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:

The greatest train robber of all time.

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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

The train used in the film in the robbery sequences is not the Number 37 like that in the real Great Train Robbery, it is a (reconstructed) Number 40 train. The locomotive was not a 'Number 40' it was a 'class 40'. The reference to being a 'number 37' is incorrect (a 'class 37' locomotive is a lesser powered loco from the same builder. Proper details are given below: The locomotive on the train involved in the Great Train Robbery was an English Electric type 4, class 40, locomotive number D326 (later 40126). By the time the film Buster was made D326 had been withdrawn from service and scrapped. Sister locomotive D306 (40106) - which was also withdrawn but had been preserved by enthusiasts on the Great Central Railway near Loughborough - substituted in robbery sequence of the film, which was filmed on the locomotive's home ground on the GCR.

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Quotes

Buster Edwards: [Buster, Bruce and Harry worries about the police has found their hide-out] We're gonna get famous now. More popular than Christine Keeler AND the Beatles!

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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

Referenced in Serial Mom (1994)

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Soundtracks

"Just One Look"
Performed by The Hollies
Written by Payne & Carroll
Courtesy of EMI Records UK
published by Premier Music Publishing Co. (Leosong)

User Reviews

Phil Collins triumphs Against All Odds...

Buster is possibly Phil 'The Brusier' Collins' finest ever moment. The film itself is a roller-coaster ride from comedy to emotion. The film, in places is dreary and sluggish, however a tour de force performance by Collins makes up for its shortcomings. The film could be improved with additional musical accompaniment from the 'bruiser'as only 'two hearts' stands out. The supporting cast is not up to Phil's acting standards. Julie Walters is particularly annoying.

But seriously this film should rank alongside The Great Escape and Flashdance as a classic Sunday afternoon film. In fact it is as important as the dinner that precedes it.