Home / The Titfield Thunderbolt

The Titfield Thunderbolt

Year:

1953

Duration:

84 min

Genres:

Comedy

IMDB rate:

7.2

Director:

Charles Crichton

Details

Country: UK

Release Date: 1953-10-20

Filming Locations: Bristol Temple Meads station, Bristol, England, UK

Cast

Actor

Character

Michael Trubshawe

Stanley Holloway

Valentine

George Relph

Weech

Naunton Wayne

Blakeworth

John Gregson

Gordon

Godfrey Tearle

The Bishop

Hugh Griffith

Dan

Gabrielle Brune

Joan

Sidney James

Hawkins

Reginald Beckwith

Coggett

Edie Martin

Emily

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

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)

Did you know?

Trivia

The name Titfield created by T.E.B. Clarke the from the adjacent villages of Titsey and Limpsfield in Surrey.

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Writer T.E.B. Clarke ("Tibby") was inspired to write the Titfield Thunderbolt saga after a 1951 visit to the volunteer-operated Talyllyn Railway, which carries passengers along the Cambrian coast between Tywyn and Abergynolwyn, in Wales. "The Titfield Thunderbolt" reflects Clarke's fascination with the volunteers' preservationist spirit there.

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The credited driver, fireman and guard were not actors, they were British Railways employees from Westbury depot and were originally to be uncredited extras. After director Charles Crichton spoke to them on location and realized they "looked and sounded the part", they were given speaking parts.

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Goofs

During the 'race' between the train and the coach prior to the hearing, the coach changes from RH drive to H drive and back.

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When Dan Walker is handcuffed and on the platform looking at his house-coach he has no pipe. As soon as he enters his house-coach he has his pipe in his mouth.

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When Dan and Mr Valentine steal the locomotive standing on the turntable to run it away down the streets, the tracks covered over with grass are visible.

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Quotes

Mrs Valentine: Do you know what time it is? Valentine: Yes, my love: summer double time.

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

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Sam Weech: They can't close our line, it's unthinkable

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Faq

where was it filmed?

"Titfield thunderbolt" was filmed on the disused GWR Branch line between Limpley stoke and Camerton, near Bath. Titfield station itself was actually Monkton coombe, whilst "Mallingford" was Bristol Temple meads. Many of the filming locations can still be seen today, the landscape in the area having changed very little over the years. The track bed and the Bridges/viaducts in the film are still there.

Stanley Holloway sings a song that the girls sang in school in "The Lavender Hill Mob." Does anyone recognize it?

T. E. B. Clarke may have liked the song sufficiently to ask Holloway to sing it, or Holloway may have chosen it himself.

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