Stars Look Down, The

An opening shot of the Neptune Colliery in Sleescale, somewhere in the north east of England. Anthony McKay advises that much of the studio work for this production was completed at Twickenham, however, his research turned up a cutting from 21st August 1939's Kine Weekly which explains that this capture features a huge set that was constructed at Shepperton Studios' Sound City in Middlesex.

A panorama of Sleescale. John Brown advises that this is Maryport in Cumberland, looking south over the docks from near the Roman Station with the Solway Ironworks chimneys in the left distance.

As a strike at the colliery continues, Martha Fenwick (Nancy Price) goes to the local butcher to ask for meat. Possibly a studio set but included for the sake of completeness.

Ramage the butcher (Edmund Willard) refuses to give meat to Will (James Harcourt) one the striking miners. Another set included for completeness.

Davey Fenwick sets out by train from the local station to attend university in Tynecastle. Workington Central Station, on the Cleator and Workington Junction Railway. The station closed in 1931.

The train departs. Workington Central Station. The bridge carries Oxford Street over the line which is now a roadway. Central Way, Workington in Cumberland.

Davey Fenwick (Michael Redgrave) speaks with Jenny Sunley (Margaret Lockwood) outside Baddeley College at Tynecastle University. An unknown location which is likely to be a studio set.

Establishing shot of the Neptune Colliery. This looks very much like the now vanished St. Helen's Colliery at Siddick near Workington in Cumberland.

To celebrate the closing of the Scupper Flats seam in the colliery, a football match takes place between Sleescale and Gateport.

People hear the alarm whistle sound as the mine is flooded. Derwent Road, Moss Bay in Workington, also known as Derwent Crossings, identified by Pamela Bann who was brought up here. Pamela adds that her Mam, Margaret O'Brien, appeared as an extra in the film and was paid half a crown to run out of her back door when the pit alarm sounded.

Children at school watch as the miners and their wives run towards the colliery. Steve Winterbottom identifies this as outside Great and Little Clifton Board School on what was called William Street, now Rosemary Gardens, in Great Clifton, Cumberland.

Steve also sent in this picture of the building which has since been converted into residential accommodation. Image copyright Google Streetview.

All who are able run to the pithead to give assistance.

The streets are filled as the population makes its way to the Neptune Colliery. Georgina Barber advises that this is facing west on William Street, to the back of a row that was was known as Concrete Terrace, in Great Clifton.

Newspapers report on the disaster. Looks like the Tynecastle Mail was a newspaper with a very large circulation as there is a London Transport bus stop to the top left!! Perhaps Tynecastle is twinned with Twickenham. That would explain the newspaper seller spotted in York Street, Twickenham as we look towards 1 London Road behind the bus stop. The former bank building is now a pizza takeaway. The adjacent single-storey shops have been redeveloped and Zeeta's Tea Rooms as advertised on the distant side wall exist no more. Dave W suggests that London Picture Archive 162537 supports my find. (RL)

Also supporting the find is Antony Blair's comparison shot.