The Ghost Train (1941)

High jinks and chills ensue when a group of people become stranded at an isolated station and a legendary phantom train approaches.

Director:

Walter Forde

Writers:

Arnold Ridley (based on the famous play by), J.O.C. Orton (scenario)

Stars:

Arthur Askey, Richard Murdoch, Kathleen Harrison

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Arthur Askey	...	Tommy Gander
Richard Murdoch	...	Teddy Deakin (as Richard {Stinker} Murdoch)
Kathleen Harrison	...	Miss Bourne
Peter Murray-Hill	...	R.G. Winthrop
Carole Lynne	...	Jackie Winthrop
Morland Graham	...	Dr. Sterling
Betty Jardine	...	Edna
Stuart Latham	...	Herbert
Herbert Lomas	...	Saul Hodgkin
Raymond Huntley	...	Price
Linden Travers	...	Julia Price
D.J. Williams	...	Ben Isaacs

Storyline

Mismatched travellers are stranded overnight at a lonely rural railway station. They soon learn of local superstition about a phantom train which is said to travel these parts at dead of night, carrying ghosts from a long-ago train wreck in the area. The travelers eventually get to the bottom of the things that go bump in the night. In between the scary bits, comedian Arthur Askey plays the gags with his Vaudeville style humor, to the constant irritation of his fellow passengers.

---

Plot Keywords:

train | ghost | railway | hat | thunderstorm | 

---

Genres:

Comedy | Horror

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 May 1941 (UK)

Also Known As:

El tren fantasma

Filming Locations:

Gaumont-British Studios, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gainsborough Pictures,Gaumont British Picture Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (British Acoustic Film Full Range Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Due to previous work commitments having taken him around the country, Arthur Askey's first real experience of the Blitz came when he arrived in London to shoot the film, having despatched his wife and daughter to the perceived safety of Lakeside at Lake Windermere.

---

Goofs

We don't want these people at this railway station. These people want to leave this railway station. But we tell them there's no transport and they'll have to stay. But a bus is arranged at the end of the film. Why did they just not go get the bus in the beginning?

---

Quotes

Gander: [about the ghost of Ted Holmes after he trips up] That was his other leg

---

Connections

Version of Kísértetek vonata (1933)

---

Soundtracks

Rock of Ages
(uncredited)
Lyrics by Augustus Montague Toplady
Music by Richard Redhead

User Reviews

The Ghost Train (a timeless classic)

I have a thing for old black and white movies of this kind, movies by Will Hay and Abbot & Costello especially as those are my favourites. I picked this movie up on DVD as it was using the same idea as Will Hay's "Oh Mr Porter" which is one of the finest comedies ever made. I just finished watching this movie less than ten minutes ago (the movie finished at 12:45am). I find that movies of this kind, to do with Ghost Trains, etc, are best viewed at night time with the lights out. That way you get into the storyline more and night time viewing works well with this movie.

The one-liners in the movie may seem a little dated to some viewers, I guess this depends on the viewer. They are not dated to me though. I am 28 and even though I am not old enough to have been around when this movie was first released (my dad was though). I still have a lot of appreciation for some of the old movies of this kind. Sitting in the room in front of the TV with some snacks and drinks and kicking back and relaxing at night while watching these movies, not many things can beat the feeling you get while doing this. It is an escape from reality for a while.

I noticed that one of the men in the movie (he has a black mustache) he appears about three quarters of the way through the movie after his car crashes and he is looking for a woman he was followed to the station. This man was in the Will Hay classic "The Ghost of St Michaels" as well. Just thought I'd point that out in case no one noticed :).

The set pieces in the movie are very atmospheric. Outside the abandoned station looks good and as if there is not a soul for miles in any direction, and the inside of the station is very cosy looking away from the rain storm that is outside. I felt like I would have loved to have been there in the movie with the cast. The atmosphere in this movie is something that is missing from a lot of movies now. It keeps you hooked from the moment the movie starts till it finishes.

We need more of this type of movie in todays market. But sadly it could be over looked in favour of movies with nudity and swearing and crude humour. This sort of movie making era (The Ghost Train, Oh Mr Porter, etc) to me is the golden age of cinema!.