The Stars Look Down (film) - Differences Between The American and British Releases

Differences Between The American and British Releases

The American version added an opening and closing voice-over narration by Lionel Barrymore and changed the main and end titles, while the departing scenes and dialogue at end between Davey and his mother were cut completely. In the original UK version, opening credits appear against documentary-style establishing shots of the pithead and the men emerging from underground and walking down towards the pit owner to begin their strike. The US version used a plain background for the main title and an explanatory voiceover that lessens the graphic impact of the original. The US version ends with the rising camera above the pit as the Lord's prayer is spoken after the disaster with added verses of the prayer heard and a final shot of heavenly clouds added with a longer voiceover. The original UK release has the first lines of the Lord's prayer heard only as the camera rises to the black sky above the pit, it then fades in to the final scenes as Davey's mother is downstairs preparing her son's packed sandwiches for his return to work at the pit. Davey emerges down the stairs dressed not in work clothes, but a suit. He tells his mother he is going to work for the union. 'You are all I have left now…' says his mother who takes an apple and gives it to Davey for the train journey. He goes to the front door and turns back to his mother who stands impassively at the hearth. The final shot is an exterior of the cottage with Davey leaving while his mother is watching framed closely in the window. Her shoulders droop in a sigh of resignation and it dissolves quickly to the end credits.