For Martin especially--great war movie.

C.Evans · #1 (**permalink**) January 28th, 2008, 09:42 PM

Hi Martin, this is especially for you and I was wondering, Have you seen this excellent film by the name of: "The Way to the Stars?" This movie stars Sirs: John Mills and Michael Redgrave--respectively and also Trevor Howard.

The movie I think was filmed in 1945 and deals with British and American Bomber Squadrons sharing the same airfield. Anyway, I watched it mainly just because Sir John Mills was in it. I liked it and would snag a copy of it if it were available on video or DvD.

Anyway, I was wondering if you've heard or seen this movie before and what you thought of it? I liked it as a first time seer.

Stefan · #2 (**permalink**) January 28th, 2008, 09:51 PM

Good film, love it!

C.Evans · #3 (**permalink**) January 28th, 2008, 10:10 PM

Thanks Stefan, and it's a darn shame it's not yet out on DvD. I missed a few minutes of it here and there but saw most of it.

Stefan · #4 (**permalink**) January 28th, 2008, 10:30 PM

It's the one with the 'Jonnie' poem isn't it? It is on tele over here from time to time and I think my Dad used to have it on VHS.

uksubs · #5 (**permalink**) January 29th, 2008, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C.Evans

Thanks Stefan, and it's a darn shame it's not yet out on DvD. I missed a few minutes of it here and there but saw most of it.

Its a great film & I've got it on video
Saw it the first time when i was a kid

Martin Bull · #6 (**permalink**) January 29th, 2008, 07:14 AM

Hello Carl...

Yes, the movie is a classic of its kind and is a notch above the average war movie of the time ( although IMPO a few of notches below Twelve O'Clock High ).

It's probably best known for the recital of the poem and in fact John Pudney, who wrote it, was one of the credited screenplay writers. Pudney is today sneered at by 'proper' poets which I think is rather unfair, some of his wartime poems are simple, direct and struck a chord with 'ordinary' service people.

I also like the film because it features Bonar Colleano Jnr, an excellent actor who died tragically young and today is almost completely forgotten, it seems.....

Von Poop · #7 (**permalink**) January 29th, 2008, 08:52 AM

Top film!

For Johnny.
Do not despair for Johnny head in air,
He sleeps as sound as Johnny underground.
Fetch out no shroud for Johnny in the cloud,
And keep your tears for him in after years.
Better by far for Johnny the bright star,
To keep your head and see his children fed.

Ironically based/derived from on a German children's poem by Heinrich Hoffman:

Johnny Head in Air.
As he trudged along to school,
It was always Johnny's rule

To be looking at the sky
And the clouds that floated by;
But what just before him lay,
In his way,
Johnny never thought about;
So that everyone cried out,
"Look at little Johnny there,
Little Johnny Head-in-Air!"
Running just in Johnny's way
Came a little dog one day;
Johnny's eyes were still astray
Up on high,
In the sky;
And he never heard them cry
"Johnny, mind, the dog is nigh!"
Bump!
Dump!
Down they fell, with such a thump,
Dog and Johnny in a lump!
Once, with head as high as ever,
Johnny walked beside the river.
Johnny watched the swallows trying
Which was cleverest at flying.
Oh! what fun!
Johnny watched the bright round sun
Going in and coming out;
This was all he thought about.
So he strode on, only think!
To the river's very brink,
Where the bank was and steep,
And the water very deep;
And the fishes, in a row,
Stared to see him coming so.
One step more! oh! sad to tell!
Headlong in poor Johnny fell.
And the fishes, in dismay,
Wagged their tails and swam away.
There lay Johnny on his face,
With his nice red writing-case;
But, as they were passing by,
Two strong men had heard him cry;
And, with sticks, these two strong men
Hooked poor Johnny out again.
Oh! you should have seen him shiver
When they pulled him from the river.
He was in a sorry plight,
Dripping wet, and such a fright!
Wet all over, everywhere,
Clothes, and arms, and face, and hair:
Johnny never will forget
What it is to be so wet.
And the fishes, one, two, three,
Are come back again, you see;
Up they came the moment after,
To enjoy the fun and laughter.
Each popped out his little head,
And, to tease poor Johnny, said
"Silly little Johnny, look,
You have lost your writing-book!"

Cheers,
Adam.

bigfun · #8 (**permalink**) January 29th, 2008, 02:06 PM

Hey Carl!
I found it on DVD on ebay, here is the link!
THE WAY TO THE STARS UK WWII AIRWAR DVD $FREE SHIPPING! - eBay (item 370017704287 end time Feb-06-08 12:03:10 PST)

hope that's the right one!!

C.Evans · #9 (**permalink**) January 29th, 2008, 09:58 PM

Cheers, Stefan, UK Subs, Martin, Adam and Scott,

Stefan, I was going to answer your question but Martin beat me to the punch ;-))

UK, thanks for your input, glad many of you guys know of this fine film. I guess the film had a better chance with me because im partial to Sir John Mills and Trevor Howard. I think this is one of the first movies I ever saw with Sir Michael Redgrave in one.

Adam, as always, you have me in awe of you, thanks for posting those poems ;-)) Im not one who reads poetry often but, I enjoyed those words you posted. I missed some of the scene in the movie where it was recited.

Scott, mega thanks about finding it on DvD. Looks like the ""film critic"" leonard maltin, wwas in error as he said the movie was not out on DvD. Guess he can't keep up with them all ;-)) Anyway, im going to see if I can snag a copy off Amazon--thanks for the link ;-))

Now if I could only just get me mitts on a copy of: Hannible Brooks, A Time To Love and a Time To Die, Anzacs: The War Down Under and, The Lighthorsemen, on DvD; and i'll be a happy camper the rest of the year ;-))

Just checked the ebay link and I think it's regio 2? but I have a way around that so it matters not too much ;-))