The Way to the Stars

I saw this film in Britain as a child when it first came out. The whole of our little town talked about it for days after it was shown in our single cinema. Of course, our population had been swollen by forces personnel, including airmen, so we were intimately familiar with the kind of events shown in the film. Now, learning from your web site the details of the distinguished writers, cast and production team, I understand better why it made such a deep impression. In brief, the film embodies the spirit of Britain as I remember it: firm resolve to defeat the Nazi evil, together with the consciousness of the tragedies and also the comic moments of World War II. This is something that is hard to imagine today, in Britain or elsewhere, and especially since the disillusionment produced by the Vietnam War. If only for this reason, the film is an invaluable testimony, truly portraying how British society was then. Other films from the 1940s are repeated constantly on TV; I have been waiting over fifty years to see this one again. Isn't it time for a video/DVD?

Curiously enough, I first came across this film in Halliwell's Film Guide. Idly leafing through the pages, I came across this comment: "..One of the few films which instantly bring back the atmosphere of the war in Britain for anyone who was involved." While the Second World War ended many years before I was born, it sounded interesting and I made a mental note that it might be a good film to watch if ever I had the chance.

Months later, I was looking through my local tv guide in the list of movies that were on. I noticed "The Way to the Stars", and some little bell in the recesses of my memory began to toll. I looked up the movie in my film guide -- and decided that I had to see it.

As it turned out, that was a very happy decision. Others of the Second World War generation might be able to identify with the people and the setting of the film. I cannot, but I loved this movie for all the other reasons -- it really is a wonderful movie, a sad (and heroic) story of people during the war. Critics might provide an analysis of plot, characterisation etc, as a reason why it's such a good movie. I won't bother. I'll merely give this summary: It's one of my favourite films, it deserves to be better known, and you should see it if you get the chance.

This film was a tribute to the British and American bomber pilots who risked so much during WWII. While it is relatively simple in style, it was a lovely and effective film showing the human side of war. As the movie begins, it is just the British against the Germans in 1940 and a new pilot, John Mills, arrives at the airfield. Old hands, such as the Commander (Trevor Howard) and Michael Redgrave welcome the rookie and the climate is pretty grim. The film then jumps two years and it's 1942--American bomber crews are arriving and excited about getting into the action. A bit later, the film then jumps to 1944--as the war is nearing the end.

While this is a film about bomber crews, no shots of the crews on missions are used and most of the action takes place at a pub next to the base. Here, the crew members unwind and you learn about them as their characters slowly reveal themselves. What I particularly liked is that there were no bigger than life heroes here--just decent men who bravely did their jobs and tried to maintain their sanity through it all. Because of this, the performances were generally understated and realistic--like we are peering through a window into the past. Also, and I don't want to reveal any specifics, I liked how many of the main characters died through the course of the film--heightening both the realism and reminding us just how high the cost was for freedom.

Exceptional acting, writing and direction make this one of the better war films of the era and in many ways is like an aerial version of IN WHICH WE SERVE. Superb.

The day i watched this film it was cold and damp outside, I settled in, turned up the heating, supplied myself with tea and cigarettes and was transported back to a black & white time in the 1940's when the world was fighting to keep Hitler at bay. The film is set on a RAF airfield, following the lives of several characters throughout the war. The filmmakers have done a great job in putting together an excellent cast, including the ever watchable John Mills,a young Bill Owen (Compo-only British people will know what I mean) Basil Radford and Michael Redgrave.The acting and screen writing is very natural and you are quickly sucked in to a way of life, of living, manners, morals, speech patterns, quiet heroism, that just doesn't exist anymore. There is no battles or bombings, all we see are the planes taking off and landing, but we don't need that, this film is about people and love and relationships, humour in the face of adversity, having to accept the death of your friends. There is good comedy relief in the shape the American air force guys who come to the base and the great Stanley Holloway. Check this film out it is excellent

The great thing about this war flying film is that there's hardly any flying in it. It's all about the terrible toll war takes on normal people. What makes it so gripping to a modern audience is how the characteristic emotional restraint of people at that time is so faithfully portrayed. That's why it doesn't date. You just know that's how people really were back then.

Above all, it's the Rattigan screenplay, with its wonderful trilogical structure that speaks out.

If you want to see how people really felt and acted in England in WW2, in a beautiful, tragic film, then you must see it.