The Stars Look Down is a 1975 British television adaptation written by Alan Plater from A. J. Cronin's 1935 novel The Stars Look Down. The Granada Television production was directed by Roland Joffé, Alan Grint and Howard Baker and starred Ian Hastings as David Fenwick and Susan Tracy as his wife, Jenny. Other versions include a 1940 British film and a 1971 Italian television adaptation.
Set between 1910 and 1930, the story follows the lives of people from the coal mining town of Sleescale in North East England. David Fenwick and Joe Gowlan both leave the mines hoping for better prospects, while the mine owner's son Arthur Barras comes into conflict with his father.
Cast
Ian Hastings as David Fenwick
Alun Armstrong as Joe Gowlan
James Bate as Sammy Fenwick
Rod Culbertson as Hughie Fenwick
Geoffrey Davion as Stanley Millington
Basil Dignam as Richard Barras
Avril Elgar as Martha Fenwick
Adrienne Frank as Hetty Todd
Valerie Georgeson as Laura Millington
Ronald Herdman as Jim Mawson
Barbara Hickmott as Hilda Barras
Norman Jones as Robert Fenwick
David Markham as Adam Todd
Ronald Radd as Tom Heddon
Anne Raitt as Annie Mercer
Christian Rodska as Arthur Barras
Catherine Terris as Grace Barras
Susan Tracy as Jenny Sunley
Malcolm Terris as Harry Nugent
James Garbutt as Hudspeth
John Nightingale as Jack Reedy
Morrissey as Boy on Bicycle (extra)
Adam Barak as Boy on beach (extra)
George Bannister as Sammy Fenwick