Emlyn Williams experienced directly the messy, senseless horror of the London blitz. And the success of "The Morning Star" in that city is tribute that he has managed to convey the true color of those months of horror and anonymous courage. Unfortunately, however, he has chosen to communicate as well a hackneyed, theatrical plot which reduces the blitz from a tragic and heroic human experience into sound effects and local color. (p. 565)

As well as playwright, Emlyn Williams is a talented and industrious stage and movie actor. Perhaps this helps explain the recent trend of his playwriting. First "Yesterday's Magic" and now "The Morning Star" suggest that their author is spending too much of his time in greasepaint. (p. 566)

David Burnham, "The Stage & Screen: 'The Morning Star'," in Commonweal (copyright © 1942 Commonweal Publishing Co., Inc.; reprinted by permission of Commonweal Publishing Co., Inc.), Vol. XXXVI, No. 24, October 2, 1942, pp. 565-...