Comedy. Scottish islanders try to plunder 50,000 cases of whisky from a stranded ship. Interestingly Film Collectors generally have no interest in football but love railway films. 'Tibby' Clarke, writer of the script, loathes trains. In World War II, a failed British Officer is selected by his uncle, a Brigadier with the War Office, to participate in a secret operation to "recover" looted artworks from the Nazis. 79%. The Titfield Thunderbolt’ 1953 60th Anniversary Collectors Edition Blu-ray. Why? Rather hard to find in HD in the wild not living in the UK so you can't exactly buy it digitally off iTunes or pop it in a Blu-ray player if your from any other country. The Titfield Thunderbolt will delight railroad fans, who are still numerous and just as rabid as ever about their pursuit — enthusiasts have located every actual bridge and crossway seen on the ‘fictional’ line between Titfield and Mallingford. The first of the Ealing ... See full summary ». Directed by Charles Crichton. This is a really excellent restoration of this film shot in glorious Technicolor. The Titfield Thunderbolt. The village appears in the Ealing comedy The Titfield Thunderbolt. See reviews & details on a wide selection of Blu-ray & DVDs, both new & used. Simon Casten's Titfield Thunderbolt website; Gordon Dudman's Titfield Thunderbolt website; Alex Seal's The Titfield Thunderbolt - The Music by Georges Auric, and its parent page about the film (which isn't linked!) T.E.B. A naive aristocrat in search of a career becomes caught up in the struggles between his profit-minded uncle and an aggressive labor union. Stanley Holloway sings a song that the girls sang in school in "The Lavender Hill Mob." Upon securing Blakeworth's release, he helps them to acquire the locomotive for the branch line. The Titfield Thunderbolt (1953) echoes the theme of Passport to Pimlico, switched to a rural setting, with a small community standing up for their local interests when their branch line is threatened with closure by British Railways in a forerunner of the Beeching cuts a decade later. Upon arriving, Weech learns that the line passed every requirement for the Light Railway Order, but barely. Pole position was easy, thereafter was hard:1) Kind Hearts and Coronets 2) The Lavender Hill Mob 3) Whisky Galore 4) The Titfield Thunderbolt 5) The Man in the White Suit 6) The Ladykillers 7) Passport to Pimlico 8) Hue and Cry. The Titfield Thunderbolt. The name "Titfield" is an amalgamation of the villages of Limpsfield Written by Publication date 1953 Topics Titfield Thunderbolt Language English. They decide to rescue it by running it themselves, in competition with the local bus company. The Thunderbolt itself was represented by an actual antique museum resident, the Liverpool and Manchester Railway locomotive Lion, built in 1838 and so at the time 114 years old. @lyngardner Wed 31 Aug 2005 22.07 EDT First published on Wed 31 Aug 2005 22.07 EDT. The real star is the thrilling railway footage using a repainted vintage locomotive known as the Lion. Rapido Trains UK reveals plans for a new range of models inspired by the 1953 film, 'The Titfield Thunderbolt', with model deliveries expected for the 70th anniversary of the film’s release in 2023. To complete their new train, the villagers use Taylor's home, an old railway carriage body, hastily strapped to a flat wagon. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. The film was written by TEB Clarke[3] and was inspired by the restoration of the narrow gauge Talyllyn Railway in Wales, the world's first heritage railway run by volunteers. Interestingly Film Collectors generally have no interest in football but love railway films. '1401' was designed by C B Collett and introduced in August 1932. stronghold 2008-01-07 11:35-- Last edit: 2008-01-07 12:05:31: chris40 2008-01-07 15:41. The Titfield Thunderbolt will delight railroad fans, who are still numerous and just as rabid as ever about their pursuit — enthusiasts have located every actual bridge and crossway seen on the ‘fictional’ line between Titfield and Mallingford. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. The Titfield Thunderbolt is a 1953 British comedy film directed by Charles Crichton and starring Stanley Holloway, Naunton Wayne, George Relph and John Gregson. Berkeley Square House, Berkeley Square, Westminster, London, England, UK. Trailer. Let our editors help you find what's trending and what's worth your time. The Titfield Thunderbolt A number of scenes in the film, such as the emergency re-supply of water to the locomotive by buckets from an adjacent stream, or passengers being asked to assist in pushing the carriages, were taken from this book. [9] It was repainted in a colourful red and green livery to suit the Technicolor cameras. The Titfield Thunderbolt Rapido Trains UK to is delighted to announce The Titfield Thunderbolt models. Sam Weech, the local vicar and a railway enthusiast, and Gordon Chesterford, the village squire, decide to take over the line by setting up a company through a Light Railway Order. But, quoting a location report by Hugh Samson of Picturegoer, he suggests there was a lack of sympathy for the subject: 'Odd point about this railway location: not a single railway enthusiast to be found in the whole crew. I have seen this film many many times, but I have never got bored by it. Leigh Day on TCM: From Southern Belle in 'Controversial' Epic to Rape Victim in Code-Buster, Mark's Best Classic UK Comedies (Pre 1970s). M/S's as people stand around. It features beautiful locations (around Bath in Somerset) and a stereotypical village of characters which must have seemed very normal in 1953, but which hardly exist today. C/U of the name "Thunderbolt" on the engine, the camera pans across it. 1953; 1 hr 24 min; Comedy; Director. [8] Lion is one of the earliest British locomotives, built only nine years after Stephenson's Rocket and running under its own power in the film. Need some help finding the best things to watch on Netflix? The name "Titfield" is an amalgamation of the villages of Limpsfield and Titsey in Surrey, near Clarke's home at Oxted.