The Titfield Thunderbolt (1953)

Volunteers take over their local passenger train service (against bus company resistance) when the government announces its closure.

Director:

Charles Crichton

Writer:

T.E.B. Clarke (original screenplay)

Stars:

Stanley Holloway, George Relph, Naunton Wayne

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Stanley Holloway	...	Valentine
George Relph	...	Weech
Naunton Wayne	...	Blakeworth
John Gregson	...	Gordon
Godfrey Tearle	...	The Bishop
Hugh Griffith	...	Dan
Gabrielle Brune	...	Joan
Sid James	...	Hawkins (as Sidney James)
Reginald Beckwith	...	Coggett
Edie Martin	...	Emily
Michael Trubshawe	...	Ruddock
Jack MacGowran	...	Vernon Crump (as Jack McGowran)
Ewan Roberts	...	Alec Pearce
Herbert C. Walton	...	Seth
John Rudling	...	Clegg

Storyline

The residents of a small English village are about to lose their ancient railroad. They decide to rescue it by running it themselves, in competition with the local bus company.

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Plot Keywords:

train | railroad | railway | pub | water tower | 

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Taglines:

A Tin-and-Tonic special reels in from England!

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 October 1953 (USA)

Also Known As:

Blixten från Titfield

Filming Locations:

Bristol Temple Meads station, Bristol, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

J. Arthur Rank Organisation, Ealing Studios, Michael Balcon Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System) Mono (Gaumont Kalee Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The final scenes of Mallingford station were filmed at the Bath Road Bridge end of the main platform at Bristol Temple Meads station, Bristol, UK.

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Goofs

In the last sequence, some men are playing cricket as the Titfield Thunderbolt makes its winning run to Mallingford. Abandoning their game, they rush to the embankment to see the train go by. The scene shows the batsman at the crease being distracted as the train appears in the distance, and being clean bowled as a result. However, although the bails on the wicket fall to the ground, the ball bowled by the bowler clearly sails more than a foot above the wicket.

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Quotes

Valentine: [proposing a toast] Our magnificent generals, General Gordon and General Booth.

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Connections

Referenced in Oh Doctor Beeching!: Ton Up (1997)

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Soundtracks

"The Eton Boating Song"
(uncredited)
Music by Algernon Drummond
Lyrics by William Johnson

User Reviews

A Great Flick!

This was Ealing's first Colour film, and was a great achievement for the small independent film company which was struggling to keep up with the big guys. I agree that Alec Guiness should have probably played the reverend, but the film is a magical and wonderful addition to the Ealing Collection. I think that it is one of their best features in its field. There is no other comedy that captures the nostalgia and charm of a small English village. It is filled with an excellent script, a solid cast and physical commedy. Plus, "The Lion" the original 1800 locomotive which the film revolves around shows the ingenuity and the long lasting construction of British Locomotives. A must see on anyone's list!