THE STARS LOOK DOWN

UK, 1939, 100 minutes, Black and white.
Michael Redgrave, Margaret Lockwood, Edward Rigby, Emlyn Williams, Nancy Price, Allan Jeayes, Cecil Parker, Linden Travers.
Directed by Carol Reed.

The Stars Look Down is a classic British film of the late '30s. It is a portrait of the working class, a homage to the working class and the clash with capitalism. The setting is Wales, the coalmines, the double-dealings of the owners, their shifty methods and lack of safety precautions. The focus is also on the miners and their striking.

The film is based on a novel by A.J. Cronin, was directed by Carol Reed at the beginning of his career (later to make such films as Odd Man Out, The Fallen Idol, The Third Man, and win an Oscar for Oliver). The strong cast is led by Michael Redgrave and Margaret Lockwood (who appeared in The Lady Vanishes at this time), Emlyn Williams and Edward Rigby. It is a strong piece of film-making reflecting attitudes of the '20s and '30s.

1. The status of the film as a classic? Portrait of British workers? Social issues? A piece of social history?

2. The work of A.J. Cronin, his perceptions of ordinary people, struggles? Translation of the novel to the screen?

3. The sets, black and white photography, the atmosphere of period? Musical score?

4. The title and its focus? Wales, the mines, the town, families, strikers, workers, owners? Money and lack of money? Unions and strikes? Repercussions?

5. The portrait of the father of the family, his work with the unions, personal strength and influence, skill as a speaker, his participation in the strikes, his relationship with his friends, with his severe wife, his children, at work? The disaster, his contact with the owners, the support of the men trapped, death? A portrait of the ideal miner?

6. The range of workers in the mines, their conditions, the range of ages, experience? Difficulties and the strikes? Provocation and the riot sequences? The passing of time, the nature of deals, at the mercy of the owners? The background activities of the workers - the young men and their sport? Singing?

7. The portrait of the owners, talking with the miners, their wealth and power, lies and deception, the handling of the strike, protests? The law? The men going back to work, the mine disaster - and the lies? The owner and his reaction? His death?

8. David and his place in the family, relationship with his father, his mother and her severe manner, the farewell, working in the mine, leaving to study? An intelligent young man, university career and its effect? His friendship with Joe, meeting him in the city, the meal, the encounter with Jenny? Falling in love, the courtship? The marriage, their life together, Jenny's disappointment with him, his need to be committed to his town and family, the workers? The separation? In the town, work, hopes, the disaster, his stances and his legal support for the betterment of the men's conditions?

9. Jenny and her relationship with Joe, at the pictures, the meal and the date, admiring David and his being clever, the courtship, marrying him? Her growing complaints, her saving face with Joe's visit? Her decision to leave?

10. Joe and his place in the town, the small-time conman, leaving, hustling, his relationship with women, the bets and his wealthy contacts, the relationship with Jenny, foisting her off onto David? The contrast with David?

11. A portrait of Britain in the '20s and '30s, social conditions between the wars, the long mining tradition in Wales, hardships, the struggle for better conditions? The relevance of the film in later decades?