clarke (as Bill Rowbotham)
Grant Miller	...	Wally Becker
Jean Simmons	...	A Singer

Also Known As:

Johnny in the Clouds (USA)

Runtime:

USA:87 min | UK:109 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

UK:U | Australia:G | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Bedale, North Yorkshire, England, UK

Company:

Two Cities Films

Trivia:

The poem recited by John Mills is titled "For Johnny". It is an ode to RAF pilots written by John Pudney (1909-1977).

Goofs:

Anachronisms: As the American pilot alights to join the first US bombers leaving to bomb the Nazis on "Aug. 17" (1942) his Mae West is visibly stenciled: "Insp 5/3/44" .

Quotes:

Johnny Hollis: [mocking army issue instruction manuals] One gin and tonic, size large, sir, for the use of.

Movie Connections:

Featured in War Stories (2006) (TV)

A brilliant moving, subtle picture of war

The reason why I choose this film as probably one of the greatest of its time, is that it focus' on the main characters to such a terrific extent, that you actually begin to appreciate their dramatic appearances. Other British War films of the forties, such as 'Went the Day Well?' and 'Fires Were Started' were effective in raising the public awareness of war in a unique way, but somewhat lacked in creating characters that you actually cared about. This is where 'Way to the Stars' achieves on so many levels - creating characters rather than themes, which show the true nature of war. The characters also represent some of the characteristics that made war so terrible. It's hard to go into much detail without spoiling the film - so I'll keep my my closing comment short.

This film is a true gem of British film-making. It's a shame that it isn't up there with other war romances such as 'Casablanca' or 'Gone With The Wind'. I think it deserves it.