The Titfield Thunderbolt (1953)

Director:

Charles Crichton

Writer:

T.E.B. Clarke (original screenplay)

Release Date:

20 October 1953 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Full steam ahead for this comedy classic!

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Train | Railroad | Railway | Pub | Water Tower

Cast

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
Nancy O'Neil	...	Mrs. Blakeworth
Campbell Singer	...	Police Sergeant
Frank Atkinson	...	Station Sergeant
Wensley Pithey	...	A Policeman
Harold Alford	...	Guard
Ted Burbidge	...	Engine Driver
Frank Green	...	Fireman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Hilda Fenemore	...	Lady Washing Baby (uncredited)
Bert Harris	...	Driver (uncredited)
George King	...	Fireman (uncredited)
Sam Kydd	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Jack May	...	Old Man at Bedroom Window (uncredited)
Sid Mitchell	...	Driver (uncredited)
Mervyn Seal	...	Guard (uncredited)
Frank Sieman	...	Beer Drinker in Valentine's 'Corner' (uncredited)
Bob Stride	...	Fireman (uncredited)

Directed by
Charles Crichton

Writing credits
T.E.B. Clarke		(original screenplay)

Produced by
Michael Truman	....	producer
Michael Balcon	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Georges Auric

Cinematography by
Douglas Slocombe		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Seth Holt

Art Direction by
C.P. Norman

Makeup Department
Harry Frampton	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Harry Kratz	....	unit production manager
Hal Mason	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Terry Bishop	....	second unit director
David Peers	....	assistant director
John Assig	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Peter Crowhurst	....	third assistant director (uncredited)
Erica Masters	....	assistant director (uncredited)
John Meadows	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Norman Dorme	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
Tony Rimmington	....	junior draughtsman (uncredited)
Jack Shampan	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
Len Wills	....	assistant art director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Arthur Bradburn	....	recordist
Stephen Dalby	....	sound supervisor
Peter Gilpin	....	sound camera operator (uncredited)
Mary Habberfield	....	dubbing editor (uncredited)
Robert R. Healy	....	dubbing crew (uncredited)
Derick McColm	....	assistant boom operator (uncredited)
Cyril Swern	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Sydney Pearson	....	special effects
E.R. Taylor	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Geoffrey Dickinson	....	special processes
E. Hague	....	special processes

Camera and Electrical Department
Paul Beeson	....	second unit photography
Jeff Seaholme	....	camera operator
Chic Anstiss	....	clapper loader (uncredited)
D. Bartlett	....	camera assistant: second unit (uncredited)
Frank Bassill	....	camera operator: second unit (uncredited)
Neil Binney	....	clapper loader (uncredited)
Roy Gough	....	still photographer (uncredited)
George Pink	....	focus puller (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Anthony Mendleson	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Harry Aldous	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Ernest Irving	....	conductor
Ernest Irving	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Other crew
Joan Bridge	....	Technicolor colour consultant
Felicia Manheim	....	continuity

Production Companies

• J. Arthur Rank Organisation (presents) (as The J. Arthur Rank Organisation)
• Ealing Studios (as An Ealing Studios Michael Balcon Production)
• Michael Balcon Productions (as An Ealing Studios Michael Balcon Production)

Distributors

• General Film Distributors (GFD) (1953) (UK) (theatrical) (released through) (as General Film Distributors Limited)
• Universal Pictures (1953) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1956) (USA) (TV)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1988) (UK) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Philharmonia Orchestra, The  music played by (as the Philharmonia Orchestra)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

84 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

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

Certification:

Australia:PG | Australia:G (TV rating) | UK:U | Iceland:L | UK:U (video rating) (1988) (2006)

Filming Locations:

Bristol Temple Meads station, Bristol, England, UK

Company:

J. Arthur Rank Organisation

Trivia:

A replica locomotive was built on the chassis of a Bedford truck for the scene where the locomotive is seen driving down the road.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Dan Taylor & Walter Valentine are driving the stolen locomotive through the town, the wheels of the lorry that the replica locomotive was built on can seen in a shot looking from behind.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Best of British: Ealing Comedies (#5.12)" (1993)

Soundtrack:

The Eton Boating Song

Take your seats!

If you are, like myself, a fervent anglophile and a terminal railway enthusiast, 'Titfield Thunderbolt' is the film you've spent your whole life seeking for in vain. That charming tale of a village's fight to keep its railway line active celebrates British countryside, trains and traditional values in a quite irresistible way, enhanced by a great cast and a superb technicolor. Despite being not among best-ranked Ealing comedies, 'Titfield Thunderbolt' still is a great feel-good movie, one you're glad to see on rainy or spleen days.