Buster (1988)

This movie is based on the story of Buster Edwards, one of the thieves involved in "The Great Train Robbery" of 1963.

Director:

David Green

Writer:

Colin Shindler (screenplay)

Stars:

Phil Collins, Julie Walters, Larry Lamb

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 4 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Phil Collins	...	Buster Edwards
Julie Walters	...	June Edwards
Larry Lamb	...	Bruce Reynolds
Stephanie Lawrence	...	Franny Reynolds
Ellie Beaven	...	Nicky Edwards
Michael Attwell	...	Harry
Ralph Brown	...	Ronny Biggs
Christopher Ellison	...	George
Sheila Hancock	...	Mrs. Rothery
Martin Jarvis	...	Inspector Jack Mitchell
Clive Wood	...	Sergeant Chalmers
Anthony Quayle	...	Sir James McDowell
Michael Byrne	...	Poyser
Harold Innocent	...	Justice Parry
Rupert Vansittart	...	Fairclough

Storyline

Buster is a small time crook who pulls a big time job. When he finds that the police will not let the case drop, he goes into hiding and can't contact his wife and child. He arranges to meet them in Mexico where he thinks they can begin again, but finds that he must choose between his family and freedom.

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Plot Keywords:

robbery | train | mexico | train robbery | money counting | 

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Taglines:

Charming, lovable... and wanted for the crime of the century!

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Genres:

Adventure | Biography | Comedy | Crime | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

23 November 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Grande Golpada

Filming Locations:

Abady House, Page Street, Westminster, London, England, UK

Box Office

Gross:

$540,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Movie Group, The, NFH Productions, Buster Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Liam Neeson auditioned for Reynolds but using his Irish accent to read meant he wasn't cast.

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Quotes

[last lines]
Buster Edwards: [addressing the audience. He is now a florist near Waterloo Bridge, several years after his release in 1980] You know, I've still got that dream...
June Edwards: [overhearing him, with a cup of hot chocolate] Buster, don't start that again!
Buster Edwards: No, dear
Buster Edwards: Well, I know it's still there.
[Buster and June walk off chatting about seeing their daughter Nikki who is now adult, and Buster looks at the camera, and his face is framed onto an envelope, when the credits start]

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Crazy Credits

Buster Edwards never got the deal he hoped for. On the 9th December 1966 he was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for conspiring to rob Her Majesty's Royal Mail Train.

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Connections

Features Rawhide (1959)

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Soundtracks

"How Do You Do It"
Performed by Gerry and the Pacemakers
Written by Mitch Murray
Courtesy of EMI Records UK
Published by Dick James Music Ltd./Polygram International Music Publishing Ltd.

User Reviews

A Working Class Film About a Thief

Never in a million years would a film about a great train robber be so heartbreaking. I remember seeing Buster in the 80's as it was a film that was played a lot during my childhood but it had been some time since I saw it last when I came across the DVD free in the Sunday newspaper so I was quick to get it and re live some memories. Sadly the only thing I cold remember of the film is the music and I don't just mean the songs written and performed by Phil Collins, the actual score was fantastic and very suited to the movie and is definitely worth remembering. Another shock was how god an actor Phil Collins is. He plays Buster down to a tea and manages to hook you in with his sympathetic but inglorious performance.

Buster and his wife June are down on their luck with the life they lead. Buster refuses to go out and make an honest living, he only believes in making money the con artist way and this is where the plan comes together for what would be known later as The Great Train Robbery. Not long after the robbery, the police are on the hunt for all who took part and its not long before they have everyone in their grasp apart from Buster and his partner in crime Bruce. This makes them both flee to Acapulco with June later joining him.

The story isn't anything special, its more biographical and just follows what we know about the man himself and it's the starts of the movie Phil Collins and the great Julie Walters that keeps us watching what becomes of these people who we can really relate to.

The movie has heartbreaking moments with a Phil Collins catalogue to support it, I don't know how anybody can ever say a bad word about the movie because it is flawless but at the same it isn't a masterpiece either. its just a nice film which is very watch able and makes you feel good in the end.