“The Stars Look Down”- Another Cronin Film

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20988, 15 December 1939, Page 4

“The Stars Look Down ”- Another Cronin Film

Cinema ♦ . . Snapshots

Production on what many people consider to be Dr. A- J. Cronin's greatest novel, “The Stars Ix>ok Down,” is now well under way. The picture is being directed by Carol Reed, for Grand National release, and has Michael Redgrave in the leading role as the North Country miner who works his way from the pit to the House cf Commons, then, disillusioned at the way in •vhich his suggestions for reform are completely ignored, returns to his native village to continue work in the mine. Many actors have gone through a certain amount of hardship for the sake of realism. Redgrave probably takes the cake. When a unit went up into Cumberland to collect exterior shots for the mining scenes, Redgrave insisted on going with them, and, moreover, he insisted upon spending an afternoon in a mine. The colliery visited, at Workington, is anout a thousand feet deep, and runs out from the land under the sea Redgrave changed into the miner’s oullit which he wears in the film descended in the cage and began to gtope his way, with a guide, along to the coal face, about two miles away from the bottom of the shaft. Unused to the cramped position, his muscles were well strained when he reached the narrow tunnel, less than twenty inches high and nearly half a mile long. Eventually, however, Redgrave came to the coal face, was introduced to the miners who were already at work, and was given a set of tools. For the rest of the journey, he helped them hew the coal A few days later, when he was returning to London, a deputation of miners met him et the station to present him with a piece of coal he l .ad cut. Emlyn Williams and Margaret Lockwood, who has returned from the United States, make up the supporting cast of the film.