Buster (1988)

This movie is based on the story of Ronald Christopher "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
Julie Walters	...	June
Larry Lamb	...	Bruce
Stephanie Lawrence	...	Franny
Ellie Beaven	...	Nicky
Michael Attwell	...	Harry
Ralph Brown	...	Ronny
Christopher Ellison	...	George
Sheila Hancock	...	Mrs. Rothery
Martin Jarvis	...	Inspector Mitchell
Clive Wood	...	Sergeant Chalmers
Anthony Quayle	...	Sir James McDowell
Michael Byrne	...	Poyser
Harold Innocent	...	Justice Parry
Rupert Vansittart	...	Fairclough

Storyline

Ronald Christopher "Buster" Edwards 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:

year 1963 | 1960s | great train robbery | watching tv | character name as title | 

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Taglines:

The greatest train robber of all time.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK Mexico

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

23 November 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Grande Golpada

Filming Locations:

West Norwood Cemetery, West Norwood, London, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$265,038, 27 November 1988

Gross USA:

$540,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$540,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Movie Group, NFH Productions, Buster Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Phil Collins was a childhood actor who had attended the famous Barbara Speake Stage School and appeared on a stage version of Oliver as the Artful Dodger and a tiny part in A Hard Day's Night (1964). He switched to a music career because, as he said, he knew he was a better drummer than he was an actor.

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Goofs

In the opening scenes, when Buster walks off wearing a new suit he has just stolen, a Vespa P range motor scooter is visible. That model was introduced in 1977.

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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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Alternate Versions

The initial U.S. release of this film had its running time cut from 102 minutes to 94 minutes by its U.S. distributor, Hemdale Films. The subsequent video release by HBO Home Video was based on this edited version, however, a more recent release by MGM Home Video includes the complete film uncut.

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Connections

Referenced in The Big Box: To the Devil a Daughter (2009)

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Soundtracks

Goin' Loco Down in Acapuclo
Performed by The Four Tops
Written by Lamont Dozier / Phil Collins
Courtesy of Hit & Run Music Ltd./Buster Films Ltd.
Published by Philip Collins Ltd./Hit & Run Music (Publishing) Ltd./Warner Brothers Music

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.