The Way to the Stars (1945): Cast & Plot
The Way to the Stars is a 1945 romantic drama directed by Anthony Asquith, starring John Mills as Pilot Officer Peter Penrose, Charles Farrell and Michael Redgrave. It runs 1 hour 49 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 49m (109 min)
- Director
- Anthony Asquith
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Two Cities Films
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Way to the Stars About?
The premise of The Way to the Stars without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Set on a British bomber base from the Battle of Britain’s start through the arrival of American crews, the film follows Pilot Officer Peter Penrose as he confronts wartime life. He falls for Iris, a hotel girl, but a raid that kills the squadron commander leaves his wife widowed with a son, crushing his marriage hopes. As the war drags on, Peter learns to live with surviving while comrades fall.
The Way to the Stars Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- year 1944
- year 1942
- year 1940
- pinup girl
- five word title
- air base
- air raid shelter
- drinking beer
- widow
- england
- nickname
- bomber aircraft
+38 more Show fewer
- bomber pilot
- pheasant
- mess hall
- starts with narration
- female singer
- mission
- chalk
- dart
- aviation
- engagement
- warplane
- bomber plane
- airforce
- allies
- cricket the sport
- royal air force
- soldier
- 1940s
- hotel
- american
- squadron
- hotel manageress
- pilot
- bomber
- air raid
- marriage
- friendship
- death
- commanding officer
- battle of britain
- obnoxiousness
- aircrew
- air crew
- uniform
- air attack
- reciting poetry
- chicago illinois
- reference to the three bears
The Way to the Stars Cast & Characters
John Mills leads the cast as Pilot Officer Peter Penrose, with Charles Farrell as American Orderly and Michael Redgrave as Flight Lt. David Archdale. Directed by Anthony Asquith; 33 actors are credited in all.
- Director Anthony Asquith
-
John Mills as Pilot Officer Peter Penrose - Charles Farrell as American Orderly
- Michael Redgrave as Flight Lt. David Archdale
-
Trevor Howard as Squadron Leader Carter
Also Starring in The Way to the Stars
· 29 more- Renée Asherson Iris Winterton
- Rosamund John Miss Todd
- Douglass Montgomery Johnny Hollis
- Bonar Colleano Joe Friselli
- Felix Aylmer Rev. Charles Moss
- Jean Simmons A Singer
- Stanley Holloway Mr. Palmer
- Joyce Carey Miss Winterton
- Charles Victor Corporal Fitter
- John Howard Shelter Officer
- Johnnie Schofield Jones
- David Tomlinson 'Prune' Parsons
- Anthony Dawson Bertie Steen
- Bill Owen Sgt. 'Nobby' Clarke
- Basil Radford 'Tiny' Williams
- Vida Hope Elsie
Show all 33 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Murray Matheson Joe Lawson
- Alf Goddard PT Instructor
- Hugh Dempster 'Tinker' Bell
- Hartley Power Colonel Page
- Nicholas Stuart Colonel Rogers (as Tryon Nichol)
- John McLaren 'Cheerio' Chester
- Jacqueline Clarke Waitress
- Caven Watson RAF Corporal
- Ann Wilton Schoolmistress
- Peter Cotes Aircraftsman
- Sydney Benson Fred
- Bill Logan Radio Operator
- Grant Miller Wally Becker
The Way to the Stars Plot Summary
What happens in The Way to the Stars from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The film opens on an abandoned airfield—the fictional RAF Station Halfpenny Field—where the shadows of war linger in the dust and the small details seen at the start will circle back as the story unfolds. Pilot Officer Peter Penrose is introduced as a very new and exceptionally inexperienced pilot, having logged only about 15 hours in Bristol Blenheims. He is posted in the summer of 1940 to No. 720 Squadron, RAF, an operational bomber unit stationed at this newly established airfield, and he serves in B Flight under Flight Lieutenant David Archdale.
Full summary
The whole story of The Way to the Stars, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know The Way to the Stars?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What rank does Peter Penrose eventually achieve by the end of the film?
The Way to the Stars Also Known As
8 alternative titles, including “Johnny in the Clouds” and “Más allá de las nubes”.
- Also known as
-
- Johnny in the Clouds
- Más allá de las nubes
- Le Chemin des étoiles
- Через тернии к звёздам
- O Caminho das Estrelas
- 战火云天
- 구름 속의 자니
- Cap a les estrelles
Seen The Way to the Stars?
Movies Like The Way to the Stars
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The War Lover, A Yank in the R.A.F. and The Starfighters.
The Way to the Stars FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Way to the Stars, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Way to the Stars?
The Way to the Stars runs 1 hour 49 minutes (109 minutes).
When was The Way to the Stars released?
The Way to the Stars was released on June 16, 1945.
Who directed The Way to the Stars?
The Way to the Stars was directed by Anthony Asquith.
More films by Anthony Asquith Who is in the cast of The Way to the Stars?
The Way to the Stars stars John Mills as Pilot Officer Peter Penrose, Charles Farrell as American Orderly and Michael Redgrave as Flight Lt. David Archdale, among 33 credited actors.
Does The Way to the Stars have a post-credit scene?
No. The Way to the Stars has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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