[4]. The 'locomotive' was a wooden mock-up mounted on a lorry chassis: the rubber tyres can (just) be spotted between the locomotive's driving wheels. He begins to put the lessons into operation. The story line is well known of this classic Ealing Comedy. The Titfield Thunderbolt, of all films, predicted back in 1953 what would happen if we got rid of our railways - and look how tragically it has been proved right. They decide to rescue it by running it themselves, in … The Titfield Thunderbolt is a 1950s comedy film produced by Ealing Studios set on a fictional British branch line between Titfield and Mallingford which has been condemned for closure by British Railways. The Titfield Thunderbolt announcement. Michael Balcon Productions; Videos . The Titfield Thunderbolt is a 1953 movie by Ealing Studios. The posters were designed by Edward Bawden but so was the promotional ephemera. Valentine visits Taylor, who suggests that they borrow a locomotive from Mallingford's rail yards. The Titfield Thunderbolt’ 1953 60th Anniversary Collectors Edition Blu-ray. Old engine is used in British film "The Titfield Thunderbolt". A gang of street boys foil a master crook who sends commands for robberies by cunningly altering a comic strip's wording each week, unknown to writer and printer. Upon securing financial backing from Walter Valentine, a wealthy man with a fondness for daily drinking, the men learn that the Ministry of Transport will give them a month's trial period, in which they must pass an inspection at the end of this period to make the Order permanent. Shooting was largely carried out near Bath, Somerset, on the Camerton branch of the Bristol and North Somerset Railway, along the Cam Brook valley between Camerton and Limpley Stoke. Meanwhile, Weech is inspired by a picture of the line's first locomotive, the Thunderbolt, which is now housed in the Mallingford's museum. 1401 crashing and getting wrecked as it heads down an embankment used realistic scale models. They decide to rescue it by running it themselves, in competition with the local bus company. The Titfield Thunderbolt. The screenplay concerns a group of villagers trying to keep their branch line operating after British Railways decided to close it. The fictitious ‘Titfield-Mallingford’ branch line was a seven-mile stretch of track between Limpley Stoke and Camerton. It teaches him how to take advantage of people. The Titfield Thunderbolt (1953) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. This leads to the need for a "Passport to Pimlico". Written by Blair Stannard Plot Summary | Add Synopsis Ivan Butler in his Cinema in Britain called it 'A minor Ealing perhaps even a little tired towards the evening of their long comedy day but a very pleasant sunset for all that. Does anyone recognize it? [6] The branch had closed to all traffic on 15 February 1951, but was reopened for filming. Rapido Trains UK is to produce FIVE new 1:76 scale models inspired by The Titfield Thunderbolt. 7.1. The Titfield Thunderbolt Synopsis: The residents of a small English village are about to lose their ancient railroad. B. Clarke. They decide to rescue it by running it themselves, in competition with the local bus company. Another wonderful shot of Lion pulling away from her water stop. The film was written by T. E. B. Clarke and was inspired by the restoration of the narrow gauge Talyllyn Railway in Wales, the world's first heritage railway run by volunteers. '[12] Charles Barr in Ealing Studios felt that the film did not identify with audiences who for instance in Passport to Pimlico were yearning for the end of rationing; 'There is no grasp of a living community, or of the relevance of the train to people's daily needs.' While Weech is helped by Chesterford and retired track layer Dan Taylor in running the train, volunteers from the village help to operate the station. The residents of the village of Titfield are shocked to learn that their railway branch line to the town of Mallingford is to be closed. View production, box office, & company info. Monkton Combe, Somerset. The posters were designed by Edward Bawden but so was the promotional ephemera. An altruistic chemist invents a fabric which resists wear and stain as a boon to humanity, but big business and labor realize it must be suppressed for economic reasons. Doctors Jo Wilson, April Kepner, and Andrew DeLuca share the episodes they think are essential to understanding their characters. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. After Chesterford refuses to accept a merger offer from them, Crump and Pearce hire Hawkins to help them derail the line's steam locomotive and only passenger car, the night before the line's inspection. The train departs late because the police demand transport to Mallingford for them and the arrested men. [5] The film was produced by Ealing Studios and was the first of its comedies shot in technicolor - one of the first such made in the UK. The Titfield Thunderbolt is a 1953 British comedy film directed by Charles Crichton and starring Stanley Holloway, Naunton Wayne, George Relph and John Gregson. [8] The earlier scene of No. Various shots of the engine, M/S of carriages with curtains and hanging baskets behind it. Despite a mishap with the coupling, the villagers help the train complete its run to Mallingford. The Titfield Thunderbolt Photos View All Photos (11) Movie Info. In fact, had they been any faster, their application would have been rejected. Ealing comedies-Wikipedia. The scene where Thunderbolt is removed at night from its museum was filmed in the (now demolished) Imperial Institute building near the Royal Albert Hall in South Kensington, London. The residents of a small English village are about to lose their ancient railroad. The Titfield Thunderbolt’ 1953 60th Anniversary Collectors Edition Blu-ray. (1953). Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? A meek bank clerk who oversees the shipment of bullion joins with an eccentric neighbor to steal gold bars and smuggle them out of the country as miniature Eiffel Towers. '[11] George Perry in his history of the Ealing Studios, Forever Ealing, pointed out that like Whisky Galore and Passport to Pimlico the film 'adopted the theme of the small group pitted against and universally triumphing over the superior odds of a more powerful opponent.' In the morning, Pearce and Crump drive to the village to prepare to take passengers, but are shocked to see the train waiting at the station. Two British couples pit their vintage automobiles against each other in an exciting cross-country race. The Titfield Thunderbolt tells the story of group of villagers determined to save their branch line after British Railways announces its closure. A classic Ealing comedy, much-loved by film fans and train enthusiasts alike, “The Titfield Thunderbolt” was the first Ealing Comedy to be made in colour, Technicolor in fact, and the fourth to be directed by Charles Crichton. A transportation war erupts in a small English village when the government decides to shut down the decrepit railway line. [13], CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "The Titfield Thunderbolt and the Camerton Branch", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Titfield_Thunderbolt&oldid=1022192142, Films with screenplays by T. E. B. Clarke, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from March 2018, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 9 May 2021, at 01:36. The Titfield Thunderbolt represents a simpler era of British filmmaking and comedy, put together by accomplished filmmakers and a talented cast. EdJogg 23:36, 8 October 2007 (UTC) Fair use rationale for Image:Titfield Thunderbolt poster.jpg The opening scene shows Midford Viaduct on the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway, where the branch passed under the viaduct. The Titfield Thunderbolt Studio 4 Tollbridge Studios, Toll Bridge Road, Bath, BA1 7DE Tel. They will be available in time to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the film’s release in 2023. The Titfield Thunderbolt 1080p HD by Ealing Studios. She was built in 1838 for the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. Blair Stannard , This is a comedy with many of the traditional Ealing attributes - whimsy, cheerfulness, small-versus-big storyline - but it has aged far better than many of its sister titles from Ealing. The film had its gala premiere at Leicester Square Theatre in London on 5 March 1953, as part of the British Film Academy's award ceremony, before going on general release from the 6th. Absolutely fabulous - that's the only way to describe The Titfield Thunderbolt. The play tells the story of a band of enthusiastic amateurs battling to retain their village's railway line despite Government red tape and the rivalry of the dastardly omnibus owner. The residents of a small English village are about to lose their ancient railroad. Distracted from his driving, Pearce crashes the bus into the police van transporting Valentine and Taylor, and when Crump lets slip that they have been involved in sabotaging the line they are promptly arrested. Sunbar wrote More background vehicles. Charles Crichton; Studios. This is because the film was made in rural England just before it changed forever. Writer Clarke has happily worked things out so that almost all of the picture takes place on or near the rails. Watch this film as a window on that lost world, but don't forget to laugh! Aided by Harry Hawkins, a steam roller operator who hates the railway, Crump and Pearce attempt to block the line on its first run and sabotage the line's water tower, but are thwarted by Weech and the line's supportive passengers. It has taken on a new power over the last twenty years and it has undoubtedly grown in popularity. The residents of a small English village are about to lose their ancient railroad. Use the HTML below. A 1953 comedy film produced by Ealing Studios set on a fictional British branch line between Titfield and Mallingford which has been condemned for closure by British Railways. The Titfield Thunderbolt is a 1953 British comedy film directed by Charles Crichton and starring Stanley Holloway, Naunton Wayne, George Relph and John Gregson. Titfield railway station was in reality Monkton Combe railway station, whilst Titfield village was nearby Freshford, with other scenes being shot at the disused Dunkerton Colliery. The scene featuring Sid James's character's traction engine, and the Squire's attempts to overtake it, was filmed in Carlingcott. The screenplay concerns a group of villagers trying to keep their branch line operating after British Railways decided to close it Volunteers take over their local passenger train service (against bus company resistance) when the government announces its closure. [7] Mallingford railway station in the closing scene was Bristol Temple Meads railway station. Synopsis When British Railways announce the closure of the Titfield to Mallingford branch line a group of local residents make a bid to run it themselves, backed by a monied member of the community who is attracted by the complete lack of licensing hours on trains. The show is a must for everybody.