The Stars Look Down (1940)

Davey Fenwick (Sir Michael Redgrave) leaves his mining village on a university scholarship intent on returning to better support the miners against the owners. But he falls in love with ... See full summary »

Director:

Carol Reed

Writers:

A.J. Cronin (from the book by), J.B. Williams (screen play)

Stars:

Michael Redgrave, Margaret Lockwood, Edward Rigby

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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 (as George Carnay)
Ivor Barnard	...	Wept
Olga Lindo	...	Mrs. Sunley
Desmond Tester	...	Hughie Fenwick
David Markham	...	Arthur Barras
Aubrey Mallalieu	...	Hudspeth

Storyline

Davey Fenwick (Sir Michael Redgrave) leaves his mining village on a university scholarship intent on returning to better support the miners against the owners. But he falls in love with Jenny (Margaret Lockwood) who gets him to marry her and return home as local schoolteacher before finishing his degree. Davey finds he is ill-at-ease in his role, the more so when he realizes Jenny still loves her former boyfriend. When he finds that his father and the other miners are going to have to continue working on a possibly deadly coal seam he decides to act.

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Plot Keywords:

miner | strike | younger brother | stroke | rescue attempt | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Carol Reed disowned this movie, calling it "a gloomy little piece". He expected it to be a box-office disaster and was highly surprised when wartime audiences warmed enthusiastically to it.

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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!

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Alternate Versions

The U.S. release included additional narration spoken by an uncredited Lionel Barrymore.

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Connections

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

User Reviews

to say how much I enjoyed the social aspect of this movie

I recently purchased this outstanding movie on video. Michael Redgrave has always been one of the finest actors of his generation and his performance in this film only serves to strenghten my opinion. I was very surprised by the way a film of this era, concentrated so much on the social and economic deprivation of the mining community in Great Britan, surely one of the largest workforce of the time. The struggle for better conditions and the respect of their employers as workers and human beings is perhaps the crux of this story but the underlying sub-plots of human greed and subterfuge made sure my interest never waned. It is to me most memorable as a story of the ordinary man, struggling through adversity, always with dignity and self-respect. Despite the often bleak surroudings and the fact that it is also shot in B&W to maximize this atmosphere, it never depressed me and left me feeling good,long after the last of the credits had rolled.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 September 1940 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

...a hvézdy mlcí

Filming Locations:

Great Clifton and St Helens Siddick Colliery, Workington, Cumbria, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Grafton Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min 90 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Ultra Violet Recording) (uncredited)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1