Customer Reviews

The Way to the Stars ( Johnny in the Clouds ) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - United Kingdom ]

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

To begin, THE WAY TO THE STARS (a/k/a JOHNNY IN THE CLOUDS, 1945) is one of director Anthony Asquith's finest works (another is THE WINSLOW BOY, see my review). Both these films were written by Terence Rattigan, and I can see no reason why either Asquith or Rattigan are mocked as much as they are.

Note: the title confusion is only a reference to a poem written by one of the characters. In truth, since the main title is both the U.S. and U.K. title, I don't know where the alternate title is supposed to fit!

THE WAY TO THE STARS is a surprising, moving and superbly acted work. It's the story of an RAF Airbase being overtaken by Americans during the war, circa 1942. The cast, headed by Michael Redgrave (Flight Lt. David Archdale) and Trevor Howard as Squadron Ldr. Howard, is absolutely top-notch. In fact, Asquith, who befriended Howard immediately, predicted rightly that Howard would be huge in film. Howard, of course, is legendary today.

Douglas Montgomery, a Connecticut native with a British-sounding lilt to his voice and heartbreaking good looks, plays Lt. Johnny Hollis, the American pilot whose life ends near the end of the film, as Flt. Lt. Archdale's ends at the beginning. Montgomery, who will look totally familiar, did few films and very little tv. He was a bit gay even at this time onscreen, which may account for his lack of future roles: his acting is like none I've ever seen. Cool, sweet, and sincere.

John Mills (GANDHI, BEAN) as Pilot Officer Peter Penrose almost steals the show if not for the presence of Montgomery. The quite stillness, the power, of Mills' performance here is not to be missed in all the history of cinema. Even now I watch Mills and declare I've never watched a Brit actor better than Mills.

Here we have a simply enjoyable tale about the brave pilots and service people fighting and winning WWII. There is no division between Brit and American; the charm of this film is the instant camaraderie formed between the two. With the endearing friendship formed between Hollis and Penrose, nothing is impossible--and it reflects the sadly broken friendship between Penrose and the deceased Archdale. As Penrose calmly walks off into the night at the end, having lost both his best friends but having gained a fiancée, one marvels at the power of human endurance...and of the British stiff upper lip.

The cinematography is ahead of its time; it wouldn't reach these heights until the 1950s. The music is unintrusive though not surprisingly a tad silly, considering the era. What astonishes me most is how modern all the guys are, yet so polite. Clearly this is another age, but it is one I remember well from my early childhood. The women are stunning and alluring, as it should be, with Rosamud John and Joyce Carey marvelously heading the 'fairer cast'. These are strong, determined women.

I cannot stress enough how important it is for families to enjoy cinema together. Such films are so rare today, but THE WAY TO THE STARS is one I cannot recommend highly enough. Get this for your collection, enjoy it over and over, and keep an eye on the fine acting.

This kind of stuff comes along only once in a human era.

Sappy, melodramatic and dated at times, but also very well done, and emotionally
understated enough that the sappiness doesn't take over the experience.

The film traces 4 years in the life of an English Air Force base during WW II (1940-1944). An
interesting approach to a war film, in that the camera never shows battle, never leaves the
ground, but focuses on the lives of the fliers, their officers, and their women. That can lead
to a certain soap opera quality, but also to a film that doesn't feel quite like any other war film I've seen.

The acting is mostly top notch (Michael Redgrave, in particular), although some of
the many characters fall into caricature.

But the film isn't afraid to kill off major characters, and deal with the emotional consequences.
Some of the most interesting and moving scenes are how the men deal with losses with almost
complete suppression of emotion - which feels very honest.

Also, there's some real fun had with the differences between the UK fliers, and the US troops
who join them in 1942.

One of those films my head felt I should rate lower, but I had to admit I enjoyed far more
than I expected.

As an aviation historian, this movie is one of my favourites. Made when most of the aircraft depicted were still flying - and in service - helps tell the tale. It's set entirely on a WW2 air base in Britain, and in the adjacent village, and avoids combat sequences entirely.
Written by two lads, one in the USAAF and one in the RAF, it sums up a typical history of many communities like those depicted. Running from the desperate early war years with outdated light bombers, we get to know the RAF "types - just in time for them to be posted to North Africa and out of the story, apart from a couple remaining to liaise with the "Yanks" who have now entered the war.
The large middle slab of story is about the mixed bag of Americans and the local Brits coming to terms with new social concepts. There are stereotypes on both sides, but if the Brits have their contemptuous old harridans an "Pilot Officer Prunes", so they have heroes. And for every brash Yank there's another who's a perfect gentleman.
It's a product of its era. The dialogue may appear stilted, but manners were as they were back then. The atmosphere is as much a part of the period as the vintage Ansons and rumbling B-17s.